The Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 was introduced in April of 1964 in response to Pontiac’s wildly successful GTO. The Oldsmobile 4-4-2 name stood for four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual gearbox, and dual exhaust. The option package was based on the B09 Police Apprehender Pursuit Pack that added another twenty horsepower, more aggressive cam, beefier suspension, redline tires on six-inch-wide wheels, and badging. The 442 would only be an option package until 1968 when it became a model unto itself.
The 1970 model year would be the pinnacle for muscle car power from GM. Federal emissions and fuel economy standards were on the way, and insurance companies were beginning to balk at ever-increasing horsepower from boulevard bruising muscle cars. Rather than knuckling under, the General decided to go out in style, removing the internal cap on cubic inches for mid-size passenger cars. For Oldsmobile, this meant stuffing the 455-cubic inch Big Block under the hood of the 442, with output rated at 365 horsepower and an asphalt-wrinkling 500 pound-feet of torque. If you were astute enough to check the W-30 option box, you got the W-25 fiberglass hood with functional air induction scoops, a less-restrictive air cleaner, Winters aluminum intake manifold, and a hotter cam. A heavy-duty close-ratio four-speed manual gearbox could be specified. Horsepower with the W-30 option was rated at 370 ponies (well-tuned examples frequently made over 400 horsepower).
Cosmetic changes for the 1971 model year included horizontal taillights, round front parking lights located in the front bumper, a black grille with bright trim, and silver headlight bezels. Though forced to drop compression for 1971, the Oldsmobile 442 W-30 still laid down an impressive 350 horsepower.
Our feature 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 has been restored, but how long ago that restoration was done is unclear. It is finished in Bittersweet Iridescent orange with white stripes and a white vinyl top. The 442 is powered by its matching-numbers 455 cubic-inch engine backed by a three-speed automatic transmission with a His-and-Hers shifter.
The Oldsmobile 442 W-30 bucket seat interior is trimmed in Pearl White vinyl with black carpets. It is equipped with power steering, power brakes with front discs, factory air conditioning, AM/FM/8-track player.
Included in the sale of this Oldsmobile 442 W-30 are the original window sticker, sales invoice, build sheet, letter from Oldsmobile, and the Protect-O-Plate. It will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Las Vegas, Nevada sale taking place November 10th through the 12th.
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Comments
That’s not a convertible.
Who said it was?
When the article was originally listed. It said, Convertible Olds 442 heads to auction. The writer of the article stated it was a “convertible”.
Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Learned to drive in an Oldsmobile on Rt 66.
Terrific year. They have a dropped compression ratio so they run great on unleaded.
Great cars still wish they were still here today . I would still own one or two today..
Had a high school buddy who’s brother-in-law had a Tornado with the W-30 air induction scoops under the front bumper. Did not know you could get one with that option.
The parts books listed the W30 as O.A.I. which stands for Outside Air Induction.
I saw a 1971 442 convertible a couple of days ago.. It was that great medium blue GM used with white striping with black bucket seat interior and a white convertible top with a glass rear window and that his and her shifter. The flared trumpet exhaust tips looked and sounded great. The car seemed decently restored to driver quality. The owner oddly said he bought the car from the owner but didn’t have a copy of the original window sticker. The car did not have the rear sway bar. Was this car likely a real 442?
My husband had a matador red with cameo white hard top 4-4-2 W30 with Hurst dual gate shifter when we met. That is still the sexiest car around, and the throaty sound when you accelerated, mmmmmmmmmmmm, unbelievable.