- Oct 24, 2000
- 29,767
- 33
- 81
Dead at 106: Oldsmobile
- Thread starter GTaudiophile
- Start date
- Oct 24, 2000
- 29,767
- 33
- 81
ThePresence
Elite Member
- Nov 19, 2001
- 27,727
- 16
- 81
I thought they had already slimmed their line of cars down to just a couple models a couple years ago.
Sad to see that jobs will be lost but if a company isn't (apparently) making products worth buying, don't see why it's so bad that they go down.
Sad to see that jobs will be lost but if a company isn't (apparently) making products worth buying, don't see why it's so bad that they go down.
GasX
Lifer
- Feb 8, 2001
- 29,033
- 6
- 81
RIP Oldsmobile - In tribute I present to you some 442 info & pics:
Nice 442!
Later version - also nice!
Info on the 442
1965 Oldsmobile 442
After seeing the success of the GM sister Pontiac GTO, Oldsmobile rushed to put together a similar performance car by the end of the year. Following on Pontiac's formula of small car-big engine, they took the F85/ Cutlass frame and stuffed in a 330ci four-barrel turning out 310hp. They called it the 4-4-2 (four barrels-four speed-two exhausts) and the rest is history.
Adding a 400ci motor in 1965 served notice that the guys at Oldsmobile wanted to keep up with the crowd. That meant the 442 now had 345hp. But it still couldn't keep up with a GTO. The race was still on, and in '66 the L-69 option topped the 400 with three two-barrrel carbs, bring the horsepower up to 360.
In '67 the 442 was a option on the high priced Cutlass Supreme model. The W-30 option had a hotter cam, engine chrome and force-fed air through ducts hidden in the grill,all increasing the 400ci's horsepower 10 to 360. Around 25,000 442 were sold in '67. For 1968 the car got a total restyle to the familiar rounded panels, as the 442 became it's own separate model. It was also the year for the Hurst Olds: a special limited edition silver and black special optioned car. With it's 455ci 390hp engine, Hurst dual-gate shifters, modified turbo-hydramatic transmission, it was reported to have run a stock 12.97 quarter mile at over 108 mph. Only 515 of these cars were produced, making them very collectible today. 33,00 total 442s were sold that year-the best it would total ever.
1969 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible
1969 saw a few slight cosmetic changes to the 442. The W30 400ci engine cranked out 360hp and had a reported top speed of 122 mph. The Hurst Olds again was produced, this time 914 of the now gold and white 455ci beauties were sold.
By 1970 high insurance premiums were destroying the muscle cars market, so in an attempt to cater to the performance buyer more interested in looks the Rallye 500 with Sebring Yellow and orange trim was produced. It's 350ci 310hp engine was cheaper to insure, but it still did not attract many buyers (3547) so it was dropped.
Sales declines continued, and by 1974 the 442 was just trim package.
Nice 442!
Later version - also nice!
Info on the 442
1965 Oldsmobile 442
After seeing the success of the GM sister Pontiac GTO, Oldsmobile rushed to put together a similar performance car by the end of the year. Following on Pontiac's formula of small car-big engine, they took the F85/ Cutlass frame and stuffed in a 330ci four-barrel turning out 310hp. They called it the 4-4-2 (four barrels-four speed-two exhausts) and the rest is history.
Adding a 400ci motor in 1965 served notice that the guys at Oldsmobile wanted to keep up with the crowd. That meant the 442 now had 345hp. But it still couldn't keep up with a GTO. The race was still on, and in '66 the L-69 option topped the 400 with three two-barrrel carbs, bring the horsepower up to 360.
In '67 the 442 was a option on the high priced Cutlass Supreme model. The W-30 option had a hotter cam, engine chrome and force-fed air through ducts hidden in the grill,all increasing the 400ci's horsepower 10 to 360. Around 25,000 442 were sold in '67. For 1968 the car got a total restyle to the familiar rounded panels, as the 442 became it's own separate model. It was also the year for the Hurst Olds: a special limited edition silver and black special optioned car. With it's 455ci 390hp engine, Hurst dual-gate shifters, modified turbo-hydramatic transmission, it was reported to have run a stock 12.97 quarter mile at over 108 mph. Only 515 of these cars were produced, making them very collectible today. 33,00 total 442s were sold that year-the best it would total ever.
1969 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible
1969 saw a few slight cosmetic changes to the 442. The W30 400ci engine cranked out 360hp and had a reported top speed of 122 mph. The Hurst Olds again was produced, this time 914 of the now gold and white 455ci beauties were sold.
By 1970 high insurance premiums were destroying the muscle cars market, so in an attempt to cater to the performance buyer more interested in looks the Rallye 500 with Sebring Yellow and orange trim was produced. It's 350ci 310hp engine was cheaper to insure, but it still did not attract many buyers (3547) so it was dropped.
Sales declines continued, and by 1974 the 442 was just trim package.
- Oct 9, 1999
- 46,887
- 10,700
- 147
Ah, Ransom E., we hardly knew ye.
My grandfather had a 1940 Olds with the world's first fully automatic transmission.
The Rocket 88 of 1948 shares the honors with Cadillac of having the first modern American high compression V-8 engine.
Sad to say, but if Ransom's last name had been Thug or Rad instead of Olds, the cars that bear his name might still be in production: "Duuuuuude, love the decals on yer Thugmobile, dude."
My grandfather had a 1940 Olds with the world's first fully automatic transmission.
The Rocket 88 of 1948 shares the honors with Cadillac of having the first modern American high compression V-8 engine.
Sad to say, but if Ransom's last name had been Thug or Rad instead of Olds, the cars that bear his name might still be in production: "Duuuuuude, love the decals on yer Thugmobile, dude."
- Oct 9, 1999
- 46,887
- 10,700
- 147
Nope, not exactly. It went, in ascending order: Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Cadillac.
For awhile in the 1930's the Oakland slotted in above Pontiac and below Olds; and the LaSalle was a baby Cadillac.
Saturn has always been on its own planet.
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