Oldsmobile has been manufacturing cars that date back to 1897. Throughout these generations of cars produced, some have been mediocre, while others have remained classic cars till date.
The Oldsmobile 442 had many generations, and the second generation body style had a particularly short production run. This year was significant for the 442 since it became its own model, as it was previously known as the Cutlass due to existing partnerships. It was also one of the better-looking 442s, as the body style would change in later years.
Despite the variety of generations, the meaning behind 4-4-2 is quite simple: four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and dual exit exhaust. This generation of 442s is renowned for pioneering the steering lock switch for your steering column, which was later implemented in other automobiles. This eventually helped pioneer security methods for modern vehicles.
The 1969 Oldsmobile 442: The 442 Showed What V8 Power Could Do
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One of the best perks of the Oldsmobile 442 was the engine that powered the car. The 442 had a variety of engines ranging from a V6 or V8, though the V8 models were heavily preferred among enthusiasts. The base model 442 came standard with a 400 cubic-inch block, but differed in power figures since it came in different transmission configurations.
While the TH400 3-speed automatic made 325 horsepower, the TH400 4-speed manual however made 350 horsepower. The W32 option featured the same horsepower, with outside air induction, whereas the W30 produces an output of 360 horsepower. Ironically, the W32 models were highly sought after by regular commuters due to their surprisingly good fuel economy.
The rear-end gear ratios differed from the 442s that had air conditioning and those that didn’t. The air-conditioned models were 3:08:1, and the non-air-conditioned models were 3:91:1.
The Hurst edition was what made the Oldsmobile 442 so legendary. Featuring 390 horsepower and 500 ft-lbs of torque, the car was capable of doing 0 to 60 in 5.9 seconds and a 13-second quarter-mile off the showroom floor, which was pretty astonishing at the time. While these numbers aren’t exactly impressive for today’s standards, it was more than enough to give its competitors a hard time.
The 1969 Oldsmobile 442’s Incredible Aesthetics
The second-generation 442 had everything a good-looking car needed. With the option of having a coupe or sports coupe, great body lines, and a good-looking rear end, this generation proves to be highly sought out by muscle car enthusiasts.
This was the body style that featured a “facelift”, where many things got revised, such as the implementation of side indicators and rear end. The rear-end facelift was easily one of the best features of this car, as it made it look that much more appealing. The dual-end exhaust provided the car the symmetry it needed to attain its classic and aggressive look.
The special Hurst Edition, however, featured more goodies than the average Oldsmobile 442. The Olds/Hurst 442 featured bucket seats and a custom Hurst shifter, and Hurst branding wherever it seemed to fit.
The 1969 Oldsmobile 442: The Hurst/Olds Edition
The special Hurst Edition featured everything that the base 442 had options for. The partnership between Hurst Performance and Oldsmobile was revolutionary for the company, but because of their limited-run production, they were usually hard to find and in rough condition. All cars came featured meticulous and fine detail wherever applicable.
The Hurst/Olds Edition 442s came with dual-gate shifters, bucket seats, headrests, and all the options the 442 had offered. It had optional disc brakes, upgraded suspension, and better cooling components, fitting the characteristics of a muscle car. With the aforementioned W30 engine pushing 380 horsepower and 500 ft-lbs of torque, the Hurst 442 was a sick ride.
This was the pinnacle of car culture for Oldsmobile. However, due to the changes in automobile regulations, the 442s following were detuned to make slightly less power. This was largely due to the intended use of catalytic converters in 1975 and changes in octane regulations. This made the later generations of 442s slightly disappointing, to say the least.
How Much Does The 1969 Oldsmobile 442 Cost Today?
The limited-production car has proven to be worthy of classic car status due to its fine looks and capabilities. Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer on how much it will cost, as the price range differs drastically from listing to listing.
This is mostly because there was a variety of configurations the 442 could have come in, from W30 to W32 to Hurst/Olds, though most are priced anywhere from $45,000 to $90,000. The price usually reflects on the condition of the car, and they are typically found on auction-style websites like Classic Cars or Bring a Trailer. One thing we know for certain is that the muscle car will be sure to leave a dent in your wallet.
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