All Original? 1969 Oldsmobile 442
The Oldsmobile 442 is one of the most recognizable names of the muscle-car era. All someone has to say is “four-four-two” and you know what they are talking about…Four barrel, four-speed, dual exhaust. This 1969 442 is said to be an original survivor that can be found here on eBay with a current bid of just over $15,000. Located in Ottumwa, Iowa, the seller has had it about a year but there’s no indication on why they are selling it. Check it out and let us know what your impressions are.
The interior is pretty standard for the late 60s/early 70s. I’ve always liked the way that Oldsmobile had the three gauge pods right in front of the driver’s field of view. While the dash isn’t as sleek and simple as some other muscle cars, the 442 tended to be closer to the “luxury muscle” category. It wasn’t all about straight-line high-performance. They were about performance wrapped in comfort.
The seller says the engine currently installed in the car is a 350 but the original 400 comes with it. Unfortunately, it needs to be rebuilt and there are no details on what may be wrong with it. If it has been pulled out, you can bet it was probably a catastrophic failure of some kind. There is very little information in the ad, but hopefully, the seller will offer to answer questions from potential buyers.
Here you can see the driver’s side rocker. There are several photos of the underside of the car in the ad. They aren’t the greatest quality, but you can tell this car is pretty solid with only minor surface rust. Overall, this looks like a good project depending on the condition of the original engine. So, after checking this one out, what is your impression?
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Comments
“All original”
Well, except for the 350.
And the repaint.
And the wheels.
And the wing.
And the new weatherstripping.
Since it comes with a numbers matching 400 then you can say it can be returned to original. I remember the TV commercials when the 442 1st came out. Col. John “Shorty” Powers ” 442, 4 barrel, 4 speed, dual exhaust.” In the following years 442 came to mean 4 barrel 400 CID dual exhaust so that it would apply to cars with automatics.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
I always thought it meant 4 doors, 4 cylinder and 2 slow for words……
Don’t quit your day job…
To me when I hear 442 I don’t really think of what it means at all, although my interpretation has been “400 cubic inches-4barrel carb-2 exhaust pipes. I usually think of a ’72 442 I drove one day but it had a 455,,, and the power steering was so light I felt disconnected from the road.
This one has the color I like as it slightly reminds me of the ’69 Hurst/Olds, like the rolly polly fenders,
Pegged somewhere in between the GTO and SS 396 Chevelle, another way of looking at the 442.,
The 350 won’t help sell this car. Now it’s a 342 so to speak. I’m done.
Had a 69 F85 W31 same paint scheme, white interior. It was a monster, traded for a new 73 Z28.
My very first car (that I bought) was a used 69 442. Mine was the 4bbl, 400 ci, dual exhaust as mine was an automatic. Being my first teenager car, I put a nice amount of hard earned money into it and it was so worth it. Thrush mufflers that ended under the front seats, L60s on the rear, air shocks, and I had Earl Scheib put a glossy coat of midnight blue on it, I painted the rockers white and put a white stripe down the center. Sold it to help pay for first year of college. I still wish I had that car!
Sold them brand new. Fun cars, not overly fast with the 400. Now the W30? Different story.
Nice car with very little to do!! The underside rust from the pictures doesn’t seem like a deal breaker!! I don’t know what they call the color but it’s pretty awesome!! The 350 in my opinion is a deal breaker though!! A 442 should at least have that going for it especially if it’s an automatic transmission!! Just my point of view!!
SOLD for $15,300.