Solid Driver: 1977 Oldsmobile 442
Four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and dual exhaust. The name for the Oldsmobile 4-4-2 was derived from this combo in the original car, which saw production beginning with the 1964 year model. The car had a strong start, and while it eventually deteriorated in the performance department, you’ve got to respect the Olds division of GM for at least allowing the 442 to soldier on until 1987, way beyond the original GTO and Chevelle SS. 1977 was the last year of the Colonnade style Cutlass, which premiered with the ’73 model, and it did have a good looking body to add the 442 trim to. If you’ve been in the market for a nice condition seventies driver Four-four-two, this 1977 Oldsmobile 442 may be worth checking out. It’s located in Huntersville, North Carolina, and can be found here on Craigslist with an asking price of $13,900.
Barn Finds would like to give a big thank you to reader Rocco B. for the great tip on this one! The seller describes his 442 as being all original, and he says there is a lot of paperwork that goes along with the car. We don’t get much in the way of the car’s history or how long the seller has actually owned it, but judging from the photos the Olds does look like it’s had its fair share of care and love throughout the years. There are no photos provided from underneath, but the floors and trunk are said to be solid.
One of the good features of the last two year models of the third-generation 442 is the aerodynamic sloped nose and split grille, although this one could use a bit of work upfront. The far left section of the grill is missing a few pieces, and it looks like that may be a small hole nearby in the parking light lens. On the driver’s side, one of the headlights appears to be out of alignment, and I’m not really sure why the car was photographed with the hood not entirely shut.
The seller tells us that the interior is “done”, and while I’m not sure exactly what he means by that, things are looking to be in respectable condition inside. There are no obvious tears in the fabric, and the carpet, headliner, and door panels all look like they’re well-preserved. The fuel gauge is not functioning and the windshield wipers aren’t working, but hopefully, both will be easy repairs for the next owner. It’s far from my favorite period dash layout, but that is definitely one of the coolest steering wheels on any ’70s GM vehicle. Pretty nice console too.
The 350 engine is said to run great, but no word on whether or not it or the Turbo Hydramatic has ever had a rebuild, although the car did receive quite a bit of brake work in the not too distant past. The Olds is registered and driven, and overall it looks like a decent offering if this is the kind of car you’re looking for. What are your thoughts on this 1977 Oldsmobile 442? Is $13,900 in the ballpark for what you’re getting here?
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Comments
Not a bad price for a late 70’s 442. These will only go up in value. When the kids get done with hearing the blatt of 4 cylinder plasticars.
Those four cylinders would have more horsepower than this.
No offense, I’ve had some killer 4 bangers. But, if you’ve never driven a boulevard cruiser? It’s a whole different experience.
They sure do. And absolutely zero soul. I’ll take the sound, feel and torque of an Amercan V-8, any day.
Those 4 cylinders have more horsepower than this poseur.
Ok, and what’s your point?
Well, at least it’s not a Gutlass 442 with the 231 or 260. Those took about 15 seconds to hit 60, with a manual! An automatic 231 could take up to 17 seconds to chug to 60. That’s not even safe in today’s traffic.
The Olds 350 that this has is not a bad engine. It’s pretty slow in stock smog form, taking over 19 seconds to run the quarter. But if you put a cam, dual exhaust, headers, 3.23 gears, and a good torque converter on it, you could cut a lot of time off of that, and have a pretty respectable old cruiser.
Steve you sound like the kimd of guy whos dad bought him his first car, maybe second too,, and dont know how to change oil no less simple bolt on performance mods.
The horse power is more for magazine articles, its the torque that matters. ALSO, which 4 cylindar car are you comparing to this all American made 350ci ??, theres been millions of them.
For those who dont understand what a muscle car is, like Steve here, theyre not what the factory built for actual ‘poseurs’ but what theyre equipped and capable of for those who know how, again not what dad bought for me to be a poseur in.
This Olds is the last real muscle car, not including the small 87 442 that almost passes as one, that Olds made.
Inspired by the Laguna, this is a one year model too, the last horah.
If i ever get a chance, id buy a W25 or 30.
As for it being a ‘poseur’ ?!, if a Toyota is American, than this Olds is a poseur.
No filler panels in the rear bumper.
Forgot how the 77s looked. Cool front end, nice lines. I miss the Oldsmobiles.
Some Colonnade style cars I like more than others. This is among my favourites, the 1977 Olds 442. $13k is a good price for this car. Anyone who works can afford to buy the car and do with it whatever he or she wants with it. If only Craigslist had more pics to show than it does.
Yes !, exactly what Bick said, emphasising ” but if you put “, and more so if you can.
Really though, the ‘power’ issue is akin to maturity, if it were being raced sure, but what Big C said , and Bick,, the men from the boys.
I’m guessing the rear bumper can be tucked in close to the body, eliminating a need for a filler panel.
I wonder if Hankook still makes these tires in 15″ size with Outline RWLs.
If not, how old could these tires be, or could they even be SUV tires?!
I’m surprised Olds did not put the 442 name on its lighter Omega body style(for better performance), like Pontiac put the GTO name on ventura body(tho just for one year).
Both should have come with 400+ cube motors – & i bet they would have sold a lot of em.
Digging those buckets. From here they look like from a 74-75’ Cutlass Salon
The original 442s came with the Olds 330 engine and they were screamers. This one is a really nice car, but brown? Ahhh Geeez…… anything but brown. :-) Terry J
I saw this car at the Charlotte Auto Fair back in April, for the same price. It looked nice walking by it.
I like it! A friend of mine had one of those in high school, but his was silver upper with maroon lower and maroon interior. Very nice cruiser!!
Seems like a really fair price and you could definitely do worse for the money
I had a black and gold with a 403. At 185 hp it would move nicely but without and neck snap. I had the FE handling package, and. It handled great. These cars were cruisers and nothing more. You rode in comfort with room the spare on the inside.