Running Convertible Project: 1967 Oldsmobile 442
The 442 debuted in 1964 as Oldsmobile joined others in the GM stable in the mid-size muscle car market. It was an option on the Cutlass until 1968 when it finally became a series of its own. 442 or 4-4-2 was an acronym for “four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and dual exhausts” initially, but would morph as an automatic transmission would come along. This 1967 convertible is a running project that we’re told has all-new sheet metal in the back half of the car (but we don’t know why). It runs and drives, and the seller provides a lot of details about the vehicle. Another tip brought to us by Barn Finder “numskal”!
Sales of the Olds 442 were strong and growing in 1967, with nearly 25,000 copies sold. Most of these were hardtops and coupes, with just over 3,000 drop-tops delivered. With the styling updated in 1966, the cars were largely unchanged in 1967 and a 400 cubic inch V8 was standard fare in the Cutlass-based 442. A single 4-barrel carburetor was in play as GM mandated that twin or triple carburetion would be “outlawed” within the company except on the Chevy Corvette.
This 442 was a California car (built in Fremont) and comes with its original black license plates. It left the factory painted Saffron Yellow, but that was changed to Midnight Blue at some point. It’s a well-equipped muscle car with an automatic, power steering and brakes, electric windows (finicky), and factory air conditioning (not working). The power convertible top works but the canvas has outlived its prime.
The original buyer went with a bench seat rather than buckets and the transmission is column-shifted. The next owner will need to address a leaky freeze plug and a clunking ball joint, The seller is upfront in indicating the rear clip has been replaced, but we don’t know if that’s due to damage or extensive rust. The front half of the car has a touch of corrosion here and there. The interior will need some work, too. Interested buyers will find the vehicle in Menifee, California, and it’s available here on craigslist where $12,500 is the asking price (but it’s also OBO).
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Comments
Good Dr. Olds delivers another one. Wow these 400s were putting out some power 350hp/440lb-ft.
Hydramatic autoloader available with eight different rear gear options!
3.08 to 4.33 lol ⚙️ 🏁
😎
Sorry, but a “442” with a bench seat and column shift is not a 442. Just as there’s no such thing as a 4-door sports car. The rich kid up the street had a new 1966 442 coupe with bucket seats, a tachometer, a 4-speed and Magnum 500 wheels with redline tires.
THAT was a 442.
I would prefer a four speed but nothing wrong with a bench seat. Doesn’t matter were the shifter is if its an automatic.
Not that it makes much difference as a ragtop is heavier than a coupe, but a bench seat is lighter than two buckets sets, and in a true muscle car, that’s what its all about
After all these years..I always thought the 442 stood for motor size….
Thanks, Joe. I might be 75, but my gearhead remembers the “code” was: 442,
400 cubic inch, 4 barrel carb, 2 exhaust. That way the model designation could be used with several other combinations of transmission and interiors.
And included the 4 door model…..
I’m impressed with the honesty of this seller. Very few ads are this thorough, especially on CraigsList.
I don’t think the price is bad considering all the pimp options and documentation available.
Bench seat and automatic on the column still a fast little batch! And sweet its convertible!
Well NOT worth the money.
Bench seat convertibles give you a third seating position out of the wind.
I was 17 in 1967 when an adult acquiescence bought one of these. Gorgeous car. Anyway, as he was showing it off to me and several others, he mentioned that the salesman who sold him the car told him the car was designed to use a quart of oil every 10000 miles–not burn it, not leak it, mind you, but simply “use” it. The assertion was so ridiculous that I’ve remembered it for almost 60 years.
LOL, I remember hearing that and other weird (mythical) automotive “truths” being said back then!
In 1974 I asked my dad for a loan of $1000 to buy a $1200 car. He said sure, what do you plan on buying? I told him it was a 67 442. His eyes bugged out and he said $1200 for a 7 year old car? Yeah, it’s in really good shape, dad. His response, “No way!” It was a good price on that car back then but he didn’t see the value of it and I couldn’t come up with the cash. A few months later I bought a nice 65 impala, 6cyl, 3on the tree, radio and heater that had been sitting in a neighbors yard for several months with a For Sale sign on it. Nobody wanted it. I offered $500 and it was mine. I kept that car until 2019. Gave it to my 15yo grandson and we still spend occasional weekend afternoons working on it (when he’s not driving it!). I am very grateful for this inexpensive and reliable car (and the restoration/maintenance car community) that allows me to spend time with my grandson. However, I still think of that 442 and all the fun we could be having with that instead of the Impala.
Regrets, I have a few. But then again, too few to mention… Sounds like the time with your grandson is worth it though.
When I was 17 in 1979 I paid $1,500 for a 48,000 mile 73 Duster 340 that was a trade in at our local Chrysler Plymouth dealership , They were ,of course selling Volares , so a older Muscle car was not high on their selling list; they parked it behind the dealership where it wouldn’t be seen – but I saw it, bought it, and still have it !