|
|
|
Last Updated: Sep 9, 2008 - 2:11:40 PM |
"Put one on your wanted list" was one of the colorful opening ad
slogans in 1964 that introduced Oldsmobile’s new 4-4-2. The 1964 Olds
442, strictly an option on the GM A-body Olds F-85 Cutlass, came as an
immediate response to Pontiac’s announcement of the 64 Tempest based
GTO. The age of the intermediate sized, large cubic-displacement engine
muscle cars had been born and Oldsmobile was the first to join the
movement next to Pontiac. For 1964 the Cutlass based 442 received a
worked-over B-09 police pursuit package that incorporated a 290hp 330ci
V8 mated to a 4 speed transmission, dual exhaust, and a dual snorkel
air cleaner mounted over a 4-barrel carburetor that boosted the 442 to
310hp.
In fact, it was these features that Oldsmobile derived the 4-4-2
moniker for its muscle machine. In 1964, 4-4-2 stood for 4-barrel
carburetor, 4-on-the-floor shifter, dual exhaust. Even though the
significance of the 1964 badge would change over the years, the name
would remain the same. The 442 wasn’t the most successful of the GM
A-body cars, but between 1964 & 1972, the Olds 442 would pound it’s
mark on the muscle car movement and become one of the most admired
muscle cars of its era.
In its nine years as a "true" muscle
car, the 442 came with several exclusive features, including unique
body features, access to Oldsmobile’s top engine options, and the best
handling components. Critics claimed the Olds 442 was one of the most
balanced of the intermediate sized muscle cars. Between 64 & 72,
the 442 would see many changes to its exclusive features, inside &
out, good & bad. The first major change came in 1966 with all new
sheetmetal that gave the 442 a longer, more muscular appearance &
an engine option that would leave the muscle car movement in the dust,
the W-30. Olds introduced their first tri-carb option on the
1965-launched 400ci rocket powered V8 with a unique cold air induction
system that along with certain engine modifications earned the 442 a
360hp rating.
The next & most significant changes to the 442
came in the 68 & 69 model-years, now standalone models. Still based
on the GM A-body, the 442 gave up 3 inches in its wheelbase and
received new & even more muscular appearing sheetmetal. The only
differences between the 68 & 69 442’s came in the form of different
hood, headlight & grille assemblies along with altered front and
rear bumper/taillight arrangements. For both years the 400ci V8 was
made available, although the 69 442 introduced a 350ci small block. The
400ci W-30 was rated at 360hp for both years with the familiar forced
air induction system with air intakes now positioned below the front
bumper. The most radical 442’s came at the hands of ‘ole "Doc" Watson,
who was the faithful employee of legendary George Hurst.
For
1968, the Peruvian Silver Hurst Olds utilized the Olds Toronado’s 455ci
V8, mated to the Olds 442 forced air induction system and a
Turbo-Hydramatic transmission that was controlled by a Hurst Dual Gate
shifter, all combined for 390hp & 500lb-ft of torque. The same
formula used by Hurst performance on the 68 Hurst Olds would carry on
to the 69 442 model. Although performance numbers were tuned down to
380hp for 69, the look of the 69 Hurst Olds was strikingly altered. The
now white Hurst Olds featured gold striping & a pair of eye
catching hood scoops. Also new to the 69 Hurst Olds was the W35
fiberglass rear deck spoiler that would carry on as an option through
the 72 model-year 442. The 68 & 69 Hurst Olds marked several key
influences on the Olds 442, and they ultimately set the launching pad
for the supreme year of the Olds 442 rocket car, 1970.
In 1970,
GM lifted its ban on engines greater than 400ci being used in mid-sized
cars, and Oldsmobile, who had already cheated the ban with the 455
powered Hurst Olds, made full use of the 455ci V8, enabling the 442 to
reach the peak of its performance history. The W-30 option also reached
its performance peak, offering a tweaked & blueprinted 455 rated at
a pavement pounding 370hp and 500lb-ft of torque capable of conquering
the quarter mile in the low 14’s at 100mph. The 442 W-30 455 was tucked
beneath a special air cleaner lid that functioned in sync with a new
outside air induction dual scooped fiberglass hood that fed cold air to
the 370hp V8. In the fashion of previous 442’s, the 70 442 received a
new grille, new front & rear bumpers along with new fenders and
rear quarters. As great as the 1970 442 model-year was, the celebration
would soon be over as the performance marked began to crumble.
New
government regulations mandating the use of unleaded fuel led to lower
compression ratios, and a collaborative drop in horsepower ratings.
Like it or not, 1971 was the beginning of the end for all muscle cars,
and the 442 was in no way immune to these changes. Performance numbers
plummeted & the 71 Olds 442 with the W-30 option 455 was down 70hp
to 300 net horsepower. Changes in appearance on the 71 442 were
minimal, perhaps the greatest was the once again revised & unique
grille design along with slightly different taillights. The writing was
on the wall; the 442 was at its end as a standalone model & in
1972, the 442 would return to its roots, once again as an option on the
Cutlass models.
Oldsmobile wasn’t about to let the 442 die a
quick death and in 1972, they offered the 442 option on its 4 different
Cutlass platforms. The 1972 442 option came from the dealer with the
factory standard 2bl 350ci V8, but could be had with the optional 4bl
350 or the 4bl 455. The W-30 performance option made its final
appearance on the 1972 442 and offered the same blueprinted 4bl 455 V8
rated at the same 300 net horsepower as it’s 71 predecessor. The 1972
442 W-30 also carried on with the OAI fiberglass dual scooped hood,
high lift cam, Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, Hurst Dual Gate shifter,
and dual chrome trumpet-style exhaust tips familiar on both the 70
& 71 442’s. The Hurst Olds also made a reappearance in 72 after a 2
year absence, but its encore was nothing in comparison to its 68 &
69 showstoppers.
Shortly after 1972, Oldsmobile withdrew from
the muscle car market. The 442 name would live on for years following
1972, but as nothing more than a marketing tool used amidst
Oldsmobile’s lineup of government regulated environment friendly rag
tag bunch of grocery-getters. The 1972 442, with the W-30 option, is
revered by many muscle car enthusiasts as the last of a breed in a
healthy lineage of great Oldsmobile muscle cars.
On a brighter note, the 1972 Olds 442 W-30 has made a return in the
form of a superbly detailed and masterfully replicated 1/18-scale
diecast. The boys at Exact Detail & Lane Collectibles have
revisited their widely popular Oldsmobile series for a third round, and
this time they have brought us a beautiful copy of a Viking Blue 1972
Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Convertible. From the exterior box to the chrome
plated door lock knobs, Lane has not skipped a beat on their latest
Oldsmobile 442, offering over 240 unique parts. The box is decorated in
bright blue with graphics of the model replica, and an informative
history of the 72 Olds 442 along with specifications of the real car.
Inside the box, the 72 Olds is encased in a styrofoam shell, keeping in
all of that seemingly added new car "smell". How do they do that? The
72 Olds 442 W-30 comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity
& a white rubber boot cover along with a detailed white canvas top,
both sealed in plastic baggies atop the styrofoam shell. Like the
previous 1970 Olds 442 Indy Pace Car, the 72 Olds 442 convertible can
be displayed in top up or top down fashion. Lane is manufacturing only
3500 of the 72 Olds 442 W-30, so this is not only a beautiful work of
art, but one that is sure to be very rare in a short amount of time.
The
Lane 72 Olds 442 W-30 is more than a work of art, its another Exact
Detail masterpiece, and with the color combination of the Viking Blue
exterior, white stripes, and white interior plus white top, this
masterpiece is simply stunning. For starters, the paint is very smooth
and flawless over the entire car. The Viking Blue paint even appears to
contain a metallic flake which is nothing short of mesmerizing. The
white hood & side stripes show nicely against the Viking Blue
background and have been applied evenly with great precision. All of
this has been sealed in a thin clear coat to prevent chips or scratches
and it gives the 442 a lustrous shine.
Lane has scored another
bulls-eye with their outstanding job capturing the overall look &
stance of the 72 Olds 442. Inch for inch, they have recreated the 442
accurately with great care & meticulousness, overlooking no
details, no matter how insignificant. The W25 OAI fiberglass dual
scooped hood has made its second appearance from Lane since its first
emergence on the inaugural 70 Olds pace car and is detailed nicely with
painted hood openings and chrome plated hood-locking pins. The
chrome-plated bumpers are mirror-like and Lane has gone the extra mile
and correctly captured the subtle differences in the 72 rear
taillights, plus the unique 72 442 W-30 grille. The rest of the 72 Olds
442 is finished with chrome accents found around the headlights &
grille area, along the top edge of the drivers and passenger side
doors, and along the wheel well openings. As with the white stripes,
all of this chrome stands out nicely against the Viking Blue milieu of
Lanes latest Olds 442.
Those familiar with previous Oldsmobile offerings from Lane will find
nothing astonishingly new under the hood, in the interior or in the
trunk, but those not familiar are in for a treat. The engine is a
splendidly built replica of the Olds 455ci V8, resting among a
miniature jungle of wires & hoses. Here you’ll find heater hoses,
radiator hoses, spark plug wires, plus a wired master cylinder with
properly routed brake lines. The engine compartment is completed with a
detailed firewall, black inner wheel wells, a detailed air cleaner lid,
a detailed battery with battery cables, even a half empty washer fluid
reservoir that has a miniature line running out. On the opposite end,
the opening trunk is a little more organized than the engine
compartments wild kingdom, but rightfully so. Inside the opening trunk,
you’ll find a spare Viking Blue painted Olds Rally wheel wrapped in a
Firestone Wide Oval tire, along with a jack and jacking instruction
labels found on the underside of the trunk lid.
Upon opening the
doors to the interior, although you’ll without a doubt notice Lane is
still using the obsolete dogleg hinge design, you will find the overall
beauty of the replicated interior to be so handsomely breathtaking that
you will soon forget about that oversight. It is probably a good time
to mention that Lane has adapted to using the new age, more realistic
door hinge and will be incorporating their deign on all future series
offered by Lane. Inside Lanes 72 Olds 442 W-30, you will discover some
remarkable details from the flip up sun visors, to the detailed dash
with amazingly legible gauges, to the detailed door panels. The richly
finished soft to touch white front buckets fold forward to a white soft
to touch rear bench seat, both of which look every bit luxurious. The
front seats are further enlightened with a rib of chrome plated trim
along the base and back half of the seats. Both the bucket seats &
the rear bench are further accented with woven seat belts & chrome
plated belt clasps. The interior is capped off with a removable white
canvas convertible top that can be replaced with a white rubber
convertible boot. Add to that accurate 442 details including the custom
sport 4 spoke steering wheel with brushed metal spokes and a Hurst Dual
Gate shifter and what you have from Lane is a total package
representative of the 1972 Olds 442 W-30. Underneath the floorboards
you’ll find the Hurst Dual Gate shifter mated to an accurate
reproduction of the Turbo-Hydramatic 400 transmission. Other notable
details on the undercarriage include a detailed oil filter, detailed
gas tank with painted straps, visible fuel & brake lines, detailed
and functioning front & rear suspension components, plus a
stainless steel application to the exhaust and mufflers that exits
through a pair of chrome plated trumpet-style exhaust tips.
The
Exact Detail 1972 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 from Lane Collectibles is, in the
tradition of the previous two Olds releases, another home run. This is
a perfect way to celebrate the last true Oldsmobile muscle car, but
with only 3500 copies built, it’s sure to be a celebration that won’t
last long. Don’t be left without one, be sure to "Put one on your
wanted list"…..today!!
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
The Diecast Pub is a information resource only. For more information or to purchase models which may be featured here, please visit your favorite diecast dealer or even better yet check out one of our
sponsor sites which are listed at the top right corner of our forums here.
BACK
Find related information
© Copyright 2006 by The Diecast Pub
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
