The Olds 442 began life in 1964 as an option on the midsize F-85 as a $285.14 Police Apprehender Pursuit Package and Lansing’s answer to the Pontiac GTO. Simply put, 442 stood for “4”-barrel carburetion, “4”-on-the-floor and “2” (dual) exhausts. Like the Buick GS, this was a more luxurious muscle car, but no less a serious performer. The W-30 option first offered in 1966 initially included a hotted-up 400 CI V-8, 4-speed manual transmission, trunk-mounted battery, red plastic inner fender liners and a dual-snorkel air cleaner with cold air induction inlet scoops. This 1969 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 comes from the 442’s second year as a standalone model, as it was no longer an option package on the F-85/Cutlass intermediate. Olds built 26,357 442s for the model year, including 19,587 Holiday or two-door hardtop coupes like this car, which is finished in Platinum Silver with black accent stripes, a black vinyl top and black vinyl interior. Complementing the exterior are redline tires mounted on Olds’ signature Super Stock II wheels, and the trunk includes a full-size spare. Underhood, there’s a matching- numbers 400/360 HP Rocket V-8 with forced air induction backed by an automatic transmission and 3.91 limited-slip rear end. NOS air induction hoses have been installed on this W-30 equipped 442, which, for 1969, included the cold air induction scoops mounted underneath the bumper, special air cleaner, exclusive heads and high-performance camshaft, red inner fender liners and the heavy-duty suspension with front and rear sway bars. As the ads proclaimed, this was definitely “not your father’s Oldsmobile!” As a more upscale muscle car, this Olds includes power steering, power brakes, bucket seats with a lockable center console and floor mounted-shifter, a map light, rear window defogger, tilt steering column, full instrumentation along with a steering column-mounted Sun tachometer, and an original AM/FM radio with factory underdash 8-track stereo player. This 442 is the beneficiary of a frame-off restoration by Steve Minore of Rocket Report fame, and a Rocket Report is included. Both the engine bay and undercarriage are nicely detailed on this outstanding example, which shows just 21,700 miles.
