No hood scoops, faux air ducts, stripes, or wings sully the smooth lines of this 1969 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Holiday Coupe. Only metal “442” script warns that a super-hot 400 powers this Clark Kent hardtop. Listed as a “garage find” with running condition not mentioned, this stock-looking specimen comes to auction here at Mecum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. True to its original name, the Olds comes with a four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and dual exhaust.
Despite ranking below sportier Hurst, W30 and W32 models, the normal 4-4-2’s 400 cid (6.6L) V8 makes a stout 350 HP. The customer-ordered hardtop came with air conditioning, an option that could not be combined with W30 or W32 models according to ClassicOldsmobile. The hardtop Holiday Coupe also came without vent windows, making air conditioning even more useful. A specific carburetor, heads, and cam, combined with this car’s wide-ratio four-speed manual gearbox and SF-code 3.23:1 Anti-Spin rear axle, would require some finesse to avoid roasting the 14 inch bias ply tires.
Glistening chrome on the curved rear bumper completes the smooth and understated rear. Redline tires came with the 4-4-2 package, but documents from the car’s sale indicate this car’s buyer ordered whitewalls! While body-colored wheels and “dog dish” hub caps would have probably been removed within a week of its original purchase, modern enthusiasts know they often signal a monster engine today.
Beyond the host of 4-4-2 package upgrades, this Olds came with minimal options, just air conditioning, Anti-Spin, wide-ratio four-speed, white wall tires, “Stereo Tape Player,” “Deluxe Pushbutton Radio,” “Head Restraints,” and the floor-mounted “Sport Console.” Though not the most stealthy sleeper of the ’60s, this is about as plain as a 4-4-2 could be in 1969, a car you could drive calmly without every hot-blooded gear-head on your commute trying to put a burr under your saddle. I believe the metal 442 badges mount via punctures in the sheet metal, or else I’d suggest this car might have had them removed at one time. The day I bought my 2002 Buick Regal GS I used fishing line to remove the “SUPERCHARGED” script from the trunk lid. One down-side of driving a sleeper is that people often have to be put in their place multiple times because the first time simply elicits disbelief. Value aside, would you choose this sedate-looking 4-4-2 Holiday Coupe or a striped-out W30?
I’ll take the sleeper every time.
Todd, was that the venerable GM 3800SC? Those were fun!
Hey 8banger. Yes! The L67. I had some light mods to the engine and transmission and a custom flash done by Tim King of TKO Performance that took me to about 12 lb of boost and 300 HP, enough to surprise people and still get 27.x MPG with four people and luggage. It was the perfect car for that time of my life when I had two kids living at home. I bought it for $8200 at 80k and it gave me more than 200,000 miles before the transmission went. I could still be driving it but I was ready for something else. Great sleeper though. As my daughter’s boyfriend once said “It’s a Grandpa car but a FAST Grandpa car.” LOL
It’s begging for a set of Super Stock wheels.
It’s not a “Cutlass 442”. In the 1969 model year (and each model year from 1968 to 1971) the Cutlass and 442 have different VINs. 344… VIN is a 442, 336… VIN is a Cutlass. In this case the VIN starts 344…
I love these. Had a ‘69 Supreme hardtop for 6 years (‘81-‘87) and 160k miles, great car.
One of GMs handsomest ever, not a wasted line on the whole car.
I’d Upgrade the brakes and lighting and drive it forever.
It was for sale on FB for $39,900 in NJ for a while . Don’t know if that guy is selling or a flipper . I wanted to go look but just couldn’t get away .
Love this body style but can’t stand the wheels!