If you think that you have seen this 1986 Oldsmobile 442 here on BF before, you haven’t. But, you have seen some that were very similar and that’s mostly due to all 4,200 of them having their below-the-beltline bodies finished in silver. Tony P. found this exceptionally clean, pseudo-muscle car for us, it’s cooling its heels in Garner, North Carolina and it’s a definite looker.
After being out of production for four years, Oldsmobile’s legendary hot rod returned in ’85 and continued through the ’87 model year. I call it a pseudo muscle car because it’s powered by a 170 net HP Oldsmobile sourced 307 CI V8 engine – not the stuff off the vaunted W-30. As the seller states, “The 80s 442s aren’t powerhouses like the 60s, but it will scoot.” I could not have stated it better myself! I imagine this Olds is an enjoyable ride but a put-you-in-the-backseat kind of car, this isn’t. With the exception of Buick’s GN, not much in the ’80s was. The 442 designation, in this case, can be construed as accurate thanks to this Oldsmobile’s 4-barrel carburetor, 4-speed automatic transmission (200-4R), and 2 exhaust outlets.
Technically, the 442 was an option on the Cutlass Salon in ’85 and ’86 and then moved to the Cutlass Supreme for ’87. The mileage recording is stated as being 58K miles so this car’s minimal use over 38 years of existence has preserved its looks. The seller adds, “The body on this car is amazingly straight, the paint is glossy, no sun fade, blemishes, no clear coat peel, none of that.” Oldsmobile’s tale is a sad, oft-told one. I won’t belabor the point but I will state that if the GM division, which was no longer my dad’s, did manage to wrangle a third-place finish in the 1986 domestic production race with just a bit over 1M units. They were only bested by Ford and Chevrolet. Perhaps I’m living in the past, but if Dr. Oldsmobile had kept conjuring up cars like this Cutlass series, they may not have suffered the ignominy that they did – a deleterious set of circumstances that forced them to ultimately take a knee in 2004.
Said to be, “… plush gray and clean” this 442’s interior is as pristine as the exterior. It has all of the ’80s GM characteristics going on with velour-like fabric upholstery, a cassette player, and faux wood trim but it still looks almost like new. Also noted is the “non-cracked” dash pad, a detraction that often affects many GM cars of this vintage. Being a two-door coupe, or a sedan – depending on your preference, I’m giving additional consideration to the back seat. Besides it not looking as if it were ever introduced to a hind-side, it actually appears to be useable for two passengers, unlike many similar body styles that have come along since the G-body’s demise.
Verdict? I like this car, it’s one of the finer examples that I have encountered as of late. It’s available, here on craigslist for $17,500. What do you think, priced right, or not quite?
these are good looking cars
Beautiful car. I’d have to swap out the 307 for a 455 Olds though.
Also these cars are sadly one of the easiest cars to steal. If you own one, make sure you invest in some kind of theft deterrent.
I had a 1986 Cutlass that someone tried to steal, twice.
I had an 87 442, in dark blue, 45k miles, beautiful condition, stolen one week after I got it in 1991. Just put new tires on it. Never saw it again. One of the biggest disappointments that can happen to a young man, the first really nice car I ever owned. After that I had an 86 Monte Carlo SS. These were all nice cars to look at, but not well made, and underpowered.
What’s up with the A/C? Two receiver/driers?
The smaller can might be a compressor muffler, but I’ve never noticed them before. Looks like the ports are the R-134a style
The little one next to the compressor is the filter/dryer and the big one is an accumulator that contains the orifice tube to knock the pressure down. I think, anyway. It has been a long time since I tackled a/c work on an 80’s GM.
I dug around a popular online parts seller, it appears the little can is a muffler.
Thanks guys!
“if Dr. Oldsmobile had kept conjuring up cars like this Cutlass series, they may not have suffered the ignominy that they did – a deleterious set of circumstances that forced them to ultimately take a knee in 2004”.
If Roger B Smith, bean counter CEO extraordinaire hadn’t slashed the car divisions budgets to chase a Saturn pipe dream, buy Hughes Electronics, and EDS maybe Dr. Oldsmobile would still be around today. This is what happens when you put a non-carguy in charge.
JimmyX you nailed it. The car business is just one good example. The CEO of any company should be a “Product”-guy, of whatever the company manufactures or sells. Someone who understands the market and the target consumer. All too often, a CFO (bean-counter) or some slick-talking sales guy ascends to the Ivory tower and doesn’t know how to do anything except slash budgets to save money. In most cases, you have to spend money to make money. Spend it in the right places and you will be successful.
I thought these were silver over black one year, and black over silver the next. (?)
Boatman – you are thinking of the Hurst Olds of 1983 (Black over Silver) and 1984 (Silver over black.)
Hurst Olds
You are referring to the 1983-84 Hurst Olds Cutlass which they themselves are beautiful cars.
Nice to see one of these that hasn’t been butchered with T-tops. Nice car, I would love to own it.
“Butchered with T-Tops?” Are you really going to be road-racing a stock 307 86 Olds 442 where some additional body flex is going to matter ?
I’ve owned two 1979 Olds Cutlasses with T-Tops – one when I was 16-24 years old, and the other currently. I have many fond memories of the first T-Top Cutlass (the girls loved it) and many recent car show awards to indicate that many people find a T-Top G-Body Cutlass to be one beautiful car.
@Boatman, You are thinking of the 83 and 84 Hurst/Olds. 83H/O, Black upper and silver bottom. 84 H/O, Silver upper and back bottom.
Car guys can make beautiful vehicles but you need business guys to make money. It does little good to build the most beautiful vehicle that nobody is buying. It’s easy to build a car that’s too complicated or expensive. After the initial sales reach water level the car has to be over incentivised to move the remainder. I really hate the line “I love it but I’m not in the market right now”.
Nelson You may be correct, however Roger Smith did not make money ran it to almost bankrupt while losing market share to Asian companies who offered superior product for less money AND made all division share engines ( GM corporate engine) and mostly look alike vehicles with no distinct qualities to differentiate .
Thanks guys!
I really liked this generation of Olds. I’d be happy just to find a base Cutlass of this year, let alone a 442. Probably worth the seventeen large but too rich for my blood.
asking 1986 sticker price. nice car but not that nice for the money. they sounded nice buy were dogs off the car carrier. i was there when they were new, and they did not sell well.
I have a relative in Ohio with one he bought new and has under 5000 original miles! How he bought it at 16 and never drove it much is unreal.
Great cosmetic condition for its age. Too much gray and silver for me. This was one of the few bright spots in the malaise era. Cutlasses ran well and were comfortable while being a manageable size of 203 inches long. Adding the 307-4bbl and parts bin options made the 442 package desirable.