The last year of the third-generation Colonnade body style, 1977 was the last of the slightly bigger A-body for Oldsmobile and they continued to offer a 442 model. Although, now the biggest engine was a 403 V8, but the seller says this 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 has a 455 V8. They have it posted here on eBay in Tacoma, Washington, there is no reserve, and the current bid price is $7,500.
Oldsmobile made the third-generation Cutlass from 1973 through 1977 and it was the best-selling car in the U.S., starting in 1976 through the 80s. The 442 retained the sloping grille but other S models of the Cutlass had a new upright grille treatment. Olds sold more than 630,000 (!) Cutlasses in the 1977 model year, that’s an amazing amount of cars for one model.
The 442 package was available on the Oldsmobile Cutlass S and it consisted of a few suspension upgrades, some trim differences, and graphics, that’s about it. The seller gives basically zero information about this car and that’s very unusual for an eBay listing, especially one with such great photos. There is no description at all that refers to this example, sadly. You can see some rust on the edge of the trunk in the photo above and it would be nice to know if there is any more.
What they lack in description is made up for in good photos, including several underside photos. It sure looks solid from what we can see, but that trunk rust will have to be taken care of eventually. The interior appears to be in nice condition, and the seats both front and rear look good, other than the driver’s seat. I can’t tell if they’ve been recovered but it appears to be a velour-type material, something that I wouldn’t have expected to see in this car from this era.
Here’s the real head-scratcher of this car. With no information given other than a typed-out fill-in-the-blanks on the description, the seller lists this car as having a 455-cu.in. V8. You Oldsmobile fans and fanatics will know that 1976 was the last year for the 455 and the biggest engine available in 1977 in this car would have been the 403. To top it off, the VIN decodes to this being a 350 V8 car. Any thoughts on whether this is a 350, a 403, or a 455 V8?
My best guess? It’s the 350, and the “owner” doesn’t know one way or the other. (Factory numbers on the block?) I seriously doubt this is a 455.
Not only is there rust forming around the edge of the deck lid, but it’s had a poor re-spray somewhere along the line too, plus it’s missing the “442” call-out on the RR of the deck lid. A fairly solid 442, but it’s been `round the block. I’d scrutinize this car closer if I were seriously interested. Coveat Emptor.
It’s not a 350. I swapped my 350 for a 455 in my 71cutlass and the distance of the valve cover to the break booster is what I see under the hood of my 455. You can tell it’s a BBO by the width of the intake.
It’s definitely a 455 you can tell by how wide it is any Oldsmobile guy should know this but yeah you’re right
It is definitely a 455 if you look at the alternator bracket the bolt is in the big block hole 350 And 403 would be in the outer hole for the narrow width of the small block. Someone has changed the engine.
in the one picture the heads are G heads comes back to a 71 455
Could have a 455. If it does, it’s been transplanted. Knew a guy who tried this with a Buick Electra. But he let his engine builder talk him into stuffing it with W30 parts. Can you say spark knock, lack of power and vacuum operated accessories not working. It was a bad combination. He bought the Electra with a reached Buick 350 and had a 455 Olds laying around. A stock rebuild and it probably would have been fine. The builder wouldn’t correct the problem and basically took the engine in lieu of payment.
Never understood why my friend didn’t just rebuild the 455 himself, he was a good mechanic and very capable of building his own engines. He had done many rebuilds over the years.
He acquired a 403 Oldsmobile for the Electra then sold the car to attempt to recover his losses. He lost his shop eventually, he was a good guy. I use to love to BS with him. Learned a lot from that man.
Back to the 442. Largest Engine for 1977 was the 403 Oldsmobile. A 350 was the norm, however the 260 was available.
If this is a 455, it’s a Transplant. I liked Oldsmobile, however I am not interested in this one.
The auction has no description so all we get is a few pictures. I don’t see anything written in the ad that states this is a factory 455 and given the cars age I’m sure the original engine gave way to a 455 at some point along with the aftermarket intake and carburetor.
This car generates as much excitement for me as watching an Earl Scheib paint job dry on a car at u-pull-r-parts.
Why did you look at it?
Olds 442 ? No 4 speed manual transmission . This car is equipped with a TH400 , which is a 3-speed automatic ….. Olds 432 ! This car was manufactured in Canada . U.S production ended in 1976, Cool car ,kinda .
This is a very ruff car. The engine is not original
Look at the fill oil oil location
I agree, rough just doesn’t look right.
The oil fill location is correct for any Olds block V8.
You think that’s rough? You’ve clearly never seen a car from the midwest. I don’t see much of anything wrong with it besides a busted grille, some heavy wear on the interior, and cosmetics on the engine. As for the oil fill location, it’s the same as any Oldsmobile 260, 307, 330, 350, 403, 400, 425, or 455, this engine appearing to be a 1971 455 based on the head castings.
Probably not a TH400, TH350 came with my new 403 in 77. Could be though if it can with the 455 out of another car.
Judging by the transmission detent cable run to the carburetor, I’d have to agree it’s a TH350.
I had to run a cable to the carb with a switch on my cutlass when I swapped the th350 for a th400. The th350 came with a cable stop at the gas pedal. The th400 requires a switch, so it could be a th400
Only 1964 442s came with all 4spd. Starting in 65 a 3spd manual was standard and automatics were added to option list. Also 442 production went into the 80s, plus they offered one in the 90s with a 4cyl.
Only 1964 442s were all 4spd. Starting in 65 a 3spd manual was standard and automatics were added to the option list. Also 442s were made into the 80s on the g body and even offered in the 90s with a 4cyl.
General impression is that this is a very high mileage car.
I think the seats have been redone.
Look at that carpet !
Been around the block a few times.
No description
No sale
76 and 77 442s share the header panel set up and the Cutlass S and have the older Collonade triangle 1/4 glass. The 76 and 77 Cutlass supreme models had the waterfall grille with the Monte Carlo style roofline and a rectangle 1/4 glass
Yes but no… all ’73-’77 Cutlass Supremes are notchbacks with the small vertical quarter glass, and all ’73-’77 Cutlass S are fastbacks with the long triangular quarter glass.
I learn something every day from those who share their knowledge and experience in the posts. Keep it coming. Please.
If it is a 455 then someone put it there. The big engine bucket seat floor shift no air was the correct formula just a few years earlier. Manual swap can be accomplished. Not a bad car for the DYIer. Little bit of gold overload. Thanks Bandit.
1976 was the final year for the Olds 455; since I believe a “K” in the VIN denoted a 350, this WAS probably originally a 403.🤷🏻♂️
I’ll pass.
I bought a 77 white over gold one in 79. Poor thing rusted badly around the back glass and trunk lid. Still one of my favorites. By this time it was 4 barrel, single exhaust and automatic. Then marriage kids mortgage, let it go for $400 in early 90’s. Life was great then.
The fact that it’s not a 403 is a plus.455 is a great choice instead…
Finally seeing a decent looking Olds compared to the green and gold 442 on the used lot I worked at for 4 years.Same car but well worn with a 350 and T-tops.I would yes it does look like a 455 and not bad for under 10k if it ain’t to rusty underneath that black paint.
The photos in the ebay ad show Ga heads, which only came on the 1972 455 motors. the Performer 455 also shows this to be a non-original big block Olds motor. Of course, the 455 bolts in, and obviously the 455 didn’t exist when this car was built (1976 was the last model year in which Olds made the 455 motors). The car’s VIN (again from the ebay ad) shows that this car was born with a VIN R Olds 350 motor.
It’s an Oldsmobile 403ci engine in this car. The distributor is in the back and you can follow the plug wires in the picture. Still – a pretty good motor anyway, just not as powerful. The 403ci , for those who might not know, was a small block engine designed to replace the big block 455ci. Slightly less power but the engine itself was considerably lighter weight and a little more fuel efficient. I think this car could very well be WORTH IT to restore up a bit and have some fun at cars and coffee/ shows! Yeah! I’m liking even more just thinking about it! Well, good luck to the new owner – just wish it was me. Nice article.
Sorry, but look again. While the 403 was a factory option in the 1977 cars, this isn’t one of them. It’s a transplanted 1972 455. You can clearly see that in the photos in the ebay ad.
??? Robert, what??? You may want to read up on the Olds V8.
I agree. What? Apparently somebody doesn’t comprehend that the the 260/307/330/350/403 and 400/425/455 are all the same engine family, so they look virtually identical, aside from the latter group having a 1.3″ taller deck height and a corresponding wider intake manifold.
Definitely not a 403, or 350.
I had a 75 442 with a 455, th400 with swivel seats. The car was to be a daily commuter years back. The cars career lasted three weeks before it was taken out one evening on the way home. They gave me 5 times what I paid for it and it sat in my junk collection until I relocated and had the bulk of my so so items scraped. There have been quite a few of these 442s across here in recent months including a few Hurst versions.. A neat front on this one but far more than I would ever pay for one of these. This unit is tired looking and has been fooled with and sports few options. Big 70s things with no gadgets make for a ho hum ride in today’s world as fast is not part of the equation on these so tunes and comfort gizmos are a must.
Auction update: this one sold for $10,700.
Auction update 2: this one “sold” for $10,700 and something fell through with the sale (not surprising), it was relisted and sold again for $9,500.