Well past the muscle car era, the fifth-generation Oldsmobile 442 still had some chops hidden inside its buttoned-up 1980s suit of clothes. It wasn’t quite the same as it was a couple of decades earlier, but the 1980s weren’t the same either. The seller has this 80k-mile one-family-owned 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 listed here on eBay in Meridan, Connecticut, and the current bid price is $15,200.
Oldsmobile literature of the era says about the 442, and its owners, “Not just good, but great! That’s how people tend to describe you. A real one-of-a-kind achiever, taking on all comers. A standout whose actions speak for themselves. Like your car, for instance. The one that only someone like you would drive. Cutlass 442.” That’s good ad copy, pumping up the potential buyers to let them know how great they’ll be if they buy a new Cutlass 442.
The sixth-generation Cutlass 442, based on the Cutlass Supreme, was made from 1985 through 1987, and there would be one last attempt to use the 442 name, but the next version would be based on the smaller front-wheel drive Calais. The seller says that his father bought this beautiful car new and passed it on to them when his father passed away. It has just under 80,000 miles and looks almost like new. It was the last year for the rear-drive 442, and this trim level moved to the Cutlass Supreme. A tell-tale sign was that they were all silver on the bottom, as seen here, no matter what the upper color was.
There are basically no flaws inside or out, other than a few normal, small scratches or nicks on the original Burgundy Metallic paint, and some brushing wear (I just made that up) on the left side, bottom seat bolster from getting in and out of this car over the decades. The burgundy Bronte velour seats look fantastic, both front and rear, and the trunk is clean enough to do surgery back there. Not that you would.
The engine is Oldsmobile’s 307-cu.in. OHV V8 with 170 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque, and it’s as clean as it can be. You can tell this car has been loved and taken care of by how clean the engine compartment is. It’s backed by a four-speed automatic sending power to the rear wheels for the last time in a 442. They had an 8.5″ rear end with 3.73:1 gears by this time, the same as Buick’s Grand National used. The Monte Carlo SS used the 7.5″ rearend. The seller doesn’t say how it operates but I’d have to guess it looks as great as it looks. This car is said to have never been driven in bad weather and was always garaged when not in use. Bidders seem to like this 442, how about you?
Absolutely beautiful! This color combo works so well on the 442 from this era.
Absolutely gorgeous. This was definitely NOT a daily driver. The carpet is like brand new, along with the seats. 80,000 is a nice low mileage without being too low that you wouldn’t want to drive it. Those hoses and vacuum lines look oh so familiar on the Olds 307. This had to have been garage kept its whole life. One of my favorite colors too. Very nice one Scotty, I enjoyed your write up!!!
Thanks, guys! I’m probably wrong in thinking that the last year of the rear-wheel drive 442s, no matter if it’s a 300+ hp powerhouse or more luxury oriented, is collectible. This sure looks like a nice one!
2 beautiful late model Cutlass’ in a row on BF 👍🙌 Thanks Scotty. Not fast, but still very comfortable and nice driving cars.
I agree with Stan’s comments! Very nice Olds!
For as much i would appreciate either a G.N. or an SS but being older now i just love the understated elegance of the 442. Even the composite headlights look well integrated with the reworked grille. The perfect car to take the kid’s to the local Dairy Queen and looking good doing it.
you let your kids eat ice cream in a car like that?
Don’t worry they’ll eat outside. ;)
Olds made some fine 442s but this is just a pretty driver not a hotrod like the early versions. Guy I worked with had one like this and I got a nice “new” assembly line motor for him to replace the 307. That 403 made a big difference and it is what GM should have put in this from the factory.
GM allowed Olds and Pontiac die from lack of giving them anything to sell. Buick was almost as bad but they did offer the GN that set the performance would on fire. Sad that Olds and Pontiac didn’t step it up at the same time.
GM has been a great disappointment for years.
Your last sentence cannot be repeated enough!
I assume these came standard with the improved handling package with rear sway bar and stiffer springs/shocks? Never knew the stock rear end ratio was 3.73:1 in these. That would definitely help performance off the line.
The 8.5” rear with 3.73 gears came on 83-84 H/O’s and 85-87 442’s. I bought one from a junkyard out of a 84 H/O to replace the weak 7.5 in my 79 H/O. Perfect addition it was.
Gorgeous. I couldn’t determine if that’s a sunroof or ttops. I especially like that it doesn’t have a vinyl roof.
Concerning the last of the rear drive 442’s, the 85 and 86 models were based on the Cutlass Salon (just like the Hurst Olds in 83 and 84 were) but the last ones starting in 87 were based on the Cutlass Supreme. Engines were 307 high output with 180 instead of 140 hp and standard rear gear was 3.73 but the G80 position was optional. 15 inch wheels were standard instead of the 14’s that were found on the other Cutlass models.
I never understood why so many of these were ordered without the like $45 G80 posi rear. An 84 H/O rear I bought for my 79 H/O was a single track and I had to install a posi. One of the guys above was right about the 403, I put one in my 79 H/O and with the 3.73 really woke up to the tune of a 12.73 et.
In 1995 I had a 1984 old cutlass with the same color combination with a six cylinder. It was a nice looking car that was fun to drive and was a great looking car. We drove it on our honeymoon from Georgia to Virginia and also see some friends out in Denver, Colorado. Anybody who gets his car will be really lucky to have a nice looking running car from yesterday year.
Absolutely stunning example for this era!
I love the color combination & the interior is very nice as well!
I would do something about the dead volt meter & the oil pressure may not be accurate.
Awesome example!
Clean!
Makes me miss my 86,it was no road racer but such an awesome cruiser, same exact interior as the 442 n even got a set of 442 wheels off of one that was going to auction.
SOLD for $22,900.
Thanks for the update!