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Ram Air 455/4-Speed: 1970 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible

It is estimated that Oldsmobile produced less than 600 examples of the 442 model in 1970 that were 4 speed equipped convertibles. This example has been in storage and is being sold by a dealer for the original owner. The car has some rust in the lower fenders but otherwise looks good. It is equipped with the W-25 455 cubic inch V8 engine and 4-speed transmission. The ad states that the car has a little over 110,000 miles on it. The Olds 422 is located in Springtown, Texas and is listed for sale here on eBay. Currently, there are 3 days remaining in the auction and the bidding has reached $33,100 after 29 bids.

The eBay ad includes 210 pictures of the exterior, interior, engine compartment, trunk, or undercarriage. The black bucket seats, door panels, carpet, and dash all look to be in very nice condition. The selling dealer states that the front seat covers and carpet are replacements. The trunk has a little surface rust but the convertible top appears very nice in the pictures. The 442 was a factory radio delete car and is considered to be the holy grail of Oldsmobile muscle cars. Air conditioning was added to the car when the original and only owner moved to Texas. As a resident of Texas, I can tell you that installing that option was a good idea.

The Ram Air 455 cubic inch V8 engine has all the factory components but the block is from a 1969 Oldsmobile. Other than the block, the 4 barrel carburetor and exhaust manifolds have been replaced on the engine. The car is said to run and drive well with plenty of low-end power. In addition to the factory 4 speed, the car is equipped with a positraction rear end and it has all its service records since new.

To me, it would be a hard decision for me to restore this car or leave it original. I would probably fix the rust and have the paint matched and enjoy it. I have found that restorations take so long that they steal the joy of ownership because the car is off the road so long. You may be different and I think either decision is a good one.

Comments

  1. Avatar TimM

    Absolutely gorgeous car!! All the boxes were checked here!!

    Like 6
  2. Avatar Al

    I have a W30 that was ordered and purchased by my Dad in 1970. It has the Hurst-Olds option as per the build sheet, which I still have.
    I drive it anywhere between 150 to 600 miles per year. It’s red with the original rear deck spoiler, one of the decals seams to be lifting and I don’t know if I should keep it (original) or replace it.
    The tires are G70 x 14 and are difficult to replace, as I need a new spare, but can’t find one yet (they have raised white lettering).
    In 1991, with the help of the local sheriff it was clocked at 142 mph, but I got scared as I could not recall if the tires were bias or not and they were also quite old . Just too nerve racking. As per the build sheet the wheels are PO5.
    Currently it has 104,000 miles on it.

    Like 18
    • Avatar alphasud Member

      You must live in a small town or have a really good sheriff buddy or both. If I asked my local sherif he would say sure I will clock you wink 😉

      Like 5
    • Avatar Pat

      I got clocked doing 115 on my Bonneville by the local police. He gave me the citation as verification. ;)

      Like 20
      • Avatar ccrvtt

        I-64 between Louisville and the Illinois line is nearly deserted after dark. I have almost new Y rated tires on my old Corvette. I haven’t come up with a story good enough for the ISP … or my wife.

        Like 3
      • Avatar Jon.in.Chico

        I ran up on a Texas State Trooper on I-10 outside Ft Stockton, Tx … he said he saw me in his rear-view and kept speeding up … when I finally realized I was coming up on a police car I slowed down, and so did he … we kept slowing down to about 40mph until I had to go around him, at which point he lit me up … he said he had sped up to 120mph and I was still gaining on him … he said I was going 147mph and asked where I was going in such a hurry … I said to my dad’s 75th birthday celebration near New Orleans but I just wanted to stretch the car’s legs on such a long, straight empty roadway … he then said that the fine would totally ruin my vacation … so I asked him if he had a warning ticket in his back pocket … he said where you going now, and I said we were going to San Antonio for the night before heading out in the morning … he said if I promised to drive 55mph til we got there he’d let me go … longest 3½ hrs of my drive … cars were blowing horns at me, 18-wheelers blasting at me, people flashing headlights behind me but I kept my word … but I will say that the Jaguar and Audi that dropped off at 135 ate the dust from my 350Z roadster …

        Like 2
    • Avatar Al

      At the time my cousin was a Rep of a car manufacturer, and was visiting me with a decked out PC with all decals & lights etc.. The local cop-shop wondered where this car was from and who was driving it. They came to visit me at my home and met my cousin, ID was exchanged and my 442 was sitting on the driveway (it was usually garaged).
      They asked how fast it was and I didn’t know, so they suggested I take it out and test it. They clocked it, no citation was provided, but I still did not know how fast it was as I had not yet floored it (were the tires bias????).
      Recently I found out my Mercedes did 133 mph. This was not sanctioned but I did not get a citation either.

      Like 8
      • Avatar Al

        I have no intention of selling the car as my GrandSon has expressed a real interest in it. He may sell it one day, who knows.
        Why am I saving it for my GS, I sadly remember my reaction to my Grandmother selling her 1936 Packard 12 7 Passenger Sedan (see BF Jan 22, 2021) for $50 when I was 12.
        I would have been still disappointed if she sold it then for $5,000, I loved that car and did tell her I wanted to “BUY” it from her, not a gift, but real money.

        Like 7
    • Avatar Joe Padavano

      There’s no such thing as a 1970 Hurst/Olds.

      Like 5
      • Avatar Al

        You are absolutely correct, they stopped making the Hurst/Olds in 1969, but my dad wanted one and could not get one. I recently read his diary and he was perplexed & P.O.’d that he could not get one.
        So my question is this a one-off or a “gentleman purchase”? I cannot answer that. The decal I was commenting on, I can not ascertain if it was dealer applied or Lansing applied my dad’s notes do not mention there source. I do know based on my Dad’s diary, that it is an early build
        I can verify that it gets 6 miles to the gallon in the city or the highway, hence the 150 to 600 miles a year.

        Like 10
  3. Avatar Kevin

    Nice car,but I thought the sharp cut quarter panels were only on cutlass supremes, and 70-72 bulge quarters were on cutlass s and 442,I’m pretty knowledgeable, but I’m sure Joe or someone more so,can clear that up.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Jon.in.Chico

      You’re right … my ’72 Cutlass “S” had the bulge quarters while my cousin’s ’71 Cutlass Supreme had the sharp quarters … the 442 convertible has the cut quarters while the coupes had the bulge …

      Like 1
      • Avatar Poppy

        I think the ’70-’72 Cutlass/442 convertibles have the best styling of all the GM A-bodies those years, thanks to that quarter panel crease

        Like 0
  4. Avatar chrlsful

    the white one, too late in the run (’70)

    Like 0
  5. Avatar PRA4SNW

    SOLD for $36,100.

    Like 0

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