Vehicle Description
Just a year before this 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 Hurst/Olds
rolled out, its manufacturer had intended their commemorative
edition marking the 15th anniversary of their collaboration with
the aftermarket parts specialist to be a "one and done"
proposition. They misjudged just how hungry the American car buying
public was for a bona fide, rear engine, V8 powered modern muscle
car - understandable since Detroit was moving toward more
conservative front engine cars at the time. That original offering
flew out of the showrooms, so the special edition Olds was brought
back by popular demand. This fine specimen takes things up a notch
in the performance department via the expansive big block looming
under its hood.
The two-toned, black and silver paint job, subtly scooped hood and
rear spoiler combine to serve notice that this is no garden variety
Cutlass. It's a sharp color scheme and, with its pair of opera
windows in back and an array of red decals, this 442 radiates
plenty of mid-'80s cool - it's easy to see why these special
edition muscle cars flew out of showrooms pretty quickly back in
their day. This '84 still acquits itself well - it's got a nice
shine, the chrome trim around both the front and rear windshields
is clean and the commemorative, special edition decals still really
pop. It retains a very well-kept appearance after more than 35
years of service, with no observable flaws to detract from its
vintage curb appeal. The commemorative W-30 graphic underneath the
driver's side headlight is yet another indication that this Olds is
special.
Inside, the original burgundy interior is still in place and in
good form. The cloth, high-backed buckets in front and bench seat
in back have held their original form well and there's an
appreciable amount of legroom for passengers both fore and aft.
Slide into the driver's seat and look down towards the center
console and you'll see a truly inspired feature: the Hurst/Olds
"Lightning Sticks" shifter. Configured unlike any other, the
Lightning Sticks allow the driver to manually operate the automatic
transmission - a precursor to paddle shifters that would come along
decades later. Up front, the dash is in outright great shape -
you'll find clean and easy to read gauges in the instrument cluster
and a supple, uncracked pad running across the top. In back, the
spacious trunk area is nice and tidy, lined with clean, well-fitted
carpeting, with the spare off to the side in its proper upright
position. The featured anti-theft device helps ensure that this
special edition Cutlass doesn't leave your possession unintended
and the AM/FM/Cassette stereo provides an era appropriate audio
experience.
An expansive 455 cubic inch engine now resides in the engine bay,
offering a substantial step up in displacement from even the
largest powerplant offering when this '84 debuted. It wears a
4-barrel carb on top and pairs with a 4-speed automatic California
Performance 2004r transmission whose overdrive gear makes for easy
cruising and low RPMs at highway speeds while the 3.73 limited slip
rear end puts power to pavement with efficiency. Power steering
makes this special edition Olds an easy handler, while power brakes
that include discs up front equip it with low-effort stopping
ability as it cruises on its set of 15" factory wheels wrapped with
Goodyear Eagle GT II tires. The undercarriage appears to be in very
solid shape and well positioned for plenty more future miles.
There were only a little more than 3,000 of these special edition
Cutlasses made in the first place and most of those have long since
fallen by the wayside, so this 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442
Hurst/Olds offers bona fide collectability to go along with its
vintage curb appeal. Call today!