Vehicle Description
Fast and sophisticated, this 1971 Oldsmobile 442 isn't like most
muscle cars. Yes, it does carry its original 455 cubic inch V8 and
yes, it's dressed in some seriously aggressive bodywork, but the
combination of the sleek silver paint and comfortable interior
remind us that buying an Olds was an entirely different
experience.
OK, so the original color was Antique Green, but I'm guessing
there's just no way it looked as good as the icy silver paint this
442 currently wears. In a sea of red and yellow and black muscle,
this car stands out, looking both contemporary and brutal, it seems
to ignore the usual standards and goes off on its own. Sure, it's
got hood scoops and a wing on the deck lid, plus a pair of black
stripes that highlight the hood, but showing up in this car gets a
lot of attention. It's also a real-deal 442, so those badges were
installed honestly and the aggressive look is factory-issue. Nice
chrome sparkles against the silver paint, black pinstripes
highlight the flared fenders, and it's really hard to not love this
Olds.
The black interior was also fully restored to factory specs,
including the front bench seat that's a somewhat unusual find in a
442. Oldsmobile's added luxury is evident throughout, from the
woodgrained door panels to the somewhat more expensive-feeling
vinyl used on the seats to the rather lengthy list of options.
There's hardly any wear on any of the soft parts, so the car looks
and feels quite fresh, and that's a tic-toc tach to the right of
the speedometer. Included among this car's features are power
windows, factory air-conditioning, and ultra-rare cruise control,
which I don't think I've seen before on a car like this. The
original AM radio is gone, but the AM/FM/cassette unit in its place
does a decent job of looking like it belongs there and sounds
decent, too. And despite the fastback profile, there's a good-sized
trunk with plenty of space inside even with a full-sized spare
stowed there, too.
That's the original, numbers-matching 455 cubic inch V8, freshly
rebuilt and with mountainous torque it delivers the performance
you'd expect. The engine bay is clean and obviously shows signs
that it was carefully and accurately restored some time ago, with
bright corporate blue engine enamel, a correct 442 decal on the air
cleaner, and all original equipment save for the long-tube headers
and 3-inch exhaust system. It barks to life with that distinctive
Oldsmobile sound and eagerly pulls the slick coupe around without
ever seeming to work very hard. A heavy-duty TH400 3-speed
automatic transmission has no problem keeping up and the original
rear end still plants the power. It appears that the gas tank was
recently replaced and although the chassis isn't detailed for show,
it's as tidy as the engine bay and ready for another round of
cruising the streets. Perennially attractive Oldsmobile Rally
wheels are color-matched to the body and carry 225/70/14 Firestone
radials at all four corners.
The look, the pedigree, and the power all work together to make one
of the most compelling muscle cars we've featured recently. Call
today!
