Vehicle Description
This 1968 Oldsmobile 442 Holiday Hardtop is a beautifully restored,
Real Deal 442 muscle car that sports the iconic namesake 4-4-2
features, a 4 speed manual transmission, a 4 barrel carburetor,
dual (2) exhaust! While Pontiac is widely credited for kicking off
the muscle car era with its GTO, Oldsmobile was not far behind when
it debuted its own version of the muscle car in the middle of 1964.
Oldsmobile's 442 package was sold as a high-performance add-on on
Oldsmobile's F-85 platform and it got its name from its features, a
4 speed manual transmission, a 4 barrel carburetor, and dual (2)
exhaust, hence 4-4-2! As the years progressed, Oldsmobile's 442
package rose in popularity just like the entire muscle car
industry. In 1968, Oldsmobile spun off the 442 as its own distinct
model, as opposed to its previous status as a mere option package.
Marketed as a "Youngsmobile," Oldsmobile was either targeting the
442 at a younger audience by attempting to shake its sleepy
reputation as your dad's or grandpa's car, or perhaps Oldsmobile
was targeting a more mature audience who wanted to feel young at
heart. Either way, the 1968 Oldsmobile 442 was a gentleman's muscle
car of sorts, sporting high-performance muscle car features while
also remaining a higher trimmed, better-optioned automobile that
one could expect from Oldsmobile. Put another way, the 442 was the
perfect blend of luxury and performance. The 1968 442 was also
completely redesigned, shifting away from its boxy body lines to a
sleeker, more futuristic design. Up front, updates in 1968
consisted of a new meaner-looking grille along with louvers on the
hood. Down the sides, the design was much cleaner and the car began
to take on a more coke-bottle body-line look. In the rear, the
new-look decklid sloped down into brand new taillight assemblies
and further added to the curvier, more modern look. In total,
Oldsmobile produced 24,183 442 holiday hardtop which made up a
little over 4% of Oldsmobile's overall production in 1968 and thus
makes this particular example a pretty rare Olds. This particular
example comes to us from a Western-based collector who took great
care of this sporty muscle car during his stewardship. Powering
this '68 442 is a replacement 400 Cubic Inch "Rocket" V8 engine fed
by a Rochester single 4 barrel carburetor. The 400 V8 is backed by
4 speed manual transmission that is shifted using a Hurst shifter
that together make this Olds 4-4-2 a super fun car to drive.
Exhaust exits this 442's powerplant through a set of headers and
stainless steel exhaust with MagnaFlow mufflers that create a
terrific throaty sound out of the rear tailpipes. This Oldsmobile
442 is loaded with options! With power steering, navigating a tight
turn into a parking spot at the local car show or drive-in is a
total breeze and feels almost effortless. Stopping power is
provided by Power Front Disc Brakes, ensuring that you'll be able
to stop easily especially with all that classic Oldsmobile muscle
under the hood. Riding on a set of Magnum 500 wheels paired with
Redline Radial tires, this '68 Olds 442 has a fantastic look and
even better ride cruising down the road. The exterior has been
refinished in gorgeous Provincial White paint, accented with W36
black Rallye stripes. The interior of this 1968 Oldsmobile 442 is
absolutely stunning! The beautiful black Moraccen-style front
bucket seats and rear bench have been reupholstered and retain a
nice stock appearance. The matching door panels, black carpeting,
padded dash, and steering wheel all appear to have been replaced
during the restoration and all remain in wonderful stock condition.
The instrument cluster is outfitted with a 120 MPH speedometer,
temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, and fuel gauge. The black
padded dash is finished off with an AM push-button radio, cigarette
lighter & sliding ashtray, climate and other various controls, and
a locking glovebox. Whether you're buying your very first classic
car or you're adding to an existing collection of muscle cars, this
1968 Oldsmobile 442 would make an excellent choice. Give
Ellingson's a call today at 763-428-7337!
*400 Cu. In V8 NOM
*Single 4 Barrel Carburetor
*4 Speed Manual Transmission
*Dual Exhaust
*Power Front Disc Brakes
*Power Steering
*1 of 24,183 Produced
*Provincial White Exterior
*Black Bucket Seat Interior
*Redline Radials on Magnum 500 Wheels
*Stock Instrumentation
*Odometer Reads: 2,940 Miles
