Vehicle Description
Vehicle to be offered for Auction sale WITHOUT RESERVE and SOLD to the highest bidder January 19th - 22nd, 2017 at Russo and Steele's 17th Annual Scottsdale Arizona Auction at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Please contact us for more information.
While Oldsmobile is believed to have created the first "muscle car" in 1949 with the V-8 "Rocket 88," the GM Division only returned to the concept in 1964, encouraged by the success of Pontiac's GTO option. Oldsmobile was in fact the first GM division to follow Pontiac's lead and began in 1964 with the $136 RPO B09 option, also known as the "Police Apprehender Pursuit" package on the new F-85 Cutlass intermediates. Logically, the 442 nameplate signified the car's four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission and dual exhaust system.
For 1965, the 442 option returned with a new 400 cubic-inch engine, and while its initial 345 hp output was competitive with the GTO, the balance and excellent handling of the 442 gained equal praise in contemporary road tests. Sales rose steadily through the 1960s, thanks to stronger marketing and the growing reputation of this true "gentleman's hot rod," which was dubbed in magazines as "...the thinking man's GTO." Of all the great Oldsmobile 442 variations, the 1966-1967 cars were particularly praiseworthy. In Cars magazine's 1,000-mile road test of a 1967 model, Martyn L. Schorr summed up the 442 best: "Lansing's sophisticated supercar for the youth-plus market boasts precise road manners, instant stopability, max muscle dig plus super-status. Who says you can't have your cake and eat it?" Schorr's other remarks included "A Cutlass with Starfire power, LS trim, Police Cruiser durability," continuing "It's truly unreal in the 4,000-5,800 rpm range."
Possibly one of the last 442 convertibles built for the 1967 model year, with a '7D' production date, this 1967 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible is finished in Provincial White with a Blue interior. Power is delivered by a matching numbers 400 cubic-inch "V" Code engine and matching numbers TH 400 "OG" transmission, which the owner believes are original. Great additional features of this highly equipped 442 include bucket seats with console, power-operated windows, top, and radio antenna; factory air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, a vacuum trunk release; and Super Stock I (SSI) wheels.
This car received a "frame-on" restoration including new paint, interior, tires including spare, weather stripping, exhaust, shock absorbers, fuel tank, brakes, master cylinder, brake booster, lines, distribution block, hoses, engine harness, power window harness, restored chrome and stainless brightwork, and more. The former owner reports that the engine and transmission were rebuilt prior to sale, estimated to be less than 1,500 miles ago. As offered, this 442 presents and drives extremely well, consistent with its concept and execution when it was new back in 1967. Best of all, you can experience it with the top down along a favorite open road!
