West Coast Classics present a rare fully loaded example of this 1968 Oldsmobile 442 2 door hardtop coupe with it's original matching # 400ci/325HP 4 barrel 'rocket' engine but a car that will need a total restoration. The car has rust and some damage but actually runs very well and is very well loaded with factory air conditioning, bucket seats, optional automatic floor shifter with center console, original AM/FM radio, dual exhausts, heavy duty suspension, vinyl roof, power windows, power brakes and power steering!
Finished in it's original factory 'Burgundy Metallic' (color code N) color paint with a 'Red' color cloth & vinyl bucket seats interior (Trim code 945) which is actually in quite good condition which would be indicative of the car's reported low original miles but with cracks in the dashboard. The car also has its original wheels. The roof has rusted through but the original headliner is still intact. The floor boards and rockers have some rust also and there is some minor damage to the hood and front grille. The original matching # 400cid 4 barrel engine with still correct factory colors reportedly has low original miles and is actually extremely strong and powerful and the transmission shifts well and we recently drove the car to our Santa Monica location from Long Beach, some thirty miles or so.
The Oldsmobile 442 was born out of the competition between the Pontiac Division and Oldsmobile. It began as a response to the Pontiac Tempest GTO which had proved such an unexpected success in 1964. The package was dubbed the 4-4-2 based on it's combination of four barrel carburetor, four speed transmission and dual exhausts. The package also included a stiffened frame, boxed rear suspension control arms, a heavy duty clutch and four speed manual transmission, a heavy duty driveshaft, oversized brakes and heavy duty suspension package with heavy duty wheels, higher rate coil springs front and rear, heavy duty shock absorbers, a large front anti-roll bar and an additional rear anti-roll bar. The 442 became a separate model from 1968-71. It would rival any other muscle car of it's day and has a large and enthusiastic club following.
