“Put one on your wanted list” was one of the colorful opening ad slogans in 1964 that introduced Oldsmobile’s new 4-4-2. The 1964 Olds 442, strictly an option on the GM A-body Olds F-85 Cutlass, came as an immediate response to Pontiac’s announcement of the 64 Tempest based GTO. The age of the intermediate sized, large cubic-displacement engine muscle cars had been born and Oldsmobile was the first to join the movement next to Pontiac. For 1964 the Cutlass based 442 received a worked-over B-09 police pursuit package that incorporated a 290hp 330ci V8 mated to a 4 speed transmission, dual exhaust, and a dual snorkel air cleaner mounted over a 4-barrel carburetor that boosted the 442 to 310hp. In fact, it was these features that Oldsmobile derived the 4-4-2 moniker for its muscle machine. In 1964, 4-4-2 stood for 4-barrel carburetor, 4-on-the-floor shifter, dual exhaust. Even though the significance of the 1964 badge would change over the years, the name would remain the same. The 442 wasn’t the most successful of the GM A-body cars, but between 1964 & 1972, the Olds 442 would pound it’s mark on the muscle car movement and become one of the most admired muscle cars of its era.
In its nine years as a “true” muscle car, the 442 came with several exclusive features, including unique body features, access to Oldsmobile’s top engine options, and the best handling components. Critics claimed the Olds 442 was one of the most balanced of the intermediate sized muscle cars. Between 64 & 72, the 442 would see many changes to its exclusive features, inside & out, good & bad. The first major change came in 1966 with all new sheetmetal that gave the 442 a longer, more muscular appearance & an engine option that would leave the muscle car movement in the dust, the W-30. Olds introduced their first tri-carb option on the 1965-launched 400ci rocket powered V8 with a unique cold air induction system that along with certain engine modifications earned the 442 a 360hp rating.
The next & most significant changes to the 442 came in the 68 & 69 model-years, now standalone models. Still based on the GM A-body, the 442 gave up 3 inches in its wheelbase and received new & even more muscular appearing sheetmetal. The only differences between the 68 & 69 442’s came in the form of different hood, headlight & grille assemblies along with altered front and rear bumper/taillight arrangements. For both years the 400ci V8 was made available, although the 69 442 introduced a 350ci small block. The 400ci W-30 was rated at 360hp for both years with the familiar forced air induction system with air intakes now positioned below the front bumper. The most radical 442’s came at the hands of ‘ole “Doc” Watson, who was the faithful employee of legendary George Hurst.
For 1968, the Peruvian Silver Hurst Olds utilized the Olds Toronado’s 455ci V8, mated to the Olds 442 forced air induction system and a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission that was controlled by a Hurst Dual Gate shifter, all combined for 390hp & 500lb-ft of torque. The same formula used by Hurst performance on the 68 Hurst Olds would carry on to the 69 442 model. Although performance numbers were tuned down to 380hp for 69, the look of the 69 Hurst Olds was strikingly altered. The now white Hurst Olds featured gold striping & a pair of eye catching hood scoops. Also new to the 69 Hurst Olds was the W35 fiberglass rear deck spoiler that would carry on as an option through the 72 model-year 442. The 68 & 69 Hurst Olds marked several key influences on the Olds 442, and they ultimately set the launching pad for the supreme year of the Olds 442 rocket car, 1970.
In 1970, GM lifted its ban on engines greater than 400ci being used in mid-sized cars, and Oldsmobile, who had already cheated the ban with the 455 powered Hurst Olds, made full use of the 455ci V8, enabling the 442 to reach the peak of its performance history. The W-30 option also reached its performance peak, offering a tweaked & blueprinted 455 rated at a pavement pounding 370hp and 500lb-ft of torque capable of conquering the quarter mile in the low 14’s at 100mph. The 442 W-30 455 was tucked beneath a special air cleaner lid that functioned in sync with a new outside air induction dual scooped fiberglass hood that fed cold air to the 370hp V8. In the fashion of previous 442’s, the 70 442 received a new grille, new front & rear bumpers along with new fenders and rear quarters. As great as the 1970 442 model-year was, the celebration would soon be over as the performance marked began to crumble.
New government regulations mandating the use of unleaded fuel led to lower compression ratios, and a collaborative drop in horsepower ratings. Like it or not, 1971 was the beginning of the end for all muscle cars, and the 442 was in no way immune to these changes. Performance numbers plummeted & the 71 Olds 4-4-2 with the W-30 option 455 was down 70hp to 300 net horsepower. Changes in appearance on the 71 442 were minimal, perhaps the greatest was the once again revised & unique grille design along with slightly different taillights. The writing was on the wall; the 442 was at its end as a standalone model & in 1972, the 442 would return to its roots, once again as an option on the Cutlass models.
Oldsmobile wasn’t about to let the 4-4-2 die a quick death and in 1972, they offered the 442 option on its 4 different Cutlass platforms. The 1972 442 option came from the dealer with the factory standard 2bl 350ci V8, but could be had with the optional 4bl 350 or the 4bl 455. The W-30 performance option made its final appearance on the 1972 442 and offered the same blueprinted 4bl 455 V8 rated at the same 300 net horsepower as it’s 71 predecessor. The 1972 442 W-30 also carried on with the OAI fiberglass dual scooped hood, high lift cam, Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, Hurst Dual Gate shifter, and dual chrome trumpet-style exhaust tips familiar on both the 70 & 71 442 models. The Hurst Olds also made a reappearance in 72 after a two year absence, but its encore was nothing in comparison to its 68 & 69 showstoppers.
Shortly after 1972, Oldsmobile withdrew from the muscle car market. The 442 name would live on for years following 1972, but as nothing more than a marketing tool used amidst Oldsmobile’s lineup of government regulated environment friendly rag tag bunch of grocery-getters. The 1972 442, with the W-30 option, is revered by many muscle car enthusiasts as the last of a breed in a healthy lineage of great Oldsmobile muscle cars.
On a brighter note, the 1972 Olds 4-4-2 W-30 has made a return in the form of a superbly detailed and masterfully replicated 1/18-scale diecast. The boys at Exact Detail & Lane Collectibles have revisited their widely popular Oldsmobile series for another round, and this time they have brought us a beautiful copy of a Viking Blue 1972 Oldsmobile 442 W30 Convertible diecast model car. From the exterior box to the chrome plated door lock knobs, Lane has not skipped a beat on their latest Oldsmobile 442, offering over 240 unique parts. The box is decorated in bright blue with graphics of the model replica, and an informative history of the 72 Olds 442 along with specifications of the real car. Inside the box, the 72 Olds diecast model is encased in a styrofoam shell, keeping in all of that seemingly added new car “smell”. How do they do that? The 72 Olds 442 W-30 comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity & a white rubber boot cover along with a detailed white canvas top, both sealed in plastic baggies atop the styrofoam shell. Like the other Lane Exact Detail Olds 442 convertible diecast models, the 72 Olds 442 convertible can be displayed in top up or top down fashion. Lane is manufacturing only 2000 of the 72 Olds 442 W-30, so this is not only a beautiful work of art, but one that is sure to be very rare in a short amount of time.
The Lane Exact Detail 1972 Olds 442 W-30 diecast model number 303 is more than a work of art, its another Exact Detail masterpiece, and with the color combination of the Viking Blue exterior, white stripes, and white interior plus white top, this masterpiece is simply stunning. For starters, the paint is very smooth and flawless over the entire car. The Viking Blue paint even appears to contain a metallic flake which is nothing short of mesmerizing. The white hood & side stripes show nicely against the Viking Blue background and have been applied evenly with great precision. All of this has been sealed in a thin clear coat to prevent chips or scratches and it gives the 442 a lustrous shine.
Lane has scored another bulls-eye with their outstanding job capturing the overall look & stance of the 1972 Olds 4-4-2. Inch for inch, they have recreated the 442 accurately with great care & meticulousness, overlooking no details, no matter how insignificant. The W25 OAI fiberglass dual scooped hood has made its second appearance from Lane since its first emergence on the inaugural 70 Olds pace car and is detailed nicely with painted hood openings and chrome plated hood-locking pins. The chrome-plated bumpers are mirror-like and Lane has gone the extra mile and correctly captured the subtle differences in the 72 rear taillights, plus the unique 72 442 W-30 grille. The rest of the 72 Oldsmobile 442 is finished with chrome accents found around the headlights & grille area, along the top edge of the drivers & passenger side doors, and along the wheel well openings. As with the white stripes, all of this chrome stands out nicely against the Viking Blue milieu of Lanes latest Olds 442.
Those familiar with previous Oldsmobile diecast offerings from Lane will find nothing astonishingly new under the hood, in the interior or in the trunk, but those not familiar are in for a treat. The engine is a splendidly built replica of the Olds 455ci V8, resting among a miniature jungle of wires & hoses. Here you’ll find heater hoses, radiator hoses, spark plug wires, plus a wired master cylinder with properly routed brake lines. The engine compartment is completed with a detailed firewall, black inner wheel wells, a detailed air cleaner lid, a detailed battery with battery cables, even a half empty washer fluid reservoir that has a miniature line running out. On the opposite end, the opening trunk is a little more organized than the engine compartments wild kingdom, but rightfully so. Inside the opening trunk, you’ll find a spare Viking Blue painted Olds Rally wheel wrapped in a Firestone Wide Oval tire, along with a jack and jacking instruction labels found on the underside of the trunk lid.
Upon opening the doors to the interior, although you’ll without a doubt notice Lane is still using the obsolete dogleg hinge design, you will find the overall beauty of the replicated interior to be so handsomely breathtaking that you will soon forget about that oversight. It is probably a good time to mention that Lane has adapted to using the new age, more realistic door hinge and will be incorporating their deign on all future series offered by Lane. Inside the Lane 72 Olds 442 W-30 diecast model car you will discover some remarkable details from the flip up sun visors, to the detailed dash with amazingly legible gauges, to the detailed door panels. The richly finished soft to touch white front buckets fold forward to a white soft to touch rear bench seat, both of which look every bit luxurious. The front seats are further enlightened with a rib of chrome plated trim along the base and back half of the seats. Both the bucket seats & the rear bench are further accented with woven seat belts & chrome plated belt clasps. The interior is capped off with a removable white canvas convertible top that can be replaced with a white rubber convertible boot. Add to that accurate 442 details including the custom sport 4 spoke steering wheel with brushed metal spokes and a Hurst Dual Gate shifter and what you have from Lane is a total package representative of the 1972 Olds 442 W-30. Underneath the floorboards you’ll find the Hurst Dual Gate shifter mated to an accurate reproduction of the Turbo-Hydramatic 400 transmission. Other notable details on the undercarriage include a detailed oil filter, detailed gas tank with painted straps, visible fuel & brake lines, detailed and functioning front & rear suspension components, plus a stainless steel application to the exhaust and mufflers that exits through a pair of chrome plated trumpet-style exhaust tips.
The Exact Detail 1972 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 diecast model car from Lane Collectibles is, in the tradition of the previous Oldsmobile releases, another home run. This is a perfect way to celebrate the last true Oldsmobile muscle car, but with only 2000 copies built, it’s sure to be a celebration that won’t last long. Don’t be left without one. Be sure to put one on your wanted list today!
