Oldsmobile 442 Option Package The Oldsmobile 442 (pronounced four-four-two) was a muscle car produced by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. It was introduced as an option package for F-85 and Cutlass models sold in the United States beginning with the 1964 model year. It became a model in its own right from 1968 to 1971, then reverted to an option through the mid-1970s.
The 442 was born out of the competition between Pontiac Division and Oldsmobile. It began as a hasty response to the Pontiac Tempest GTO, which had proved to be an unexpected success midway through the 1964 model year.
Because of its late introduction (some three-fourths of the way through the model year) and the ambiguous nature of the GTO — which was technically a violation of GM policy limiting intermediate models to 330 in³ (5.4 L) — the Olds offering was a conservative package. Technically the "B09 Police Apprehender" option, it used the four-barrel carbureted 330 in³ (5.4 L) V8 with heavy-duty valve gear, dual exhaust, and a hotter camshaft, raising rated (SAE gross) output to 310 hp (231.3 kW) @ 5200 rpm. Torque remained 355 ft·lbf, although the torque peak rose from 2800 rpm to 3600 rpm. 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 the heavy-duty police-package suspension, with heavy duty wheels, higher-rate coil springs front and rear, heavy-duty shock absorbers, a larger front anti-roll bar, and an additional rear anti-roll bar, ...the first ever on an American production car.
The package was dubbed 4-4-2 based on its combination of four-barrel carburetor, four-speed transmission, and dual (2) exhausts. Priced at $285.14, it was available on any F-85 or Cutlass model except the station wagon, although most were Cutlass hardtop coupés (Oldsmobile archives indicate that approximately 10 four-door sedans were built with the B09 option).
Motor Trend tested an early 4-4-2 and found that the 3,440 lb (1,560 kg) car would run 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 7.5 seconds, the standing quarter mile in 15.5 seconds at 90 mph, and reached a top speed of 116 mph (185.6 km/h). 2,999 were sold.
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