1968 Oldsmobile 442

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. Oldsmobiles 442 package was sold as a high-performance add-on on Oldsmobiles 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, Oldsmobiles 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 dads or grandpas 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 gentlemans 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 Oldsmobiles 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 442s 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 youll 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 youre buying your very first classic car or youre adding to an existing collection of muscle cars, this 1968 Oldsmobile 442 would make an excellent choice. Give Ellingsons a call today at 763-428-7337!