General Motors still wasn’t sure whether the 442 was prepared to become a stand-alone series in 1967, so Oldsmobile continued to offer the package for another model in its lineup. This time, it was based on the Cutlass Supreme, and buyers could choose from three body styles, namely sport coupe, Holiday hardtop coupe, and convertible.
The 442 wasn’t substantially different from its predecessors, with the styling and the engine lineup remaining virtually the same as in the previous year. It came with subtle but welcome changes, including brake upgrades – customers could now order front discs as an option.
Production increased slightly from the previous year, with Oldsmobile shipping 24,833 units, up from approximately 22,000 cars in 1966.
One of the Olds fitted with the 442 package in 1967 landed on eBay earlier this week thanks to seller u want I fine.
I won’t comment much on its condition because you can always inspect the car yourselves and determine how much work it needs, but let’s focus a bit on what happens under the hood – figuratively, as the 442 comes without a hood, so you’ll need to find a new one should you buy the project.
The 442 no longer has an engine. It rolled off the assembly lines with a 400 4V engine paired with a four-speed manual transmission. They are long gone, and naturally, many people would be tempted to walk away at this point. I wouldn’t blame them; this is a difficult project, but the lack of an engine is good news for people who plan to install a more potent engine.
A missing powertrain means buyers can get the car cheaper, and I honestly have major doubts that even if the factory 400 engine were still around, many people would have attempted a restoration to factory specifications. Turning this 442 into a daily driver using another engine and without caring about the all-original setup is the more convenient approach.
The car will also need new dash panels, new floors, a trunk pan, a trunk lid, and probably other parts. However, with the right work, skills, and parts, the 442 can still return to the road as a head-turning custom build.
The bigger problem is the seller’s expectation towards the price. They don’t want to let the car go cheaply – a 1967 442 is typically a desirable model, but only if it sports a good shape without missing key parts. The owner hopes they can get $3,500, and I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t expect this otherwise fantastic classic to sell fast.
People interested in this 442 can find it in Little Mountain, South Carolina, and they will need transportation to take it home, considering the missing powertrain.