1970 Oldsmobile 442
1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 BACKGROUND
Some credit
Oldsmobile with building the world's first muscle car when it stuffed it's largest engine, the Rocket V8 into a midsize car to create the Super 88. But it took until 1964 to revisit the concept again, spurred on by
Pontiac's success with its
GTO, with their own 4-4-2. But, GM had hamstrung all its divisions by forbidding the use of any engine larger than 400 cubic inches in any midsized car (except the
Corvette, of course). So, Olds had to make do with 350s and 400s. But that all changed with the 1970 Oldsmobile 442, when GM lifted its ban. For the first time Olds could offer the 442 with a 455 V8, just in time for the muscle car era to peak, and then begin its speedy decline from 1971 on. But the 1970 model year was indeed a very good year for the Olds 442 and especially the W-30 high-performance version, which got a 5-horsepower bump over the standard 455 via a better breathing twin-snorkel air cleaner hooked up to those functional hood scoops.
ABOVE: You can just make out the red fender wells on this car. That's not a custom touch. All W-30s got a set of red plastic inner fender liners to reduce weight. They showed on the outside like this, and really stood out in the engine compartment, flanking the engine on both sides with huge swaths of red ABS plastic. They actually look kind of cheap, and they probably were at the time. Of course, now they're gold.
BELOW: While taking these photos, a guy walked up to me and explained that all W-30s have quick-change rear ends, prompting me to get on all fours and take the photo below. Then he was gone. Before long, the owner showed up and explained that while all W-30s have this unique aluminum rear differential cover, that's all they are, a cover. It not a quick-change diff under there, just a normal 12-bolt rear end. The cast aluminum coverikely added for by the factory enhanced cooling, maybe lightweight, and of course cool looks. Along with a large dose of urban legend.
1970 Oldsmobile 442 PRODUCTION NUMBERS
Total 1970 Oldsmobile 442 production:
442 Sports Coupe
442 Hardtop Coupe
442 Convertible
442 Rally 350
Price when new:
|
22,877
1,688
14,709
2,933
3,547
$3,310-$3,565
|
1970 Oldsmobile 442 SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE OPTIONS:
Rally 350 V8
Standard 455 V8
W-30 455 V8
TRANSMISSIONS:
PERFORMANCE: W-30
DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase
Weight
|
310hp @ 4200rpm
365hp @ 5000rpm
370hp @ 5200rpm MANUALS:
3-speed
4-speed
4-speed, close-ratio
0-60mph in 5.7 sec
112.0" / 2845mm
3,840 lbs / 1741 kg
|
490 lb/ft @ 2400rpm
500 lb/ft @ 3200 rpm
500 lb/ft @ 3600 rpm
AUTOMATICS:
3-speed Turbo Hyrdamatic
1/4-mile: 14.2 sec @ 100mph
|
Check out these OLDSMOBILE BOOKS
OLDSMOBILE MUSCLE CARS

OLDSMOBILE MUSCLE PORTFOLIO 1964-1971

OLDSMOBILE 4-4-2 & W-MACHINE: RESTORATION GUIDE

STANDARD CATALOG OF OLDSMOBILE 1897-1997

SETTING THE PACE: OLDSMOBILE’S FIRST 100 YEARS

OLDSMOBILE 1946-1960 PHOTO ARCHIVE

OLDSMOBILE 1948-1963, LIMITED EDITION PREMIER

ILLUSTRATED OLDSMOBILE BUYERS GUIDE

OLDSMOBILE V8 ENGINES: HOW TO BUILD MAX-PERFORMANCE

HOW TO BUILD MAX-PERFORMANCE OLDS V8s

OLDSMOBILE ADS OF THE 1950s & 1960s

OLDS CUTLASS 1974-1988 HAYNES REPAIR MANUAL

OLDS MUSCLE CAR ENGINES, DRIVETRAINS & SUSPENSION

OLDSMOBILE CONVERTIBLES, 1953-1966

OLDSMOBILE FULL-SIZE 1975-1990 CHILTON’S REPAIR MANUAL

RACING TO THE PAST: OLDSMOBILE & ITS DEMISE

PROJECT 2000 - RISE & FALL OF OLDSMOBILE DIVISION OF GM

OLDSMOBILE AUTO PARTS INTERCHANGE MANUAL 1935-1952

HEMMINGS BOOK OF OLDSMOBILES


PLEASE LOOK AROUND AMERICAN-MUSCLE-CARS.NET:
HOME PAGE
ABOUT US
CONTACT US
SITE MAP
CLASSIC CAR SHOWS
CLASSIC CAR EVENTS CALENDAR
CLASSIC CAR MUSEUMS
CLASSIC CAR AUCTIONS
CLASSIC CAR DEALERS
CLASSIC CAR VIDEOS
AMERICAN MUSCLE CARS:
GENERAL MOTORS
.....CHEVROLET
...............Camaro
...............Chevelle SS
...............El Camino SS
...............Corvette
...............Impala SS
...............Nova
...............Tri-Five Chevy (1955-1957)
...............Nomad (1955-1957)
...............Chevy Small Block V8
...............Chevy Big Block V8
.....PONTIAC
...............Firebird
...............Trans Am
...............GTO
...............Grand Prix
.....OLDSMOBILE
...............Olds 442
.....BUICK
...............Skylark GS/Grand Sport
...............Grand National/GNX
...............Riviera
FORD MOTOR COMPANY / FOMOCO
.....FORD
...............Mustang
...............Thunderbird
...............Fairlane
...............Torino
...............Galaxie
.....MERCURY Cougar
...............Ford Engines
.....SHELBY-AMERICAN
MOPAR/CHRYSLER PRODUCTS
.....DODGE
...............Challenger
...............Charger
...............Coronet
...............Super Bee
...............Viper
.....PLYMOUTH
...............Barracuda
...............Duster
...............Roadrunner
...............GTX
...............Superbird
AMERICAN MOTORS / AMC
..........Javelin/AMX
MODERN MUSCLE CARS, 2000 and newer
MUSCLE CAR ENGINES
COP CARS
STORES:
.....Car Books
.....Car Magazines
.....Car Calendars
.....Diecast Cars
CONTACT US
Do you like Classic British Motorcycles? Check out our sister site at:
www.Classic-British-Motorcycles.com
Back to top - 1970 Oldsmobile 442Last updated 4/11/17
Learn how to build your own WEBSITE, like I did.
google646342750a9b1ad4.html