1964
The 442 was born out of the rivalry between Pontiac Division and Oldsmobile. It started as a swift response to the Pontiac 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 vague 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 an old-fashioned 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 mixture of four-barrel carburetor, four-speed transmission, and dual exhausts. Priced at $285.14, it was available on any F-85 or Cutlass model except the station wagon, although most were Cutlass hardtop coupes (Oldsmobile archives point out 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.
1965
The GTO having established GM corporate sanction, Oldsmobile followed suit with a big-engine 442. The B09 option was renamed 442, and price was lowered to $190.45 for F-85s and $156.02 for Cutlasses. The novel 400 in³ (6.6 L) engine became standard, and the definition of "442" was restated as 400 cubic inches, 4-barrel carburetor, 2 exhausts. Output for the big engine rose to 345 hp and 440 ft•lbf. Standard transmission became a three-speed manual, with the four-speed optional, and Oldsmobile's two-speed Jetaway automatic transmission was added as an option.
'Car and Driver' tested a 1965 442 with the four-speed manual and obtained a quarter mile acceleration of 15.0 seconds at 98 mph; 0 to 60 was listed as 5.5 seconds. Car Life's automatic '65 ran the quarter mile in 15.5 seconds at 89 mph, with a 0 to 60 time of 7.8 seconds. Sales rose to 25,003.
1966
The 1966 442 shared a humble facelift with other Cutlasses. Its major news was the addition of two new optional engines: the L69, with three two-barrel Carter carburetors on a progressive linkage, rated at 360 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque, and the uncommon W30. The typical engine, now dubbed L78, was rated 350 hp/440 ft•lbf with a single four-barrel carburetor.
The W30 engine added an outside-air induction system (admitting cool air to the carburetors via tubing from the front bumper) and a hotter cam, rated — or, more likely, underrated — the same as the L69. The battery was relocated to the trunk to make room for the air hoses, which prevented the package from being ordered on convertible models. Only 54 W30s were built by the factory, although an additional 97 were produced for dealer installation.
'Car Life' tested an L69 442 with four-speed transmission and obtained a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds and a quarter mile of 14.8 seconds at 97 mph. Motor Trend's parallel test car ran 0-60 in 7.2 seconds, with a quarter mile time of 15.2 seconds at 96.6 mph.
Manufacture slumped to 21,997. The 442 still only constituted about 10% of Cutlass sales, whereas Pontiac's GTO represented nearly a third of all Tempests sold.
More: 1967-1969