Diego

I always assumed that the 3-speed was standard on the floor or, at worst, standard on the column but optional on the floor.

However, I recently saw a document that showed the 3-speed being only on the column.

What's the truth? Thanks!

Oldsmaniac

No proof here but I know a guy that has a 65 he bought new and it has 3 speed stick on the floor... the Dearborn HD 3 speed.

rocketraider

All the books are still packed up, but I believe 3-speed floorshift stick was standard in the 65 with 4-speed and Jetaway optional. Around mid-year the Dearborn trans with Hurst/4-4-2 shifter became standard. One of the original Mid Atlantic Olds Club families had a 65 3-speed stick car.

Far as I know only the 66 could have the 3-speed column stick, and that's going on Curt Anderson's info. I know he's had at least two cars so equipped.

joe_padavano

Diego,

I assume you are talking about this document:



I had not noticed that column shift notation before. I'm not sure when this brochure was printed, but that may be a typo based on early information. I've certainly never seen a 442 with a column-shifted three speed. Note that it doesn't even discuss the HD "Dearborn" three speed.

Edit: Note that the transmission ratios shown in that brochure are for the Saginaw trans. The Dearborn trans ratios were 2.42, 1.61, and 1.00. My money is still on an early printing before the HD three speed was included in the package.

Diego

Yes, Joe, that's what I saw, and I think your theory makes sense too!

Ozzie

rocketraider

Has anyone ever seen a 65 442 with the N98 chrome wheel option? I've read about it but never seen one.

Seen several Mercury Comet Cyclones with the simulated chrome wheel covers.

joe_padavano

So from what I've found, the Saginaw 3spd with column shifter WAS the base trans in the 65 442 until the Dearborn HD 3spd with Hurst shifter was released in Feb 1965. Who'da thunk it? That's definitely an Olds trivia question.

Oldsmaniac

I have seen 1 or 2 with the N98's, I like em.

I have also seen 1 66 442 with 3 speed on the tree. It was for sale many years ago used on the lot of Lubik Oldsmobile in NJ

stan 65 cutlass

i missed a set four sale in vancouver, turns out the guy actualy had 5 of them with the caps even, needed rechrome of course. he shipped em to texas

Diego

Are you sure about that? Or am I missing something?

What I infer is that the column was standard with a new 3-speed floor option in Feb. Was the M13 available before then?

TK-65

The three speed was column shifted until the HD Hurst shifted 3 speed floor shift was introduced. The HD top loader three speed was the first 442 to use a Hurst shifter. The four speed used the Inland shifter.

Dan Macal had a three speed column shift 65 442. They are extremely rare. We really dont know what trans was used with the column shift after the floor shift came out. Or if it even continued after the floor shift was introduced. Im going to say it continued on because the 66 still had a column shift as standard.

TK-65

joe_padavano

I'm pretty sure that the only three speed with column shift was the Saginaw. The Dearborn trans was only available with a column shift in the full size cars.

1arunem

My dad actually bought a 65 442 in 1965 (brand new) with the 3 spd on the floor. The car was Lucerne Mist with a post.

In fact, I still have the protect-o-plate and original purchase paperwork.

Would love to find the car but afraid it is long gone.

Not sure but wasn't there somewhere in the 200-300 range of these cars built with the 3spd on the floor?

oldsmobiledave

Those sat on Craigslist for over a year. I was surprised they took so long to sell.

stan 65 cutlass

thats the problem with just looking at local ads, miss the ones just outside the area, ive since started doing the wide sweep, even though im not goin to everett wa. anytime soon