I bought a 1972 442 about a year ago, and now need to replace the deck lid. After looking around, I saw that the 442's of 1972 had the 442 numbers on the passenger side of the trunk lid, but mine has Oldsmobile spelled out across it. I've got 442 numbers on each side of the car in front of the doors, and the 442 front grill. Was the wrong deck lid attached before I bought it, or is the whole thing a fake 442?

 

There is only a few definitive ways to determine authenticity of a 1972 442.

One is paperwork - window sticker(though they can be forged), build sheet, protecto plate.

Two is an X in the VIN #. Not only would your car be a 442, it would be a W30.

442s in 1972 were not stand alone models as in previous years. It was an optional package. That package included striping, 442 emblems, different grill & hood along with boxed control arms among other items. All of these could be added to a standard Cutlass.

Long & short of it. Without paperwork or an X in the VIN there is no way to tell for sure.

 

To get back to the orig question, a 72 442 should not have Oldsmobile spelled out on the trunk. It should have 442 over the tail lights on the right hand side.
Like Blackpage said, that doesn't make it a clone. It could be that the trink lid was swapped at some point.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-OLDSMOB...-/361322955117

 

The 442 was demoted to an "appearance and handling" option package for the 1972 model year. Unlike prior years, the VIN did not denote the 442 since it was not a separate model line. As a result, 1972 Faux Four Twos are the most easily faked of all. From the information you provided, it is not possible to tell if this car is real or not.

 

Just to add to that, IMO the '72 442 is not afforded the same premium in the market place either as compared to a Cutlass, especially the small block cars.
Luckily, bog block status can be ascertained by the VIN, with either a U or a V, or in the case of a W30, an X. A factory big block will get you more of a bump than a 442 350 car.