72drptop

hello, i have a 1972 442 convertible, it had a prior repaint and when i bought it the guy gave me 2 hoods, i am getting ready to paint the car and i need to know what is the correct stripe package that should be on the car and what hood is correct the standard hood or the one with the chrome louvers? if it matters it is viking blue and has the 350 4bbl. thank you.

Oldsguy

Here is a picture of one. The louvers on the hood are for a Cutlass S model.


http://www.shakersandscrapers.com/members/mcgee2.jpg

texasred

Sorry, Dan. 442 was louvered or OAI.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/1972ol...mages/72ad.jpg

Do you have documentation that it is a 442?

C.J.

72drptop

no i do not unfortunately, looks to be real but who knows. it has the correct suspension, emblems looked like they were in the correct spots, it has cutlass supreme on the glove box and it has the 350 single exhaust numbers matching motor. so which one of you guys is right? i see both photos are of a cutlass s i have a supreme conv. does that matter? the hood that was on it when i bought it was the louvered he also gave me a standard. thanks guys. i wish thorton would start the production on there oai hood again and i wouldnt have this problem

texasred

All Cutlass convertibles are Supremes or 442s.

The glovebox door should say 442. Unless the glovebox was changed to one from a Supreme, you have a clone.

In 72, the 442 was not a seperate model; it was an option. Without documentation, you cannot prove you have a 442.

A 442 hood for 71 and 72 will be either louvered or OAI.

C.J.

orange442

Texasred is correct. Here is a link to ebay showing an original add: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-...QQcmdZViewItem

72drptop

well guys, i am 150% sure of 1 thing , in 1972 the convertible 442 does not have 442 on the glove box door, it says cutlass supreme, i am possitive of this, the first sign of a clone on a 72 convertible is if the door says 442. the cutlass s may have had 442 on the door but i am not sure. bottom line if you see a 72 442 convertible with 442 on the glove box door it is not supposed to be there. i relize i cant prove what my car is, but i do know what it has and what i should have to be a 442, it has evrything it should. i am just concerned on the correct stripes, there are 2 styles and i want to make sure i use the correct ones.

72drptop

i just double checked , the cutlass s also had cutlass on the glove box door, the 442 option was for "exterior" badging only. another sign of a clone 442 on the glove box door.

texasred

My sincere apologies...you are correct, sir. What I said was true for 1971 but not 1972.

C.J.

72drptop

no prob cj, i do appreciate the info on the hood, i know which stripe kit to use for the hood with the louvers, i think there might be 2 different stripes for the side of the car though, i have seen a thin set and a thicker set like the ones on the w-30 cars, i cant ever see a good photo in any old adds on the 442 covertible with the louvered hood , most adds ican find are the cutlass s 442. thanks again man.

texasred

Get ahold of a 1972 Cutlass Assembly Manual on ebay. You can find them for around $20-25. That'll show all stripes and be invaluable in restoring.

C.J.

Oldsguy

Wow! good info on the 442's guys. I Always thought the OAI hood was part of the 442 package, thanks for the correction Red. I sure am glad we have you guys around, keep up the good work.

texasred

Thanks, Dan, but I have a correction...I think. I was looking in my books lat night (sick puppy that I am). Not sure about '72, but the Cutlass S in '71 DID have the fake louvered hood as an option. It doesn't show any difference between 442 and W-30 stripes, though.

Sorry for any confusion.

C.J.