Guys what am I looking at in this video ? Love Bud Lindemann and Car & Tracks work but I am confused on this one.

Is it a 442 or not ? He refers to it both ways throughout the video. What am I missing, misunderstanding, or not aware of. Performance indicates it is 455 level performance and it clearly has dual exhaust. But he quotes an odd HP rating for a Cutlass and the hood which looks cool as can be, doesn't make sense either.... Plus no insignias... Is he intentionally blurring the lines so that its understood that the 73 442 was a option sharing almost no performance advantage from a regular similarly equipped Cutlass...

Sorry to those knowledgeable on malaise era for my ignorance on this subject. I have only really become fascinated with this era in the last decade.


Side note, Automobile Catalog states for the 1973 model year, the Cutlass S 455 option was 250 HP and the 442 455 option was 250 or 270 HP.

 

The hood on featured car in video.

 

A wallowing beast. Actually my favorite of all the colonnade cars. Would not say no to a bare bones four speed version.

 

Thanks for posting that video, it was neat to watch.

I don't know about the 73s, but I have a 76 Cutlass (same basic body) and the only distinctive things about the 442 are a set of sway bars and the 442 lettering. I do love these colonnade cars, though I know not everyone does. You can do a lot with them.

 

I have had two 72 Cutlass convertible and I loved them. About two months ago I bought a very nicely restored black 75 W30 Hurst Olds and I really like the car. Other than a nice set of dual exhaust (and I changed those) it is 100% stock with 2:56 gears. It is probably my age but I really like this car. At some point I might consider putting a Holley Sniper on it but not at the moment. About the only thing I need to do is repaint the wheels which did not get done during the restoration. I used to not care much for these cars but this one grew on me really quickly.

 

It's a Cutlass.

I went to high school with a guy that owned a 73 Cutlass. 455 4 barrel. It was optioned just like this car. Different colors. Light green. White top and interior. Swivel buckets. I want to say it had that hood but that was many moons ago. I never rode in it so no idea how fast it was. He really wasn't a car guy. He never really cared for it. He got the car from his Grandpa I think. Looking back it was a clean car. This was around 79-81ish.

 

The narrator said something about intake valves with flex heads to keep temperatures down. What's that all about?

 

Did he mean valve rotators?

 

No, he spoke about the rotators after that.

 

Neither would I.

I think I would also.

I am a huge fan of your car Red. In researching the 75 W30 over the years, it seems to be one of the most extreme Oldsmobile's ever... Maybe not in all out acceleration but when you consider the size of engine and the extensive list of available options. I find the car remarkable. The power train is in fact outstanding. Born with an overall great engine, transmission, and rear end.

Your exhaust mods, along with possibly 2 other modifications. A more aggressive torque converter and to a greater extent a more aggressive rear gear. Make it perfect in my honest opinion.

I bet the car was absolutely awesome in retrospect.

I'm glad I'm not the only one to spot some oddities ...

P.S. thanks guys one and all.

 

it's a cutlass S