I have a sticker on my W-31 windshield that says national 442 owner club. Does anyone remember this? The sticker has been on the car since the 1980s.

 

There were a number of attempts at 442 clubs over the years, but none got very far before they folded. The most successful was the Oldsmobile Performance Chapter of OCA which started in the late '70s and ran into the '90s before being more or less assimilated into OCA.

 

Hi,

I remember that club; my brothers were involved with it for a bit. I have a few issues of the newsletter, "Route 442." I think the club was pretty much dead by the end of the eighties.

-Jon

 

If it is Route 66, it isn't the Olds Performance Chapter. I'd be interested in seeing what the "Route 66" newsletter is.
The OPC newsletter was "W MACHINES". Which reminds me that I need to dig them up as there is some really good info in them.

 

Bro has some stuff, a patch and a key chain, from the Oldsmobile 442 Club. I think it was a thing you could sign up for at the Olds dealer back in 65.

 

Yes, there are the patch, jacket and some trinkets (I have them) that have the Oldsmobile 442 Club on them, but I've never found any evidence that there was a real "club" to go with them. That's on my list of things to try to verify, but so far I've come up empty.

 

I have a number of newsletters from this club. I believe the guy who ran it was from Virginia.

 

Which club are you referring to, Diego? The '60s "442 Club"? If you have a newsletter from them, could you scan one for me?
wmachine@shubes.net

 

No, it's the 1980s 442 club that I think was referred to as "Route 442." They are in a box, but I may be able to find 'em if egged on.

 

Consider yourself egged-on. No yoke! I'd like to see them.

 

Well, I'm an ADD kid, so you may need to egg me on if I take too long, so feel free to give me a kick in the **** if necessary when it's time.

 

OK, here is one issue!



This issue is from 1988, and it's edited by Mark Janis of Washington state (I thought he was from VA, but not so. I think there may have been some other guy from there but can't remember the connection other than his name may have been Vern Parker? . . . ah, I found it! Burt Parker's the name, and he's a chapter president!)

I recall the people involved with the club and newsletter appear to be Olds fans but not as knowledgeable about the cars as one would hope, but even in modern times we have Olds-only sites that have the same problem.

 

Thanks, Diego!
Along the same line, I was going through some old contact information I had and I ran across this "business card" from the "National 442 Owners Club". I think I picked this up about 10-15 years ago?
Unrelated, I'm also guessing?

I can tell you that the Oldsmobile Performance Chapter was indeed pretty knowledgeable about the cars.

 

I think it was the same club, judging by the state of Washington.

Didn't Mike Furman run the performance chapter of the OCA?

 

Mike Furman was a Vice President at one time. The OPC was started in 1982 and at one point had as many as 2000 members.