Raindance

For the experts . . . I couldn't post on the 442 page, so . . .

I'm using a 442 W-30 in an upcoming novel . . . a white (probably) convertible.

My question is: Is there a particular year/model (hopefully in the sixties) that defines the 442 as THE muscle car that makes a guy's mouth water?

thanks,
rd

Oldsguy

Welcome to CO rd. I think you will get as many different answers as there are different 442 vintage owners we have ie, a '68 442 owner will say 1968, a '72 442 will say 1972, etc. At any rate there may be a favorite come out on top and I predict it will be the 1969 442. Ask citcapp, I think he will agree.

Jamesbo

Welcome aboard

A 442 novel? Cool. I myself have some opinons about which year, but I'm bias.

I've got a great first line for you. "They call me Ishamel"
Catchy huh?

Oldsguy

I thought about mentioning you but would rather dig on Pat.

wmachine

I think Raindance is just trying to stir the pot......and he's doing a good job. It pretty much is as Oldsguy says, and you'd get the same response from just about any car forum.
But in all fairness to Raindance's question, if we had to pick one, I think what has be the most popular over the years is the 1970 W30. Do you mean W30 in particular? It was the pinnacle year for musclecars and was Oldsmobile's top dog. It was certainly at the top of the heap back in the '80s with the Olds Performance Chapter.
Me? The ultimate is the '66 W30. Hands down.

wolfman98

As far as doing a novel goes you could find an appropiate 442 from 66 to 69.A lot would depend on what features or styling you are thinking about. maybe guys could post pics of their favorite 442 W30 convertible or otherwise and then you could decide which year fits best into your story. Good luck with the novel and great choice of cars to pick.

Oldsmaniac

My mouth would water over a 67 442 W-30 however there were no factory converts in 67. The W-30 option though could have been dealer installed.

citcapp

Got to be a 69 (just to keep Jamsbo quiet) If they would have made them in 57 then that would have been my choice.

Just had to say it didn't you Oldsguy

64Rocket

To have an Oldsmobile 442 in a novel that will revolve around the car is the best. Any year will do, as long as the info is correct.
My vote is for the '68. I don't know about a "W-30" convert. 1970 was the most outstanding year. Just as long as the info on the car is correct and the novel is interesting, go for it and make it happen.

Gene

Bluevista

He could get a 455 - 4 speed Vista Cruiser.

My first choice would be the '69 H/O, which isn't a 4-4-2... but it's white. Does this guy have to keep a low profile?

With the criteria set my choice would be the '70 too.

Raindance

Thanks for all the help. I have an idea more info is coming . . . and I have a little research to work through . . . but it looks like it'll be the ’69 or ’70.

Apologies are in order to Jamesbo and 64Rocket . . . the novel isn't about the 442 . . . though the car could certainly carry its weight (no pun intended). In fact . . . and I hate to tell this group this . . . the car really doesn't play a major role. To me, the vintage 442 used up all the words a real muscle car can say . . . and I have a character who drives one . . . the car operates in the center a major scene.

Thanks again for the words. I'll check back in and see what else turns up.

rd

joe_padavano

I have just one request. If the car ends up being destroyed in the book, pick some other kind of car so that a real 442 isn't killed when they make the movie.

wmachine

56chevy

69 was the greatest year! Not only for GM but Ford and Mopar too!...... And I owned a 71 white convertible for years.

Run to Rund

People are spending huge money to restore and build up the 66s. Tri Carbs, battery in the trunk (hence no convertibles because the top comes down where the battery is), lightest body, etc. The 68-9 engine wasn't great for power, and the W31s ran as well as the 455 w30s on the drag strip.

wmachine

Depends on what you mean by "great". Looking at it objectively (as '70 isn't my favorite), GM in particular had their greatest number of their highest performance cars and options in 1970. Olds had 5 W-machines offered that year, unmatched in any other year.

56chevy

True... add style to the mix, 69 is still my favorite overall!

Bobsw32

Look at what is bringing the LOOT!!!!!

1970 442 Convertible W-30 (The Ram Air Hood Really sets it off)

These are the BIG BUCK cars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Money Talks

daves62

my thoughts exactly.

56chevy

What is a backside ugly Dodge Daytona bringing today?... Maybe it's not all about the money

If we all had the same tastes... We would all be driving the same style of car, living in the same style of house and there would be a lot of lonely ladies out there!

jensenracing77

i would have to pick a 1970. if it has to be a 60s car the 3 carbs on 66 W-30 would be a good talking point in a novel.

citcapp

The book isn't a western were you kiss you horse instead of the girl, but I guess there are some Olds guys who would rather kiss their car then kiss the girl.

jensenracing77

i would rather kiss the girl in the car.

Run to Rund

Feb 67 Cars had a color centerfold of the 66 W30 raced by rund Oldsmobile. Today, the car looks just as good as it did then. What other centerfolds still look as good, 42 years later?

csstrux

X2. Would love to have one of those.

culb

mugzilla

The rear 1/4 panel on a '70 is my fave but a '68 has a wind wing ...

culb

MusclecarJunkie

Hi all! My first post here (new member) but I'm hardly a newbie with Oldsmobiles. Thieves took advantage of Katrina chaos and got my last of many Oldsmobiles (a '69 Cutlass convertible, fully-optioned) but I'm looking to play again and I'm looking locally (New Orleans area) at an '83 H/O shell. As to this thread, I love the merits of all Oldsmobiles and it makes me shake my head when I see a Ford truck go by with an aftermarket hood, sporting the twin 442 scoops, made popular by the '70-72 models. But whether or not Jamesbo is biased, I have to agree with him. Furthermore, I'll opine that nothing is as uniquely Oldsmobile in musclecar mania that so clearly defines any specific model as the U-shaped twin-scoop of the '69 H/O! You don't have to see the rest of the car in a photograph - you see that scoop or even just the lettering on the side, and you KNOW what the rest of the car looks like.

firefrost gold

I would have to say the 1966 w-30 track pack.tri carbs, ram air, rubber floor matt , no radio or heater screams MUSCLE CAR to me Very rare harks back to the early olds 88"s .

442much

An Australian kiss?

joe_padavano

Aside from that fact that we're coming up on the first birthday of the original post, a 66 wouldn't be the CONVERTIBLE asked for...

firefrost gold

(probably) a covert not a in stone . Or in my garage Bummer