Oldsmobile 442

It is said that the Oldsmobile 442 is the first muscle car. It was also the first muscle car that stuffed it's hot, new full sized rocket v-8 into a midsized model to create the Oldsmobile 88 and the super 88 back in 1949. The Oldsmobile 442 started as a 330 V-8 with the police package. There were changes throughout the years but the 442 always remained.

The Oldsmobile 442 is a very sturdy car. It was built between the years 1964 through 1971 and again between the years 1985 through 1987. Oldsmobile put the 442 horse powered engine in only some of their models. The Oldsmobile 442 came in both convertible and hard tops. The Oldsmobile 442 was named a muscle car because of it's speed. Suddenly the car was selling off of all the car lots. General Motors had to increase their production. From 1968 to 1971 the 442 engine was an option on their cars.

The 442 was born because of the competition between Oldsmobile and Pontiac. This particular Oldsmobile was called the 442 because the huge four barrel carburetor, the four speed transmission and the dual exhaust. Motor Trend tested the car 442 and found that the 3,440lb car would run from 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds.