1973 442 Oldsmobile Cutlass 455 V8 Automatic

This gorgeous 1973 Oldsmobile 442 car takes a classic look and adds a dose of big block horsepower to create an unlikely performance car that has impressed all who see it run. Black and gold are legendary Oldsmobile performance colors dating back to the early Hurst/Olds models of the '60s. and it looks particularly good on this '73. There's obviously a ton of cash wrapped up in the paint job. with laser-straight bodywork under that glossy black paint and gold stripes that were buried under the clear for a truly seamless look. In typical '70s fashion. the gold paint frames the wheel arches and runs along the rocker panels to make the sleek Cutlass bodywork look even longer and lower and you would have to admit that it looks pretty darned good. The 442 package was pretty much just trim in '73. but on this car those badges mean something and even though there was no more W-30 setup. the way this one has been upgraded. well. I don't think anyone's going to complain. Chrome is quite good and glitters against the black bodywork and yes. that's a Hurst badge on the trunk. but we'll get to that in a moment. Oldsmobile had those cool swiveling buckets and you'll find them in this 442 wrapped in black velour for a period-perfect performance look. Once again. Oldsmobile found a way to blend performance and luxury in a way nobody else could quite master. and the deeply recessed gauges in round pods certainly adds to that impression. On the other hand. there's a fairly convincing wood-grain applique on each door panel and it carries options such as air conditioning and a tilt column. The carpets are in good shape but show a bit of wear. but certainly not enough to require replacement and yes. that's a Hurst "his-and-hers" shifter in the center console. complete with cue ball knob. There's a vintage Blaupunkt AM/FM radio in the dash with 6x9 speakers on the rear package shelf and a built-in radar detector hides out of sight just to the left of the steering column. The big trunk is nicely finished with black mats and a full-sized spare with matching Torque Thrust wheel. a thoughtful addition that suggests there were no corners cut on this 442 build. The 455 cubic inch big block was built by Lamar Walden and packs the kind of wallop that made the 442 famous. No choked smog motor. this built Rocket V8 packs an Edelbrock high-rise intake. Holley 4-barrel carburetor. and a set of long-tube headers that all help build power. as well as freshened internals that are up to the rigors of combat. A bit of chrome dresses things up under the hood and it's all impressively clean. A rugged TH400 3-speed automatic transmission doesn't seem to mind the torque and a set of new Flowmasters provide a baritone rumble from the twin pipes under the rear bumper. SSII wheels were standard equipment. but only a vintage Torque Thrust could look better. so that's what was installed. complete with 245/60/14 BFGoodrich rubber. Sometimes GREAT cars come from unexpected places. so give this awesome 442 a closer look and see if different is better for you. too. It just might take two hands to handle this beast. This is part of an estate sale so is being sold AS IS. I have taken this car for a test run and it brings back a lot of good old memories. The dashboard is in pristine condition. This also includes a custom made cover over it. Please view my other auctions.