Silicon Palms

Tag: muscle car

  • Oldsmobile 442 True Classic Muscle Car

    Oldsmobile 442 True Classic Muscle Car

    Whenever I see the time on a digital clock of 4:42 I think of my good friend Kim. He was a couple years older than me and in high-school he was the guy we looked up to. Kim had the hottest girlfriends, lived in the best neighbourhood, in the best house, with the best pool. On top of everything else, Kim was cool and he also owned the coolest muscle car; a 442.

    Oldsmobile 442

    Oldsmobile 442 – began as a 1964 muscle car option package (4-barrel carburetor, 4-speed manual transmission, and 2 exhausts) on the F-85/Cutlass. In 1965, to better compete with the Pontiac GTO, the original 330 CID V8 rated at 310 hp (231 kW) was replaced by a new 400 CID V8 rated at 345 hp (257 kW).

    The 442 definition was changed to “4” hundred CID V8 engine, “4”-barrel carburetor, and “2” exhaust pipes, and was named by “Car Craft Nationals” as the “top car of 1965”. In 1968 the 442 became its own model and got a larger, 455 CID (7.5 L), V8 engine in 1970.

    The Oldsmobile 4-4-2 (also known as the 442) is a muscle car produced by Oldsmobile between the 1964 and 1987 model years. Introduced as an option package for US-sold F-85 and Cutlass models, it became a model in its own right from 1968 to 1971, spawned the Hurst/Olds in 1968, then reverted to an option through the mid-1970s. The name was revived in the 1980s on the rear-wheel drive Cutlass Supreme and early 1990s as an option package for the new front-wheel drive Cutlass Calais.

    The “4-4-2” name (pronounced “Four-four-two”) derives from the original car’s four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and dual exhausts (Some maintain that the ‘2’ indicated a limited-slip differential). It was originally written “4-4-2” (with badging showing hyphens between the numerals), and remained hyphenated throughout Oldsmobile’s use of the designation.

    Beginning in 1965, the 4-4-2s standard transmission was a three-speed manual along with an optional two-speed automatic and four-speed manual, but were still badged as “4-4-2″s. Because of this change, from 1965 on, according to Oldsmobile brochures and advertisements, the 4-4-2 designation referred to the 400 cubic inch engine, four-barrel carburetor, and dual exhausts.

    By 1968 badging was shortened to simply “442”, but Oldsmobile brochures and internal documents continued to use the “4-4-2” model designation.

  • Chevrolet Chevelle SS Convertible

    Chevrolet Chevelle SS Convertible

    1968 Chevy Chevelle
    1968 Chevy Chevelle

    The Car calendar on my wall in my office is showing a 1966 Chevelle convertible in blue, with a 396. The car in the photo (below) is a 1968 from Montreal, Quebec but I couldn’t find the blue beauty from my calendar.

    As a teenager the first muscle car I went for rides in was this Chevy with a 396 four speed. I smile just thinking about it and can almost smell the burning rubber, as it’s owner liked to light up his tires for any reason.

    Chevelle by Chevrolet
    Swing low, sweet chariot.

    This carriage later became the famous Monte Carlo and Malibu, as the body style changed several times over the decades. The Chevelles of the 60’s were really nice cars, I enjoyed a cruise to Seattle once, following the Okanogan river and across the border at Orville, Washington, then on down the valley and then over the Cascade Range. It was August and we had the top down the entire way, in the convertible model, yellow with white leather seats.

    My friends muscle car was a 1970 coupe, as pictured

    Bull-Doser – Top photo above 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS photographed in Laval, Quebec, Canada at Les chauds vendredis. Coupe from Bull-Doser – Own work Chevrolet Chevelle photographed in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at Gibeau Orange Julep.

    Chevelle by Chevrolet

    The Chevrolet Chevelle is a mid-sized automobile which was produced by Chevrolet in three generations for the 1964 through 1977 model years. Part of the General Motors (GM) A-Body platform, the Chevelle was one of Chevrolet’s most successful nameplates. Body styles include coupes, sedans, convertibles and station wagons. Super Sport versions were produced through the 1973 model year, and Lagunas from 1973 through 1976. After a four-year absence, the El Camino was reintroduced as part of the new Chevelle lineup in 1964. The Chevelle also provided the platform for the Monte Carlo introduced in 1970. The Malibu, the top of the line model through 1972, completely replaced the Chevelle nameplate for the redesigned, downsized 1978 model year.

    Chevelle Photo credit: KayVee.INC on Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA Photo credit: Chad Horwedel on Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-ND