These days, with gas prices climbing toward $5.00 a gallon, the era of cheap gas seems like a dream. But, once upon a time in America, gas was cheap and plentiful, and manufacturers made cars that maximized their large engines with performance, power, and speed. And no cars embodied that spirit better than the so-called muscle cars from the mid-‘60s to the early ‘70s. We told you about the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 we found up for sale late last year. We would love to see that car go head to head with today’s remarkable find, the 1969 Oldsmobile 442 Hurst/Olds:
The Mustang Boss 429 we featured was one of only 858 produced, making it extremely rare and quite a find. This 442 is just the competition it needs. From the listing:
“(T)here were approximately 906 to 913 Oldsmobile 4-4-2′s were made into Hurst H/O 455′s in 1969. A few prototype convertibles are included in that number. The fact of the matter is, only a few truly investment worthy examplars remain today. This example is #240 in the Hurst/Olds Club of America Registry and is also documented by her original IBM build card and extensive owner history, tracing back to the early 80′s. She also retains her original VIN numbers matching 445 engine and her original Hurt Performance modified TH400 transmission, OH691686.”
Could it keep up with the Mustang’s 375 horsepower with a reported top speed of 118 MPH? Again, we turn to the engine bay description on the listing:
“The numbers matching original 455 engine Rocket V8, factory rated at 380 Horsepower graces the engine bay, red and chrome like a jewel. The original, date coded 4 bbl carburetor fed by vacuum operated Ram Air as it is sucked in by those giant ‘Mailbox’ hood scoops. Other concours details include the original “D” heads, original numbers matching block, stamped belts and hoses, factory correct clamps, etc. The entire drivetrain has a mere 500 miles on it and runs and drives like new, because she is. No worries, just turn the key and go!”
Unfortunately, the description does not give a top speed, so we can’t compare the two vehicles that way. Suffice it to say, it would be a fun race to watch (and either of the cars would be even more fun to drive). If you have any thoughts about who would win this imaginary race, let us know below.
The 442 came about because the General Motors Pontiac division had scored big with their GTO model, which was racking up sales and mindshare as the first muscle car out of GM in 1964. Oldsmobile immediately played catch up, offering the 442 as an option package in 1964 on their midsize Cutlass models, calling it the “B09 Police Apprehender Pursuit” option. By 1965, Oldsmobile introduced the 442 as its own model – according to musclecarclub.com, “it was named the 4-4-2 package, originally signifying the engine’s 4 barrel carb, 4 speed manual transmission, and dual (2) exhausts.” The era of big-engine muscle cars was upon us, and the 442 lasted in various incarnations for many years after the launch.
Here is a 22-minute clip from the American Muscle Car show that details the evolution of the 442. You hear more about the Hurst edition 442 at about the 14-minute mark on the video:
The 442 was one of the Fastest 1/4 mile cars produced ! The 442 was offered as its own model for I believe 3 years 1969 ,1970 and 1971 and I think in 1968 the Hurst/ Olds was the first GM Musclecar to breek the 400 c.i. barrier equipping the Hurst with the 455 !
When I got out of the Air Force in 1976 my girlfriend (Now wife of 35 years) was driving a 69 Hurst Olds Cutlass. It was in fair shape with low miles but I did a complete resto on it and drove it daily for several years.
I can tell you the only race I lost in that car was to a Hemi Dart! (Not Fair!) And if you got into a “Rat Race” point a to point b nothing else would compare. The car was set up with HD 1″ antiroll bars front and rear and rolled on 50 series Goodyear rubber all around. The car was fast but the handling was better when listening to Peter Frampton on the factory under dash 8-Track!
Low and behold it met it’s fate with a eighteen wheeler (a Peterbuilt Conventional) broadside when we were at a standstill and the truck rolling at 70 !!! I still remember that hit!
GREAT CAR and GREAT MEMORIES !
At 16 I worked my first real job (??) 1976-77 and my fellow worker owned a 1969 W30 400.
He would leave the parking lot catching chirp second gear with shift kit automatic turbo 400..
He offered to sell me that perfect car for $999 in $1 dollar bills yet I could never get this amount of money.
In a way I was lucky to not have purchased and been wrapped around a pole..
Great memories of the sound of that motor, though…
I would have to say that Mustang better have all its horses in a row and be runnin hard. I never had a 442 but have always admired them.
I did however have a 1968 Cutlass S back in the late 70s and I,m here to tell ya WOW. I can still here the rumble of that 350 rocket with its 4 bbl carb and factory 3 speed on the floor. It was love at first sight and it was no beauty but man would she run. I also never lost a race in that car and it is the most memorable car I ever had. I had so many burnouts in front of the house I lived in it looked like they reblack-topped that section. What an amazing car and tons of fun. It would walk sideways in 1st gear then hit second and walk sideways the other direction. AMAZING CAR AND TONS OF POWER.
Like I said that Mustang better be fully armed and ready for a hard run if it were up against that Hurst Olds. They sure knew how to build em!!!
Thanks for letting me relive part of my younger years and keep those Oldsmobiles around. This younger generation has no idea what they missed!! Have a great day.
I worked for an Olds dealer in 1969 and road tested a new 442-hurst-olds ,for it’s new
owner. That car would hit over 120 mph in a 1/4 mile.
It was a nice ride!
I owned a 1968 442 in North Carolina, Jacksonville and raced it at the local 1/4 mile track, car ran 12.32 @ 116 mph factory (Not a Hurst), year 1974-76, drove it to California 1977 and put a 350 after 400 gave up, best engine ever…clocked at 140+ by a Targa on the freeway and still had gas left……that was 1979….I miss that car…..my 1968 Camaro BBC 454 SS 4 spd does help me to forget that monster…..
The 69 hurst olds is a great muscle car in the true sense of the word. It had all the character as well as the performance of the top 10 muscle cars of the era. The boss 429 hemi never really made it on the street due to it’s detuned nature as shipped from the factory but put in the hands of an engine tuner and the beast would awaken and embarrass anything from that era. The ford hemi, Chrysler hemi and the chevy ls6 were the cream of the crop for the time.
I own a 69 Hurst Olds one beautiful summer evening my brother pulled up beside me in his 68 Shelby GT-500 convertible. The light was about to turn green and asked him if he was ready, surpising he was we ran side by side. A few years later Im at a cruise in Michigan and a Boss 429 wants to run, we only had a run but the H/O had him up to 70.
Back in ’75 a good friend, Sam acqiured a ’69 H/O. We used to cruise in that Olds and find the occasional race; never lost one. Another friend had a ’71 Mach 1; blew his doors off. Bill had a ’69 Camaro SS convertible; raced him twice, and he gave it up before he’d have to gave up the pink slip on the following run. About that same time, a friend that I went to Jr High with scored a ’71 H/O. We never raced Jamie, but it was so cool to have a couple friends with such great, rare cars. Another guy that we came across around that time lived a few miles outside of Lubbock. He had a ’69 also. He would trailer his H/O into town, find a race and throw a set of slicks on it.
Sure miss those days…
First, I must clear up some of the fuzzy memories that some of the posters are stating about the top speed of the Oldsmobile 442. The fact is that that these cars were wound so tight with with a 4.11 rear end that they were close to their top speed at the end of a quarter mile- then had another 15 mph to get to between 115 to 120. Given the barn door aerodynamics the top speed was limited to approx. 125 to 130 even when turning a more conservative 3.55 rear end. Now, in theory if you installed a 5 or 6 speed in one ( with a .67 overdrive) and a 3.08 rear end you could probably hit 145 to 150. Fact is, as good as these cars are, the memories attached to them make them faster than they really are.
THOSE WHERE THE DAYS OF ROLLING THUNDER TO FEEL ALL THOSE HORSES UNDER YOU AND WANTING TO TURN THEM LOOSE WHAT A HIGH.
Very nice car. I got a 1970 454 ss Chevelle that will give you a run for your money. = )
When I got out of the Air Force in 1968, I said I was going to buy a new car at least one time in my life> Yep a brand new 1969 4-4-2 . Needless to say I couldnt really get a street race with it , nobody would take it on, the rumbling of the engine was enough to dissuade any other car driver to turn away. On the highway I would be cruising at 85 and throw it to the floor and it would jump up and go into a full gallop and peg the speedo and still want more. GOD I MISS THAT CAR.