1968 Oldsmobile 442

Description

This 1968 Oldsmobile 442 hardtop has one of the most dominating widebody stances ever, and under the hood is its numbers-matching 400 V8 to back up its looks. And with a cool color combo, a great driving attitude, and long-term care, it makes for an irresistible total package.

This car is coming off nearly 30 years of long-term ownership. That's always exciting to hear because it's often how you discover the classics that have often seen loving care. In fact, the Ocean Turquoise paint tells this story nicely. It was resprayed in 1996, and it continues to have the kind of outstanding shine today that will put many younger paint jobs to shame. We can understand this level of respect. 1968 was the debut of the second generation 442. No longer just an offshoot of the Cutlass, the muscle car celebrated its independence with one of the most intimidating designs of the 60s. Sure, it still carried much of the same overall appearance as its Olds A-body siblings, but the flared fenders, rounded rear, and long pillarless Holiday hardtop silhouette all look so much better in muscle car form. Plus, when you have that dark grille with the bold 442 badging in the middle of the wide dual headlight housings, it just makes for a truly sinister machine. As a true Oldsmobile, this never loses its premium touches. For example, there's a trim line that starts at the headlights and highlights the curves of the profile all the way through the door line. We like how this has the proper 442 side stripes, but they are painted on and cleared over for a smooth permanence. And this goes well with the white roof that looks like a vinyl top, but it's really painted for a glossy and easily maintained style. It makes for a full package that's thoughtfully detailed, right down to the shine of the form-hugging bumpers.

All the white accents of the exterior get you ready for the full white interior. The clean look of the pleated vinyl on the seats and door panels looks great, and the headliner is nicely done for a bright and premium style. So you can really see the difference good care makes inside. And with the carpeting done in black to show less dirt, it's easy to take everyone for a ride. And if they love vintage style, they'll be impressed with the details, including the working dome light provisions for factory air conditioning (it will need servicing,) and the working stock AM radio. And a car like this was also made to be a driver. That's why you have the upgraded wood-rimmed sports steering wheel that gives you a clear view of the sporty round gauge package.

You're looking at the numbers-matching V8 in this American muscle icon. Part of the fun of owning a '68 is getting to tell the story about how the 400 cubic-inch motor was the maximum GM would allow in its production intermediates at the time. This one looks terrific with the full golden colored block and distinctive 442 air topper, and an overall tidy setup that signals this has been given proper care. The mighty V8 inhales deeply with a four-barrel carburetor, and it exhales with a sweet sound out of the rumbling dual exhaust. As a true Oldsmobile, this is built to balance power and comfort. That's why you have a strong and smooth (and numbers-matching) TH400 three-speed automatic transmission. Plus, there's power steering, power brakes, a limited-slip rear, and sway bars front & rear.

The sale comes complete with the protect-o-plate warranty card, owner's manual, stock steering wheel, and two boxes of components. This is the classic 442 hardtop with the kind of desirable history and preserved style that makes it awesome. So if you love a true classic muscle car, don't let this one slip away. Call today!!!