1964 - 1967 Olds 4-4-2
Reviewed by Unique Cars and Parts
Our Rating: 5
1965 Olds 442
With the GTO receiving GM corporate sanction, Oldsmobile followed suit with a big-engine 442. The B09 option was renamed 442 and the price was lowered to $190.45 for F-85s and $156.02 for Cutlasses. The new 400 CID (6.6 litre) engine became standard, and the definition of "442" was restated as 400 cubic inches, 4 barrel carburettor (a 515 cfm Rochester 4-Jet), 2 exhausts.
Output for the big engine rose to 345 hp (257 kW) and 440 lb.ft (597 Nm). The standard transmission became a three-speed manual with the four-speed as an option, and Oldsmobile's two-speed Jetaway automatic transmission was added as an alternative. The '65 was the first 442 to use a Hurst shifter, which was included when the HD 3 speed manual transmission was ordered.
The heavy duty 3 speed was a mid year introduction and used a floor shifter, unlike the early 3 speed that used a column shifter. Other touches added to the '65 were chrome body side scoops adorned with 442 badging, chambered dual
exhaust pipes, chrome single snout air cleaner, and 442 badging on the dash. Late in the year option N98 was added, which were chrome reversed 14 × 6 in (360 × 150 mm) wheels. It also offered standard bucket seats when optioned on the Cutlass and a 6,000 rpm tachometer, mounted in the console, more as decoration than for usefulness.
The console was optional, which made the tach optional. Retractable front seat belts were optional. The turning radius was 41feet. Modern Rod tested a 1965 F85 442 with the four-speed manual, slicks, and headers and obtained a quarter mile acceleration of 13.78 seconds at 102.73 mph (165 km/h); Car Life's automatic '65 ran the quarter mile in 15.5 seconds at 89 mph (143 km/h), with a 0 to 60 time of 7.8 seconds. Offered in four body styles, sales rose to 25,003, including 3,468 convertibles. Car and Driver tested a 1965 442 and did 0–60mph in 5.5 seconds.
