Starting in 1964, the 442 package was introduced as an option for Oldsmobile F-85 and Cutlass models and carried a unique reason for its designation. The name comes from the four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and dual exhaust pipes – all hallmarks of performance for the youth of the day. By 1968, the 442 was its very own model, but by 1972 had been reduced back to an option package on existing vehicles.

Since the General Motors divisions of the time were good at battling between themselves for superiority in the showroom, the 442 was originally the answer to the Pontiac Tempest GTO, and its initial sticker price markup was a whopping $285 bucks – small potatoes to pay for the upgraded power and performance the package offered. This 1971 version up for sale is the last “true” 442 and is a serious collector’s machine.

The 442 W-30 option package offered the pinnacle of performance with a rating of 350 horsepower, a stout sum for cars of the day. In 1971 the car was offered in both hardtop coupe and convertible models, and was in fact the final year of standalone 442 production, as the car reverted to an option package on various Cutlass models for 1972.

The “Rocket” 455 cubic-inch engine had a low 8.5:1 compression ratio but still managed to pound out the power, and this particular car happens to be one of the cleanest cars with the W30 package we’ve seen in a while, especially since it’s a drop-top. As there were only 110 convertible W-30 cars built at the time, very few of them remain on the road, and even fewer in true, numbers-matching condition like this car possesses.

This car also happens to be just one of ten convertible W-30 pieces built with factory air conditioning, making it truly one of the rarest muscle cars around. We wish we had the asking price – can you imagine rolling the road in this piece of history? Count us in!