THE 1968 442: When classic and performance collide
June 21, 2019
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Written by independent automotive journalist Roger C. Johnson
Lot #678 at the 2019 Northeast Auction is a 1968 Oldsmobile 442 convertible that has been treated to a professional, frame-off restoration.
In 1968 it never occurred to any of us muscle cars like this Oldsmobile 442 were about to be killed off due to social and economic circumstances. It would be decades before American carmakers would produce that kind of automotive excitement again. Sadly, Oldsmobile would not be one of those companies ‒ an ironic twist of events, considering it was Oldsmobile itself that first conceived the classic muscle car concept by offering a bigger engine in a lighter car with their 1949 Rocket 88.
Only 1,518 4-speed convertible 442s were produced for the 1968 model run, and this particular car has been treated to a professional frame-off, nut-and-bolt restoration by master craftsman Jerry Csontos of Northampton, PA. Lot #678, a 442 convertible, is a virtually brand-new second-generation A-body with a more modern-looking and smoother fuselage body shape than previous models. It has been driven a mere 100 miles since its official rebirth. This matching-numbers collectible includes a sublimely torquey 400ci, 350-horsepower Rocket engine. Talk about heritage. Naturally, the mill is painted Olds’ signature bronze-copper and topped with a fire-engine-red air cleaner, making an already immaculate engine bay look even more enticing to the eye.
The original Hurst-shifted Muncie 4-speed gives this luxurious muscle car all the street cred it needs to communicate in any language. The factory 10-bolt rear end packs 3.42 gears, which help transform this machine into a sensible driver, even by today’s standards. Heavy-duty springs and shocks, along with a stabilizer bar, make this platform an ideal purveyor of high-performance motoring.
Offered with No Reserve at the June 26-29 Northeast Auction, this car runs and drives like a dream and pulls strongly through all four gears. You know you can hear that Oldsmobile engine revving right this minute. A laser-straight and rust-free chassis provides a 112-inch wheelbase to support this 442 in style and function. The entire undercarriage is as immaculate as the top side. Rolling stock consists of Firestone F70 wide oval red line tires on very stylish-looking 14-inch Super Stock II wheels. This exact combination is in the trunk as your spare, along with the correct jack assembly.
Inside this enticing collectible you’ll find new teal-blue vinyl bucket seats, interior panels and carpeting. All original gauges operate as new, and the same goes for the exterior lights, cigarette lighter and the AM/FM stereo. The exterior paint is beautifully highlighted with a white and wrinkle-free vinyl power top that operates exactly like it’s supposed to. A new factory-correct boot in matching teal completes that part of the package. The factory’s twin vertical racing stripes on the front fenders may have been the most tasteful of all from its era.
This muscle car masterpiece was restored while owned by Paul Teutul Sr. of “American Chopper” fame, whose reputation for quality builds is known far and wide. Coming along with the car will be the original owner’s manual signed by Teutul, a 300-page 1968 Oldsmobile service manual and a complete photo documentation of this car’s restoration.
If you’re ready for an Olds rocket ride to the stars of the classic muscle car scene, this very 442 has your name all over it. Even though this brand may not be here anymore, the impression it made on the muscle movement will never be forgotten because of enthusiasts just like you.
For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE. For a look at all the vehicles on the docket for the 2019 Northeast Auction, click HERE.