The rare W-32 package made the Olds 442 a performance legend.
May 31, 2023 at 6:51pm ET
Although Oldsmobile closed its doors almost 20 years ago, it remains very popular among classic and muscle car enthusiasts. The best known of these cars is the Cutlass and its performance models like the 442. The 442 originally meant a 4-speed, with a 400 cubic inch engine and dual exhaust. Of all the 442 variants, one of the rarest and most legendary is the W-32.
We recently spotted a rare 4,475 Chevrolet Chevelle SS454 with an LS6 engine, but this 1969 Oldsmobile 442 is one of only 297 cars built with the W-32 package. What makes the W-32 so special? It starts with the 400-cubic-inch Ram Air V8 Olds. Where the standard 400-cubic-inch V8 produced 290 horsepower, the Ram Air made 350 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque.
A heavy-duty Turbo Hydramatic 400 automatic transmission and limited-slip rear differential put that power down, making the W-32 a serious beast off the showroom floor. It was capable of sprints from 0 to 60 mph in less than six seconds and low 13-second quarter-mile times. With a beefed-up suspension and quick-ratio power steering, it was also one of the best-handling muscle cars of its era.
This particular Oldsmobile W-32 is in surprisingly good shape. The owner bought it second-hand in 1971 and, apart from a repaint, the car is almost all original. According to the owner’s son, he drove it home from the hospital after he was born, so this old Olds also has a lot of sentimental value.
A quick wash reveals that the Olds 442 still sports bright paint and an intact vinyl roof. The interior is also in good, original condition. The vinyl upholstery is not cracked or discolored. Like the 1983 Camaro Z28 that the team previously built, it just needs a good cleaning. There’s no sign of mice living rent-free like in this Studebaker Champion, and even the build sheet under the back seat is still legible.
The end result is a fantastic transformation. The paint and chrome shine like new, and the entire car looks as good as when the owner bought it. While the WD Detailing crew was unable to get the car running, it shouldn’t take long to get this Olds up and running.
