1966 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Tri-Power 4- speed

Learn more about the Audrain’s 4-4-2 on Jay Leno’s Garage

Measuring 17 feet long, this 4-4-2 (short for 4-barrel carburetor, 4-speed manual transmission, and 2-exhausts)  is certainly a long car by modern standards, but perhaps not a “land yacht” by 1960s standards.  In 1966 this was a mid-size automobile, but large for a performance coupe! The 4-4-2 was nothing short of athletic. The car was also a comfortable touring car, though with 360 horsepower at the driver’s disposal, the 4-4-2 still offers plenty of bite to match its bark.

While many enthusiasts claim that Oldsmobile birthed their first muscle car in 1949 with the Delta 88, the first-generation Oldsmobile 4-4-2 definitively introduced the brand to the muscle car craze. The 1966 model year of the 4-4-2 is often regarded as the most desirable model, with engine and suspension modifications that evolved the 4-4-2 into a world-class sports car.

Oldsmobile introduced the 4-4-2 option package for the 1964 model year Cutlass, in response to the unexpected popularity of the Pontiac LeMans GTO. The 4-4-2 recipe included performance and suspension improvements, providing Oldsmobile with its first legitimate muscle car that handled just as well as it accelerated, even though General Motors had imposed a restriction on engines 400 C.I. or larger in their intermediate-sized cars. By 1966, the muscle car era was well underway, and the 4-4-2 had been solidified as a top competitor against the rest of the muscle car market. The 4-4-2 was a desirable and expensive option, with an MSRP of over $4000, a significant amount of money in 1966, though the available performance was worth every penny. Oldsmobile also offered a number of options to help buyers personalize their 4-4-2, with numerous transmission options, multiple rear-end ratios, and carburetor options, allowing buyers to build their 4-4-2 to their liking.

This car came from the factory in a dark green color called Forrest Mist but is now finished in black on black.

Specifications:

Engine: 400 cu in L69 V-8, triple Rochester 2GV two-barrel carburetors 

Transmission: four-speed wide-ratio manual, limited-slip rear end

Power: 360 hp

Torque: 440 ft-lb (597 Nm)

Length: 204.2 in

Width: 75.4 in

Height: 53.7 in

Wheelbase 115 in

Speed: 0-60, 5.3 sec; quarter-mile 13.9 sec

Top Speed: 119 mph

Fuel Economy: 8.4 mpg