Rough 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Project Seeks a Brave Restorer

During the golden era of American muscle, General Motors fielded a fighter in nearly every corner of the mid-size segment, and Oldsmobile’s entry carried the 442 badge — a name tied to its four-barrel carburetor, four-speed gearbox and dual exhaust setup. One such machine from 1970, fitted with the desirable W-30 package and its 455 cubic-inch V8, has surfaced for sale out of Middlefield, Connecticut, listed at $14,500 or best offer.

The W-30 was the hottest 442 of its day, arriving after GM lifted its displacement cap for mid-size cars. It delivered 370 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, and just 3,100 examples are believed to have been built for 1970, with 2,574 of those being two-door hardtops like this one. The seller describes the car as a genuine W-30, though the verification rests on his own research rather than factory documentation.

This particular find shows 90,000 miles and plenty of rust and interior wear, suggesting it has sat untouched for years. The numbers-matching M-21 manual transmission is still in place, and the 455 is period-correct with a mix of original components. Under the hood, the wheel wells retain their factory red paint, while the engine bay wears red accents instead of the correct Oldsmobile gold — itself an older respray covering the original white stripes.

Although parting the car out might pencil out financially, the seller is reluctant to see it broken up, leaving the decision to restore or dismantle to whoever buys it. A stash of spare Oldsmobile parts is also available, though those are not included in the asking price.