442 Tank Tops

Oldsmobile's Hottest Number! Surly Dr. Olds would approve.

The dentist's muscle car...

A classic muscle car... my dad said these were "the Dentist's muscle car"

A pencil illustration of a 1966 Oldsmobile 442

The Oldsmobile 4-4-2 (also known as the 442) is a muscle car that was originally introduced as an option package for US-sold F-85 and Cutlass models, but became a model in its own right from 1968 to 1971, spawned the Hurst/Olds in 1968, then reverted to an option through the mid-1970s. The "4-4-2" name (pronounced "Four-four-two") derives from the original car's four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and dual exhaust system. This muscle car crazy style design celebrates these legendary performers that were well-known to tear it up both on the street and on the track.

Classic muscle car detail

OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 442 VINTAGE

1970 Oldsmobile 442 Cutlass muscle car photography art for T-shirts, stickers, and apparel, 70 442 merch, fan art.

OLDS 442 HOODIE T-SHIRT CUTLASS OLDSMOBILE

Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Silhouette

OLDSMOBILE 442 HOODIE T-SHIRT

Drawing of a 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442.

OLDSMOBILE 442 HOODIE T-SHIRT

1968 was a very big year for the 442, starting with the fact that it was finally made into its very own model. From the time that the first 442 was released in 1964 up until 1967, it had been purely a performance package that could be added to the F-85 or Cutlass midsized Oldsmobile lines. With stellar sales and growing interest in the muscle car class as a while, Olds wisely decided to put the 442 out on its own. 442 models that came equipped with the W-30 Force-Air induction system took in cold air from around these lights. The W-30 package, which had been first introduced at the end of the 1966 model year, had unique internal engine modifications that included special heads and a high output cam.

OLDSMOBILE 442

The worlds best logo Gleaming in the noon day sun! Showing your colors with style!

Our designs are set up for classic car enthusiasts and is in no way affiliated any car company or car manufacturer. Any brand names on tags are used for descriptive purposes only.

Hurst Performance 1958

Our designs are set up for classic car enthusiasts and is in no way affiliated any car company or car manufacturer. Any brand names on tags are used for descriptive purposes only.

When your number is up - let em' all know! An automobile with classic lines - The Oldsmobile 442 - Right on the edge between cool and smokin' !!

The 1969 Hurst/Olds again used the 455-cid V-8 with W-30 heads, cam, distributor, and Force-Air induction. This engine, called the W-46, was slightly detuned from '68, losing 10 bhp. A H/O modified Turbo Hydra-matic transmission with console-shifted Hurst Dual-Gate was mandatory. As high performance raced into the wacky late '60s, the idea of a mad scientist conjuring up ever-more-potent 4-4-2s seemed almost reasonable, and Olds advertising was rife with the image of Dr. Oldsmobile in his baggy lab coat and silent-movie mustache. In a sense, there really was such a fellow: Jack "Doc" Watson, head of research for Hurst Performance Products.

An image of the front of a blue 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 with a title text overlay.

Our designs are set up for classic car enthusiasts and is in no way affiliated any car company or car manufacturer. Any brand names on tags are used for descriptive purposes only.

Monochrome block image based on my photo of a 1970s Oldsmobile 442 (also available in black/white)

Artwork of a 1987 Oldsmobile 442.

An image of the front of a black 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Convertible with a title text overlay.

An image of the front corner of a red 1970 Oldsmobile 442 2 Door Convertible with a title text overlay.

The 1969 Hurst/Olds again used the 455-cid V-8 with W-30 heads, cam, distributor, and Force-Air induction. This engine, called the W-46, was slightly detuned from ’68, losing 10 bhp. A H/O modified Turbo Hydra-matic transmission with console-shifted Hurst Dual-Gate was mandatory. As high performance raced into the wacky late ’60s, the idea of a mad scientist conjuring up ever-more-potent 4-4-2s seemed almost reasonable, and Olds advertising was rife with the image of Dr. Oldsmobile in his baggy lab coat and silent-movie mustache. In a sense, there really was such a fellow: Jack “Doc” Watson, head of research for Hurst Performance Products.

At the height of the muscle car era, Oldsmobile made a deal with Hurst that worked out really well for both companies. In order to create a “halo” car, the two companies collaborated to produce special, limited edition, high-performance Cutlasses. The program started in 1968 with a run of 515 cars, and continued off and on for a number of years, with the final run in 1984, but for many fans, the 1968, 1969, and 1972 versions were the best out of the nine years these cars were offered. The inspiration for the production cars was the Hurst Hairy Olds of 1966-67, drag cars that made a huge impact – twin-engine, four-wheel-drive monsters that were really fun to watch.

An image of the front corner of a purple 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 Hardtop with a title text overlay.

An image of the rear corner of a red 1970 Oldsmobile 442 2 Door Convertible with a title text overlay.

An image of the front corner of an orang 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 Hardtop Coupe with a title text overlay.

An image of the side of a red 1968 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible with a title text overlay.

The Dr. Oldsmobile theme was one of Oldsmobile's most successful marketing campaigns in the early '70s, it involved fictional characters created to promote the wildly popular 442 muscle car. 'Dr. Oldsmobile' was a tall lean professor type who wore a white lab coat. His assistants included 'Elephant Engine Ernie' who represented the big block 455 Rocket engine. 'Shifty Sidney' was a character who could be seen swiftly shifting his hand using a Hurst shifter. 'Wind Tunnel Waldo' had slicked back hair that appeared to be constantly wind blown. He represented Oldsmobile's wind tunnel testing, that produced some of the sleekest designs of the day. Another character included 'Hy Spy' who had his ear to the ground as he spied on the competition.

An image of the front corner of a red 1968 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible with a title text overlay.

An image of the front corner of a red 1965 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 Hardtop Coupe with a title text overlay.