Here's The Inside Track on Olds' Hottest Number laid out flat. Artwork provided by Automotive History Preservation Society
Oldsmobile may have been caught by surprise by the Pontiac GTO in 1964, but for 1965 the Division would retaliate with the new 400-powered 4-4-2.
Adhering to GM's 330-cubic-inch limit for intermediates, Oldsmobile first responded to the GTO mid-season 1964 with the 4-4-2, powered by a hot 310-hp four-barrel version of its new lightweight 330-cu.in. small-block V-8, a four-speed transmission, dual exhaust, heavy-duty frame and suspension and fender and deck-lid emblems. Though it was a gutsy performer and handler, the cubic-inch race had begun and Olds, like Chevy and Buick, would have to play catch up with the 389-powered GTO.
A plan to replace the heavy and durable 394-cu.in. Olds engine used in the full-size models with the new precision-cast 425-cu.in. engine was in the works, and from it came a 400-cu.in. derivative exclusive to the 4-4-2. In one smooth move, the 4-4-2 now had a relatively light big-block engine that produced 345hp and 440-lb.ft. of torque. It was right in the thick of things with the GTO's 389, which for 1965 was rated at 335hp with the standard four-barrel and 360hp with the Tri-Power, but the 4-4-2 bested their torque ratings by 9-lb.ft. and 16-lb.ft. Thanks to employing stiffer springs than the GTO and adding rear anti-roll bare to help reduce understeer, the 4-4-2 had the edge in handling. The nose, tail and side trim were restyled, simulated scoops were added to the quarter panels and the two-speed automatic transmission was a new option.
The Inside Track on Olds' Hottest Number packed an enormous amount of 4-4-2 specifications into a foldout that would just about fit in your pocket. As you can see, the information was present in a logical manner, and there's minimal hyperbole.
The text says, "And with 345 hp…it's like dropping a '64 Starfire engine into a lightweight '65 Cutlass body." It's certainly a correct statement, since the horsepower ratings were the same and they were only six cubic-inches apart in displacement. However, the 400 was even better than the previous year's 394 due to its more efficient design and its lighter weight.
Notice the listed shipping weights for each body style, their prices and the power-to-weight ratios. The Club Coupe was such a deal at 3,398 pounds, 9.85 pounds-per-horsepower and a $2,605 MSRP. That's about $19,600 today and it was certainly one of the quicker muscle cars of 1965. To add a little more perspective, though, we are also talking about manual steering with high effort and a whopping 5.56 turns-to-lock, manual 9.5-inch drum brakes, a three-speed manual transmission and no options, not even a radio. But of course all of that and more was available if you wanted to pay the price and also add weight to the car.
No matter how you would have chosen to order your 1965 4-4-2, though the specific comfort convenience and trim options aren't listed, much of what you would've needed to educate yourself on the 4-4-2 option, its engine and powertrain options were included in this stylish little foldout.
from Hemmings Daily – News for the collector car enthusiast http://ift.tt/22Szsng
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