1966-’67 Oldsmobile 4-4-2

Oldsmobile’s Rocket 88 took American performance to new heights after World War II, but when the Pontiac GTO broke cover in ’64, Lansing’s racy image had long since left the launch pad. That changed in a hurry when Oldsmobile made its B09 Police Package available to the public on its own intermediate cars (except station wagons) dubbing this new performer “4-4-2.” Beneath the badges, buyers got: a four-barrel carbureted 330-cu.in. V-8 with 310 hp (20 more than the Cutlass V-8), a four-speed manual transmission, and dual exhaust.

For 1965, the 4-4-2 got a brand-new 345-hp 400-cu.in. engine and optional automatic transmission. So, Oldsmobile changed the definition of the 4-4-2 moniker to: 400 cubic inches, four-barrel carburetor, and dual exhaust. For 1966, the L69 Tri-Carb option was introduced and then the legendary W-30 was born.

By 1967, the 4-4-2 had all the go-fast goodies that any speed-giddy baby