The Oldsmobile 442 of 1964 :

The year 1964 was the fourth year of production of the Cutlass/F-85 platform, it also brought the first of many years for the 442.

Oldsmobile was the first to respond to Pontiac's GTO and the notion of putting a larger cubic inch engine into a "smaller" bodied vehicle, by taking the best engine they had, a 330 cubic inch engine into the F-85 chassis, this also included that the V8 was modified with all available police issue equipment, the "B-09 Police Pursuit Package"

The name 442 is the result of the combination of: "4 barrel carburattoruretor", "4 speed manual", "and dual exhaust" 4-4-2

All this modification inclued a dual-snorkel air cleaner and premium quality rod and main bearings. The package also included heavy-duty shocks, springs, and a rear stabilizer bar. The 4-4-2 package was technically available on all Oldsmobile midsize cars, including the cheaper F-85 and more luxurious Cutlass, except station wagons. it was possible to have a four door 4-4-2.

The 330 was a powerful engine rated at 310 horsepower, this was a significant improvement over the 155 HP of the standard F-85's 215 cubic inch mill.

Due to a late introduction and a confusing promotion campaign, only 2,999 4-4-2's were sold in 1964. This would soon change.