I love old cars that are either "original and unrestored" or have been restored back to what they were when they first left the factory. I am somewhat vexed, though, by what are called "resto-mods", cars that have been rebuilt and are allegedly better than what they were when new. However, cars like our 1964 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 here skirt the best of both worlds seeing that it's a resto-mod but looks, at least from twenty or thirty feet back, like it's a bone stock original.
One peak under the hood and we see it's anything but original. During the restoration process the original "330" Olds engine was replaced with this 468 cubic inch monster, purportedly it's a lightly stroked Oldsmobile "455", complete with fuel injection. It reportedly makes five-hundred fifty horsepower and six hundred pounds of twist all without a blower or nitrous. She's all natural, just how we like 'em.. I'd take it these are "net" horsepower and torque numbers that if are true, more than doubles the actual net power output of the original motor.
The rest of the powertrain includes a Richmond five-speed, Centerforce II clutch and Moser 12-bolt posi. The power steering rack has been updated along with the entire suspension system with top-of-the-line stuff.
I don't know what my favorite thing about this car is - the powertrain mods or this interior. While certainly not-stock, it looks, at first glance at least, period correct. However, it's anything but "1964". These are professionally reupholstered buckets from, get this, a Subaru Forester. Kid you not. The back seat is original but have been redone in the same fabric the buckets are. This was not cheap. Actually, nothing on this car is cheap. Including the asking price of $49,000. When you say, "forty-nine thousand dollars" in super slo-mo it sounds like it's even more.
Fifty-grand for say, a 1970 Hemi 'Cuda convertible is chump change but for most anything else is a lot of money for any mode of personal transportation. I can't say that this car is really worth that even if it were an original and unrestored 4-4-2 in condition anywhere near this. Then again, I'd be afraid to drive it anywhere and what's the point of having it then? Seeing that it's not original although still a 4-4-2, she's no clone, it would make for the coolest daily driver this side of Rodeo Drive.
Speaking of which, the smattering of people I know in Hollywood all say that some monied celebrities try to out do each other with their "rides" much in the same way athletes do. So, if you "got it", fifty g's probably is not that much money. Oh, to be that wealthy that that kind of money is piggy bank money.
The Oldsmobile 4-4-2, which stood originally for four-barrel, four-speed and dual exhaust and not engine displacement, was an option package on Oldsmobile's new-for-'64, mid-size, "F85". Introduced mid-model year 1964 as Oldsmobile's answer to the Pontiac GTO, it could be had on any F85 model except for station wagons. That changed come 1965 and beyond as the 4-4-2 became a optional only on coupes. This is a F85 hard top or "Holiday" edition making it somewhat even more rare than any other 4-4-2 from '64. That's nice to know but I wouldn't pay any more for this car because of that fact.
Here's the listing for this beauty that has me thinking now, "the hell with original and unrestored".
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