1978/79 Oldsmobile 442
Back in the late ’60s, the Oldsmobile 442 was a well-respected car. During the heyday of this model, the name stood for its 400-cubic-inch engine, four-barrel carburetor, and dual exhaust. After they introduced the big block and other options, the car changed while the name stuck. Although many legendary muscle cars died in the early ’70s, Oldsmobile kept the 442 alive. However, it was far from the standards of its predecessors (via Autopolis).
The mid-’70s 442 was just an option on most mid-size luxury coupes. It was more of a marketing gimmick than a full-fledged muscle car. It lacked a powerful engine that delivered fast acceleration times. Oldsmobile tried to keep the 442 legend alive, but industry restrictions kept it from being more than a couple of stickers on a regular model. The lowest point in 442’s evolution came in 1978 when they offered the model as an option for the smaller, more compact Cutlass.