1985 Oldsmobile 4-4-2: The W42, Back on the Cutlass Supreme

This record's own dek states that the W42 4-4-2 returned on the rear-drive Cutlass Supreme, with a 307 V-8 and a four-speed automatic. This record's own overview states that the 4-4-2 returned as the W42 package on the rear-drive G-body Cutlass Supreme, and that a tertiary account says the name now referred to the four-speed 200R4 automatic and that the 307 V-8 was the only engine.¹

This record's own key facts state that 1985 production is disputed between two reference books: the Standard Catalog of American Cars says 3,000 4-4-2 packages (RPO W42) were produced, while Consumer Guide's Complete Book of Collectible Cars gives 3,500 for the 1985 Salon 4-4-2, and that the uncited 3,000 figure in the Wikipedia article matches the Standard Catalog rather than serving as independent confirmation. This record's own conflicts section shows both figures with attribution, marked disputed, and treats the Standard Catalog as the more specific source since it names the RPO code and says the packages "were produced." This record's own key facts also state that Ate Up With Motor puts 1985 production at "about 3,000" without naming a record, leaving the exact figure unconfirmed.^2,3

This record's own key facts state that Oldsmobile's 1985 "Three for the Road" folder lists the Cutlass 442 package in white, medium gray metallic, or black over silver metallic with gold stripes, with a 5.0-liter four-barrel V-8 and dual-outlet exhaust, a four-speed overdrive automatic, a 3.73 axle, air rear shocks, and P215/65R15 Eagle GT tires, air conditioning (C60) mandatory. This record's own options section documents the W42 package priced at $1,175 on the Cutlass Supreme coupe, and a separately listed "4-4-2/Olds Package (Salon only)" in Oldsmobile's Cutlass Supreme available-equipment list.

This record's own production rows carry two competing 4-4-2 figures, 3,000 from the Standard Catalog and 3,500 from Consumer Guide, both round numbers with neither book naming a record behind it, alongside a separately scoped 17,512-car Cutlass Salon coupe host-body total shown for scale only. This record's own production notes state that none of these rows may be added together, and that an Oldsmobile production or option-installation report would be needed to settle the 1985 total.²

This record's own prices section documents the 4-4-2 package at $1,175, alongside factory prices of $10,770 for the Cutlass Salon coupe (K47) with the V-6 and $11,060 with a V-8. This record's own specifications section documents a 3.73 axle ratio, P215/65R15 Goodyear Eagle GT tires with white-outlined letters on chrome styled wheels with gold accent, Oldsmobile's own claimed 0-60 mph time of 9.8 seconds "on the test track" rather than an independent test, and 16.2 cubic feet of luggage space.²

This record's own unpublished leads flag an enthusiast source's uncited claim of a $1,275 W-42 option price with air conditioning required at about $600 more, a VIN engine code 9, an LG8 5.0 H.O. engine designation, and an MX0 transmission code; a forum-only claim that 200 of the W42 cars carried the Z49 Canadian export package, 29 of them white; and a Car and Driver test paraphrased by a secondary source at roughly 9 seconds to 60 mph and a 113 mph top speed, not added as a performance row because the magazine itself was not read.¹