The Oldsmobile 442 is criminally undervalued relative to its Chevrolet and Pontiac contemporaries and the explanation is simply that Oldsmobile has fewer devoted enthusiasts proportionally.

The 442 designation stood for four-speed, four-barrel, dual exhaust in 1964. By 1968 it was a standalone model rather than an option package, available with the 400 or 455 cubic inch engines in configurations that rivaled the Chevelle SS and GTO in straight-line performance.

The 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 is the peak: the W-30 air induction package, the 455 cubic inch engine, and a balance of torque and refinement that the more aggressive Chevrolet engines didn't always provide. These cars are priced reasonably because the Oldsmobile brand doesn't carry the premium of GM's more recognized performance nameplates.