One of 268 442 Pace Cars built. Interesting history, 65,000 original miles, matching numbers. One repaint, but otherwise original, including beautiful factory interior. The rarest and most collectable of all 1970 442 convertibles, ready to enjoy!

Indianapolis 500 pace cars always seem to have a special place in people’s hearts. It’s certainly an honor to be chosen and the cars themselves are always something special rather than another ho-hum family commuter. That’s certainly the case with this 1970 Oldsmobile 442 pace car, which was selected against some pretty heady competition in 1970. Perhaps the Indy 500 organizers knew that the 442 had been radically transformed in 1970 by the addition of a potent 455 cubic inch V8, thanks to the suspension of the ”400 cubic inch rule” by GM management. Interestingly enough, however, Oldsmobile built two versions of the pace car to sell to the public—the 442 version, which matched the festival cars, and a standard Cutlass convertible with the pace car graphics and a 350 cubic inch V8. The distinction is important, because out of a total of nearly 650 pace car replicas, only 268 of them were 442s. The Y74 Pace Car Package included the fiberglass Force Air hood, Sport suspension, and, of course, the Porcelain White paint with pace car graphics to give them a suitably unique look.

This particular Indy pace car was originally part of a raffle contest by GC Murphy, a variety store in Hancock, Maryland. We don’t know the details of where it spent most of its life, but it remains one of the cleanest, most well-preserved cars we’ve ever seen so it clearly led an easy life. Sometime in the mid-1990s, it was repainted in correct Porcelain White and all the 442 and pace car decals were replaced so it has an incredibly crisp look today. Even with paint approaching its 30th birthday, it remains glossy and bright with no signs of sub-standard bodywork underneath. It’s worth noting that the car has 100% original sheetmetal, including quarters and floors, and the fiberglass hood with those two giant snorkels up front is in fantastic shape. All the usual 442 details are in place, including hood pins, trumped exhaust with cut-outs in the bumper, and the usual ‘442’ badges. It’s just beautifully rendered.

The black vinyl interior is completely original and in fantastic condition. It’s unusual in that it is equipped with a bench seat and column shifter, but that seems in line with Oldsmobile’s sport/luxury mission. The seats are still firm and comfortable, the upholstery isn’t split or faded, and even the carpets present extremely well, which is really remarkable with black carpets. All the gauges and lights are fully operational and the 65,413 miles on the odometer are an authentic reading. It’s equipped with an optional AM/FM ‘Wonderbar’ radio and someone has thoughtfully added an aftermarket temperature gauge under the dash. Interestingly, the 442 pace cars could be had with either a white or black convertible top, with this one getting a fresh black top at the same time it was repainted, and it remains in fantastic condition. There’s a glass rear window for low maintenance and the original black boot covers everything for a clean look when the top is down. The trunk is outfitted with its original mat and that’s quite likely the original Goodyear Polyglas spare tire.

The heart of the 1970 442 was a 455 cubic inch V8 conservatively rated at 360 horsepower. But the real story is torque, with more than 450 lb-ft. on tap, making the 442 ragtop a seriously fast car. The stamping on the engine pad matches the VIN, and given the low mileage we don’t believe the engine has ever been opened or rebuilt. It is, however, nicely detailed with correct Oldsmobile corporate blue engine enamel, the functional ram air air cleaner, and correct finishes throughout. It starts and runs beautifully, with that familiar Oldsmobile sound that seems unique to the brand. It’s smooth, it’s fast, and it’s easy to drive thanks to power steering and the TH400 3-speed automatic transmission (which also features a matching VIN stamp). The exhaust system features an X-pipe and stainless steel mufflers for a mellow sound that’s 100% right and you’ll note that a lot of original decals and stickers are still present on the chassis. The floors are completely solid and incredibly clean and there’s a restored gas tank hanging out back. Correct 14-inch Super Sport II wheels are painted to match and carry 225/70/14 Goodyear radials.

Documentation includes the original owner’s manual and a show board.

Any 1970 Oldsmobile 442 is a special car, but an Indy pace car convertible stands at the very top of the pecking order. Rare, beautiful, fast, and fun to drive, it’s the ideal combination that makes this a great car to own. Add in the exceptional condition, low mileage, and strong pedigree and you end up with a fantastic Olds that will be welcome almost anywhere. Call today!

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