It’s back home to a new owner in Michigan where it all began – June 2017. Amazing how things worked out!! The Most Famous Street Olds 442 ever created… Hot Rod Magazine’s 1978 Street Machine of the Year (October issue) – One of my cooler rides – I’m sure I’ll be buying it back yet again some day… (3rd time buying it again in 2015… sold in 2017)
A 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon 442. Originally a 5-passenger front engine/rear drive Olds. Sorry, no room for passengers in the backseat anymore… the engine is using that space!!! It’s a 403 Oldsmobile V8 with a 671 blower/two 4barrel carbs (600+ Horsepower). Modifications – Way too much to list (see below).
I first saw my Mid-Engine 442 in the Hot Rod Magazine October 1978 edition back when I was 15 years old. I bought the magazine at the local News stand and just about flipped when I saw this 442 on the cover. I went home and showed my dad (Big time Olds 442 fan and owner). He was just as impressed, and every year since we have talked about this car at one time or another. (We kept the Magazine issue all these years). Now it’s back home to a new owner in Michigan where it began. Amazing how things all worked out!!
This car was put together originally by Bill Porterfield (Mid-Engineering) with the help from John Kuchar, The Go Shop, and Mike McCloud. All originally from Michigan.
The quarter panels were originally just flared with ZL1 Corvette Flares. Bill didn’t have time to put the Dekon quarters on for the Hot Rod Magazine shoot. So, the next owner after Bill put the Dekon quarter panels that you see on her now. They were made to go with the original Dekon rear spoiler that was on the car already.
The Mid Engine 442 was originally a maroon color with the stripe combo you see now…but, in Hot Rod Magazine the car appeared black… so…after time… black it was.
…. And now it’s back to the original Maroon color combo (2010) thanks to Russ Eierman from Carson City Nevada who owned it after I had sold it the first time.
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