I purchased this car new from Colonial Oldsmobile in Indiana, PA on June 11, 1985. Now, if you have looked at my other Rides, you may be thinking that a new car doesn't quite fit the pattern, and you would be correct. To date, this has been my one and only new car purchase.

So, the question remains why a new car ? If I had to pinpoint a reason, it would be because of the changes I thought were about to take place in my life, all of which would require reliable transportation. As a student at Drexel University in Philadelphia PA, part of my curriculum would include a 6 month "Co-Op" cycle incorporated within the school year. In other words, a student would spend 6 months in school, then 6 months in industry. So, not only would I need a way to get to school, I would also need a way to get to work, in whatever part of the country work would be located.

I love old cars, always have, always will. However, the key word in this predicament was "reliable" transportation. The vehicle I owned at the time, my 1965 Deville Convertible, was more project than daily driver. So, I started to do some initial research on some of my favorite cars from that time period.

While not fast, especially compared to the original 442 models, the 1985 model was quick for the era, capable of a 16.2 second quarter mile, (which I verified many times during my 6 years of ownership). It was also a relatively rare car, with only 3000 produced for the model year. The size was good, the power was good, the looks were great, and the overall cost of ownership was relatively low.

Over the next 6 years, my new 442 would accumulate 92k miles as my daily driver. I credit this car for introducing me to "the world." Until that time, my travelling experience was limited to wherever Mom and Dad would go, which was never that far from home. However, now that I had a car that I could actually drive, I was limited only by my ability to read a map, (GPS didn't exist back then). After transferring out of Drexel, this car was responsible for getting me to and from Penn State Harrisburg on the weekends, (about 270 miles roundtrip). It was also responsible for getting me to the drag strip, completing several passes down the quarter mile, then returning me safely back home, (whether the drag strip was in Beaver Springs PA, or Salem OH, or Bowling Green KY didn't matter).

I did a lot of road-trippin' and Sunday driving with this car, and enjoyed every minute. From that standpoint, I would call the 442 the ideal car - comfortable, spacious, and having a good balance of power and economy. This car also proved to be extremely reliable with a transmission rebuild and torque converter replacement being the only trouble spots, (not too bad considering all the drag racing). It ran 16.3's in 1985 with a few thousand miles on the odometer, and ran 16.3's at 90k miles in 1991 when I sold it to a friend. So, with all the positive thoughts, why did I sell it ? There were bigger and better things on the horizon, specifically a 1981 Corvette . . .