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Lane has extended their exploration of early seventies Olds muscle with an Olds 442 W-30. You have a choice of Rallye Red in either black or white stripes, or in Matador Red with black stripes. The Matador Red is a riper, more subdued red than the orange of Rallye Red.
Olds made full use of GM’s decision in 1970 to relax its ceiling on engine displacement in midsize cars. The W-30 option provided a potent 455 V-8, managing a remarkable 500 lb ft of torque. The advantage of an engine with loads of torque at low rpms is that the surge of power is immediate from the moment you step on the accelerator. It’s how to pump yourself with adrenaline. Lane has given us every twist and turn of this powerplant’s wiring and plumbing. There is more than enough detail for the gear-head who can appreciate the high lift camshaft, lightweight aluminum intake manifold, special cylinder heads and the flapper-door air cleaner assembly mated to the OAI fiberglass air-induction hood.
Lane also explores in detail the 442’s popular FE2 suspension package. Just look at the fully articulated undercarriage: heavy-duty shocks, springs, boxed rear lower control arms and heavy duty front and rear sway bars. They even throw in real metal transmission linkages. Super-realism is found in the interior of this Olds 442 W-30 replica with soft-touch front and rear seats that fold down, the working headrests, flip up sun visors, door lock knobs, the wood grain interior accents and brushed metal steering wheel spokes. Lane designers have created 280 individually cast parts to reverentially recreate this kingpin of muscledom. What is most remarkable is that all these parts add up to a dead-on accurate stance for this car.
(05/15/2004)
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