James Garner's Olds 442 Baja for sale

[masraum]

Wow, this is very cool!

Oldsmobile : 442 Oldsmobile : 442 | eBay

[asphaltgambler]

I really thought I had seen most every thing muscle car related...............until now. Who knew?

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

I really thought I had seen most every thing muscle car related...............until now. Who knew?

I was thinking the same thing. I had to click , I was confused when I read "Oldsmobile 442, and Baja in the same sentence.
Sort of cool in its own special way. From a time when the men where men, and the sheep were scared.

[theFONZ]

Really no different than the 911 based rally/Baja cars. Both are awesome.

Living in Alaska has given me a new appreciation for these types of cars.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

I really thought I had seen most every thing muscle car related...............until now. Who knew?

Yeah, that was my reaction.

Originally Posted by theFONZ

Really no different than the 911 based rally/Baja cars. Both are awesome.

Living in Alaska has given me a new appreciation for these types of cars.

Well, maybe a little different, but I understand what you're saying.

Yeah, I think this sort of thing is cool, I just don't have a place/way to use it locally.

I knew that there were several folks here that like the baja/rally outfitted 911s, and then of course, there's OJU that might appreciate it, not to mention the guys (and gals) that just like cool car stuff.

[Rick Lee]

Now I'm going to have the Rockford Files theme song stuck in my head al day.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Now I'm going to have the Rockford Files theme song stuck in my head al day.

go ahead, I dare ya.

[vash]

that is a great car!! i love those. never seen one ready for off-roading. awesome.

[Heel n Toe]

Off-road racing was another of Garner's pursuits, which is how he came to be behind the wheel of this Olds 442 Baja car, dubbed the "Goodyear Grabber" thanks to sponsorship from the rubber company, which was promoting its line of Grabber tires.

Huh? It says "Grabber Olds," on the side. Not "Goodyear Grabber."

I was wondering why it even had "Grabber" in its name... it's certainly close to being Ford Grabber Blue.

Hey, there's a Maverick connection for ya.

But aside from all that, why isn't it shod with Goodyears?

=========Edit: Heh heh... I just looked a little further down the page of the ebay listing and there's a photo of Garner getting in the car... painted on the door: "Goodyear Grabber Olds."

[willtel]

Here is a shot with the Goodyear Grabber name. I would imagine they aren't running Goodyears because vintage off-road tires are next to impossible to find and very expensive.



James Garner was seemed to be big into off-road racing in that time. Here is a shot of him in an early Bronco.



He and Steve McQueen both drove the Vic Hickey Baja Boot at some point. That vehicle along with Parnelli Jones' Big 'Oly Bronco revolutionized Baja racers.

[CurtEgerer]

A thread from a few years back with some good links when they started the resto: Garner-1970-Olds-Baja-Racer

[onewhippedpuppy]

Now I've seen it all. That is too cool.

[herr_oberst]

I feel really old. I remember reading about that car (and the Baja Boot) when it was new. Hot Rod Magazine used to cover Baja really well. Steve McQueen, James Garner, Parnelli, Mickey Thompson all raced Baja; it was a big deal....
Simpler times.

[URY914]

Sure this is your Father's Oldmobile...

[asphaltgambler]

funny thing was they used an Olds for 1 - they were the "A" body platform - why not a chevelle?? with a beefy small block or mild big block?? the olds/buick/pontiac engines were all low rpm torque kings - 2 - why a 410CI? most likely an overbored 400. Why not use a 425 or 455 if you HAD to use an olds engine??

[BlueSkyJaunte]

That thing is effing cool.

[Tobra]

That Olds big block is HEAVY, aluminum 350 would be light.

They probably picked the Olds because it had coil springs on all 4 corners, maybe made it easier to tweek the suspension.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

2 - why a 410CI? most likely an overbored 400. Why not use a 425 or 455 if you HAD to use an olds engine??

That likely was based on the 403 which is a small block. Much lighter than the big block 425 or 455.

I used to have a 71 442 with a warmed over 455, TH400 and posi rear end. It would roast the tires in 1st, 2nd and finally hook up when switching into 3rd. You could go 30mph and stomp it and it would kick down and break loose.

George

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by aigel

That likely was based on the 403 which is a small block. Much lighter than the big block 425 or 455.

I used to have a 71 442 with a warmed over 455, TH400 and posi rear end. It would roast the tires in 1st, 2nd and finally hook up when switching into 3rd. You could go 30mph and stomp it and it would kick down and break loose.

George

Aided in part by G70x14 polyglass rubber.

[asphaltgambler]

all the late style olds blocks, as well as buick and pontiac are virtually identical in external dimension and weight. A olds 350 block is with in a few pounds of a 425/455 block