The summer before last (1994), my $40,000, 8-year restoration project; a 1965 Olds Starfire had a fuel line fire, and burned (melted) to the ground. After two months of bickering, my insurance company finally coughed-up the $20K they agreed to insure it for. Anyway, with a decent amount of cash in hand, I proceeded to find the car I would have rather had done in the first place: a 1965 Olds 442 Holiday Coupe.

I finally found one in Cleveland, OH. Without hesitation, I flew there, and drove the 442 back home to Dallas, TX. Once home, I proceeded to dismantle the car with the intent of doing a complete, frame-off restoration. How fast the money goes...

All sheetmetal: Dipped in a non-acidic stripping/derusting
                process that didn't hurt the metal, but got rid
                of everything else.



Frame:          Sandblased and ceramic-coated

Suspension:     Upgraded with polyurethene bushings, heavy-heavy duty
                springs, Koni shocks, HD sway-bars, anti-hop bars.

Brakes:         4-wheel ABS.

Engine:         The original 400 converted to a 11.5:1 455.  Dave Smith
                Engineering modified heads with machined and ported 360
                degree Offenhauser intake.  Complete roller valvetrain.
                Fuel injected, with distributorless ignition.  Legitimate
                550 HP, 600 ft/lbs.

Cooling System: "Be-Cool" aluminum radiator with quad-electric cooling fan
                system.

Exhaust:        Jet-Coated Hooker Super-Comp Headers, Dual 2 1/2" Stainless
                Steel exhaust with h-pipe, Super-Trapp mufflers.

Transmission:   Dual In-Line Turbo Hydromatic 400 transmission(s). Think
                of it as a 5-Speed automatic.  With both of the trannys in
                low gear, you get the equivalent of a 7.9:1 rearend with a
                3:08:1 rear, and the benefit of great highway mileage. Not
                to mention 1/4 "mileage".

Rear End:       Moser Ford 9" to GM A-Body conversion.  3.08:1, with the
                new-style Detroit Locker.

Interior etc.:  All Year-One.

While I have all the pieces, and the money to finish the car, it's still going to be late April before I have the damned thing finished. I don't EVEN want to tell you how much it's costing me (much more than the first restoration), but there aren't many 10 second cars on the street that can run (albeit grudgingly) on pump gas, 8" tires, and without using NOS gas. The Side and 3Qtr shots are circa pre-restoration. The body, paint etc. is still a month or so away from being finished.

Status update from Scott as of March, '97...
The hardtop is (finally) about done-- I've put Electromotive Force's TEC-II SFI/Distributor-less ignition, and a custom 5-speed automatic shifter since we last "talked", but most of my energy (and money) has been spent on the convertible-- which is still MONTHS away from finishing...

Above is a rendering of what the final paint scheme will look like on the Holiday Coupe. The stripe will be a painted-on version of the actual decal some racing dealerships were installing on their cars in '65. I've decided not to put the side chrome back on (except the scoops, they stay of course)-- I think for this scheme, it looks better without it.

Click here (316K) to view dealer instructions for installing the Rally Stripe on 1965 442s. I'm trying figuring out a way to digitize the stripe, and make it available via 442.com so that one can take the graphic to Fast Signs, and have one of their own.