Hatchback 4-4-2 ??

[drunk mark]

I quess I'll introduce myself well I'm poor and looking for a beater my ford "Dora the Exploder" is dead.

I like rare vehicles my first car was a 1980 Dodge Mirada with a slant six

Well right down the road from me sits a 78-80 4-4-2 Hatchback ? my first thought was that's a horrible clone. Black with Gold and those Olds Ralleye wheels I've always liked, I had to stop and look at it. Red interior with a bench seat but what looks like a original 4-4-2 emblem on the inside of the door, there is no price on the forsale sign just a phone # that is no good It sits at a muffler shop with a flat tire so I'll go in and ask about it tommorrow

I didn't have a pen when driving by today I wanted to get the VIN # I'll post it soon. The vehicle doesn't look to badly rusted "I live in Cleveland" but bad enouph that spraying it black again won't happen.

As a Mopar guy that has only owned one GM ever a 90 Caddy Sedan Deville with 303,000 miles on it I got for $125 and the cops impounded What should I be looking for to deter me from buying this beater? did they really make a 442 Hatch back?

If I purchase this vehicle I will use it as a daily driver until the fall
And then?

 

[kustomkyle]

Yes, it is probably real, since they made them. In fact, that's the only bodystyle they made them in for a year or two (1978-1979) if I am not mistaken. Check the frame behind the rear wheels for rot, since they all rot even down south sometimes. It would be worth restoring, I don't know how much they are worth and I don't care. I've never seen one in person. I'd like to have one even if some people hate them or think they are ugly.

If it runs good, I guess you could use it as a beater, but it is somewhat of a collector car (but it is probably the least collectible 442). Here is a picture of a 1979 442.

 

[drunk mark]

If it runs good, I guess you could use it as a beater, but it is somewhat of a collector car (but it is probably the least collectible 442). Here is a picture of a 1979 442.

That's it, and it is ugly that's what I like about the car. I would use it as a beater I need one right now. I kinda figured It's not very collectible. but hopefully I'd like to have it as a project car by the fall "this is not something I would like to drive in a Cleveland winter anyway" Any thing else I should know besides frame rot behind rear tires?

the one I'm looking at is probably a 78? were the 442 decal is on the side the lettering changes to gold where the paint is black most likeley not original paint with the all red interior

 

[joe_padavano]

The aeroback cars are NOT hatchbacks. The have a fixed rear window and a small trunk lid. I don't know if the seats fold forward or not.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I wouldn't destroy it with road salt, but it would be a nice driver. The styling is...well... an "Acquired taste", to say the least, but it is an interesting car nonetheless. I would not put it at the bottom of the barrel as far as 442's go either. I would give that (dis)honor to the Calais Quad 442, with the second place going to the colonnade style cars of 73-77. G bodies are RWD and don't weigh 2+tons, so they tend to have a greater following.

 

[kustomkyle]

Here is a '78 442.

 

[srercrcr]

None of the G Aeroback coupes were accepted in the marketplace...back in the day. That's why theyre rare today.

 

[billyjack]

Other than the rear frame horns, the most common rust problem was the bottoms of the doors. I had the even less common Buick version back in the eighties-the Century "Sport Coupe". It had body-color aluminum bumpers, quick ratio steering, and decent suspension. The stock 305-4bbl. / 2.29 gear combo was weak, but after I swapped in a 400 small block from a wrecked Caprice, it would merge into traffic just fine. The final year of the "Aeroback coupes" (GM's label) was 1980. Just to give you an idea of popularity, I worked for a medium size Buick dealer back then. We delivered over 600 new Buicks in 1980 and did not sell a single Century coupe the entire model year. Nevertheless, I wouldn't mind having another, as it's an interesting, albeit less-popular piece of G-body history. If I had a 442 I'd have to build a nice 455 Olds big-block for it. That would really confuse the folks at a car cruise.

Bill

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I would love to own one and make it into a one off hatchback. I love hatchbacks and feel it could be done using parts from a X body (Nova) hatch that was offered from 1972 or 73 through 79. Those had a similar size body and hatch area, so the struts and hinges should be strong enough to work. I wouldn't start off with a 442 though. I would do it to a normal model and replace the wheezing stock engine with an LSX/6 speed setup. I may even keep the bench seat but add the proper number of pedals and the sadly missing stick in front of the seat. Either that, or make a 2 door wagon out of a 4 door.

 

[drunk mark]

well I got laid-off again yesterday so this vehicle may be gone b4 I get my tax return their is no rust by the doors all the rust is on the front bumper and rear quarters "not a good sign for the frame in that general location" well if I can land this vehicle no I wouldn't ruin it with road salt.

If I get this I'll keep you guys informed. and once I'm done using it as a daily I'll figure out what I want to do with it, as I drive it. as rare as it is I couldn't do any drastic modifications.