Car owners: Sammy and Diane Vaughn Words & photos: Gary Rosier
The Oldsmobile 4-4-2 (also known as the 442) was a muscle car produced by Oldsmobile between 1964 and 1980. Originally introduced as an option package for US-sold F-85 and Cutlass models, new for 1967, the 4-4-2 package was based on the top-line Cutlass Supreme.
The “4-4-2” name was derived from the original car’s four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission and dual exhausts. It was later restated as referring to 400 cubic inches, a 4 barrel carburetor and dual exhausts.
Sammy Vaughn and his wife Diane of Daytona Beach, Florida recently shared their unique tale of this beautiful and beloved 4-4-2.
It was in June of 1968 when Sammy first spotted this car sitting in a dealer lot in Greenville, SC, his hometown. It was love at first sight and a curse at the same time, he explained – a curse because it took him four years, working three jobs, just to afford it! His girlfriend at the time (Diane, now his wife) completely understood his love affair with the beautiful yellow time machine, as he referred to it. Understandably, he married her a couple of years later (who wouldn’t have!).
As is the case for so many, a job, life and family all got in the way and the car found a new owner not long after marriage. It took 37 years, but one day Diane asked Sammy, “Why don’t you try to find your beloved old 442?” She produced the original invoice that held the VIN, so re-energized and at full speed ahead, Sammy tried to locate the car. Friends and family all got into the act. The entire region of South Carolina was searched, as they had a clue to go on, but not anything of real value.
Then in 2012, an old high school friend, Paul Dixon – who owned a custom auto body shop in the Greenville, SC area – called Sammy to report that he may have found the car. Paul had his computer set up to start on AutotraderClassic.com so he could review available cars each day. On this particular day, one of those cars just so happened to be Sammy’s 442, so Paul immediately called the phone number referenced to get the VIN. Paul could not believe he had just heard the matching VIN, so he told the seller he had someone very much interested in the car! Sammy called the seller and made the arrangements to see the car pronto. He was so excited he could hardly contain himself. Sammy immediately assigned his brother Eddy the task of checking it out.
Turns out the car was located at an independent auto sales company in Easly, SC not far away. It had been restored to some degree and from afar looked good enough – he was smitten all over again. It hadn’t been titled in years, hence the difficulty in finding “her.”
A deal was struck soon after, and to his amazement, the car still had that Hurst Shifter “T” handle on it from nearly 40 years ago! (see pic) Sammy had installed it when he was young and had owned the car for the first time. The car was shipped to Florida, where Sammy and Diane now resided. They drove the car for a few days and it just didn’t seem to have the power he remembered from back in 1968.
A decision was made to upgrade the car and Paul Newman of Classic Muscle Car Company here in Daytona Beach helped him lay out the plan to do a complete frame-off, pro-touring restoration.
A new frame to handle all the power planned was purchased from Art Morrison in Oregon. A John Lingenfelter 750 HP LS 416 Monster motor (supercharged) along with a six-speed Tremec manual transmission and Ford rear end with 3:91 gears got the car rolling. It rolls on a set of Forgeline three-piece wheels (245/45R18’s – front and 305/35R18’s – rear). Wilwood 4 piston calipers at all four corners brings “her” to a safe stop.
All that power is monitored nicely by the beautiful custom gauges by Classic Instruments (digital), with carbon fiber face. The interior also has beautiful German black leather upholstery throughout and the Recaro seats hold you in place very firmly and comfortably. A/C was added for comfort as well. There are also some modern amenities like power windows, an Ididit tilt chrome column and a Clarion in dash radio/CD with eight speakers and sub-woofer to plays the tunes.
Who needs tunes, though, Sammy says? All you have to do is hit the ignition and 750 HP roars sweetly to life! Sammy and Diane may have been up against it in locating their old dream-car, but against all the odds she’s back on the road once again – and that old Hurst T-Shifter handle never felt so comfortable shifting through all the gears!
Let her rip, Sammy (and he does)!
