There are few domestic engines from the height of the muscle era that can hold a candle to the out-of-the-box stump-pulling torque numbers produced by the 4-4-2 Oldsmobile. While racers bemoan the engine’s limp lay-flat top end design, the 500-plus-foot pounds of torque these 455 cubic inch plants.
All that twist is put to good use in this week’s edition of “Hump Day Holeshot” features this daily-driven boring-blue Olds really showing off how an ass-load of torque and a 100-shot of nitrous can propel a low 9.1:1 compression, 4,000 lbs. A-Body down the quarter in impressive time.
Filmed at Cordova Dragway in Cordova, IL., this ’71 4-4-2 has become quite a local hero particularly as its 455 motor sports iron heads and a stock bottom end. Oh yeah, don’t forget the power steering and a full interior too with no pansy trans brake to help with launches.
This video shows “Big Blue” snapping off a 11.04-second pass at 119 mph! While that might not be as impressive as cars running the same times, this Oldsmobile has clicked a 10.92-second run at 122mph only weeks before.