The Cutlass would benefit from the hottest versions of the 455, starting right out of the gate with 1968's Hurst/Olds, a 390hp special model with a more aggressive camshaft and carb setup. Factory horsepower ratings ranged from 310 all the way up to 400 ponies, with 500 lb-ft the most common torque figure. As was common practice at the time, Oldsmobile manufactured a number of 455 variants, altering compression ratios, piston designs, and intakes depending on which application the motor was used for. The 455 delivered a longer stroke than the 425 (4.25 inches) while sharing the same bore (4.126 inches). The 455 cubic inch version of the motor represented the largest on offer (with 400 and 425 cubic inch engines also available), and it featured a higher deck as compared to the small block V8 then in use by the brand. All Torque, All The Timeĭebuting in 1968, the 455 Rocket represented the second-generation eight-cylinder engine design offered by the brand, replacing the original Rocket that had pulled duty for 15 years. Not only did Oldsmobile stuff the 455 under the hood of the popular 442 muscle car, but it also made it available in the larger, family-oriented Delta 88 as well as the 98 luxury sedans, and even in the front-wheel drive Toronado (marking the General's first experiment with what would later come to be the industry's dominant drivetrain layout).ĭive into the Oldsmobile 455 big block's details, and it's easy to see why this V8 had such a broad appeal-and why it continues to present excellent value for hot rodders and classic car restorers alike. What helped set the Oldsmobile 455-also known as the 'Rocket'-apart from the other large displacement eight-cylinder engines offered by General Motors was in the wide range of vehicles where it was available as an option. Overshadowed by the likes of Chevrolet and Pontiac, Oldsmobile delivered one of the mightiest, and most versatile big block engines of the period: the 455 V8.

Oldsmobile's name has long since disappeared from the modern automotive landscape, but this victim of GM's financial failures left an important, if often overlooked, legacy during the muscle car era.

The History Of The Oldsmobile 455: GM's 'Other' Big Block Muscle Car Monster

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