Authentication:

• No 455's, only 400's.
• The body data plate will not match the VIN. All 1968 442s have 344878... VINs, but the body data plates for those years will carry a 3687... designation. This is well documented and nothing to worry about. Similarly, the sequence number on the body data plate will not match the last six digits of the VIN (except in the event of an extreme coincidence), since these were Fisher Body numbers, not VINs. To sum up, while the body data plates on the 68-69 cars carried Cutlass body numbers, the VIN for a 68 442 must start out 344878.
• Air cleaner housing: The correct color for all 4bbl 442's (non W-machines) is an Orange/Red. W cars had a black base and a chrome lid, and 2bbl 400 442's had a black air cleaner that was identical to the one used on 2bbl small block cars.
• My 68 442 Conv has no model markings on the door panels, only on the glovebox door. Perforated diamond pattern on top of panels and flat from the armrests down, no carpet.

Made a subseries in itself, new body shape using GM's 112 inch wheelbase, a black mesh grid pattern grille (A Cutlass S should have a grille with vertical bars) with 442 identification. Production of the 442 for the 1968 model year was a record. 442s did not use an "Oldsmobile" script on the grille. Non-44s used a chrome OLDSMOBILE script on the left front corner of the hood on non-442s. 442s deleted the Olds script on the hood and used large 442 numerals on the grille. 442s will have a black plastic egg-crate grille, while non-442s will have a silver plastic grille with vertical bars.