The Supercar Registry Bulletin Board: TK-65 (Jasen Ramsey's) 1965 442 4 speed!

I purchased my 442 in January of 2004. I found the
car on eBay and after taking the 15 minute drive to
look at it, I bid and won the auction. Yes, I found
my Fremont CA built 442 a few minutes away from my
home in Michigan. The car had sat in a towing yard in
Barstow CA for 22 years before it was bought and
shipped to Michigan by the previous owner. Being a
western car the body on the Olds was rust free. The
floors and trunk were in perfect shape and the frame
was pit free.

The car was originally Target Red with black vinyl
bucket seats. Options included a 3.55 posi-traction
rear differential, manual transmission, glare-proof
rear view mirror, back-up lights, convenience
lights/mirror group and AM radio. The brakes were
manual, the steering was manual, and the wipers were
single speed with no washer sprayers. It didnt even
have an outside rearview mirror. There were holes in
the door for add-on mirrors on each side, but not for
the factory mirror. I dont believe it had a 4 speed
console either because there are no floor brackets for
one or weld marks from them being there. To top off
the less is more theme the wheels were painted red and
adorned with poverty caps. The third R in the paint
code told me that. This car was built to haul ass,
nothing more.

At some point in time, probably after 1971, the car
was wrecked. It was hit behind the passenger tire.
The car was fixxed by brazing on a used piece of
quarterpanel from another car. The car was then
painted a dark gray, the seats were replaced with
custom buckets, the headliner was changed from white
to black, and a 66 GTO engine was placed under its
hood. The manual trans was also yanked in favor of an
automatic which was topped off by a 65 Chevelle SS
console. What a mix of GM A body parts huh? The only
good thing to happen was the addition of a 3 turn lock
to lock steering box from a 71 A body car.

The 442 found its way to Michigan where it sat for 2
more years before it came home with me. In the spring
of 2004 I started the disassembly of the body. I took
it down to the bare frame and rebuilt it up from
there. I finished the car in late November 2007.
Every nut and bolt has been replaced or refinished and
every piece of chrome replated, including the very
expensive pot metal side trim. Every part is where
the factory put it. Ive used plenty of NOS parts and
good used parts from 2 parts cars to build this. I
even made all the suspension tags that are not being
reproduced. But the detail I like the most is the
California black plate, the cars first and only
license plate.

My friends get on me by saying the car is too nice to
drive and too restored but I wouldnt have it any other
way. My website is www.ultra-high-compression.com
There you can see the stages of my restoration.

Thanks

Jasen Ramsey

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Bruce
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