Oldsmobile introduced probably the most significant automobile the company would ever build in 1966, the extraordinary front-wheel drive Toronado. Along with the Cords of the 1930s and the Toronado’s Cadillac Eldorado sibling, it is among the most important American front-wheel drive design and certainly the largest application of the theory.

Meanwhile, the muscle car races continued apace, and Oldsmobile’s Cutlass received a significant redesign. Larger boxy fenders were crowned by razor edges, and a pronounced kick over the rear fender was borrowed from the larger 88 and 98 lines. The Cutlass remained the F-85 luxury line, ahead of the Standard and Deluxe models, and added a four-door hardtop called the Supreme. Oldsmobile jumped two spots into fourth place in the sales race, selling 586,381 units.

The 1966 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 was still a performance package for the F-85/Cutlass, and it became more distinctive. In addition to bucket seats, heavy duty suspension, frame, shocks, brakes, sway bars and larger red line tires, there was now a specific 4-4-2 grille and taillights, and a recessed front fender scoop. The 400 cid V-8 was bumped to 350 bhp and Oldsmobile offered its first factory Tri-Power setup since the J2 package of the 1950s. The 4-4-2 package was available with the F-85 ($185) and the Cutlass ($151). The Tri-Power package cost an additional $100. It was the rarest 4-4-2 option for 1966 with 360 bhp. Car Life tested a 1966 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 with such equipment, recording 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds and a quarter mile at 14.8 seconds and just over 100 mph.