[Lee Stewart]

By the 1968 model year, the Muscle Car Era was in full swing. Unfortunately it was dragging a massive lead weight behind it which would prove to be one of it's downfalls: high insurance premiums. Big cubic inch motors with big horsepower = big insurance premiums which were getting bigger every year. Thus was born the "Junior Muscle Car." 350 CI or less. That was something the insurance companies would overlook.

But at the same time, you needed to win on Sunday to sell on Monday. Plymouth's new Road Runner showed the industry that Muscle sells . . . at a low cost. A fully equipped Muscle Car for less than $3000 MSRP. GREAT Marketing because of the 44,599 made - only a few dozen came out of the factory with a less than $3000 MSRP.

Chrysler introduced it's new 340 Magnum engine for the 1968 model year and put it into their GTS Dart and Barracudas. Chevy had it's legendary 350. Pontiac had it's 350 HO engine in 1968 and Ford was still trying to figure out what a Muscle Car was in relation to their car line.

And along comes Olds. Olds is in a unique position. They only have a single body style. So they have to try a bit harder in their products to make a desired car for the youth market without sacrificing their existing premium brand: the 442. Such is born the Ram Rod 350 which Olds rates at 325 HP and the NHRA blows a raspberry at Olds and rates it at 350 HP. Available on the F-85 and Cutlass S. It's a W30 350.

Not a big seller in it's first year due to a mid-year introduction: F-85 (38), Cutlass S coupe (674) & hardtop (30). The F85 version weighs about 3400 lbs with 4 speed. Put a stiff rear in it (available right from the factory) and you can take on the bigger Muscle Cars in the Stop light to Stop light Grand Prix.