Sometimes it is found on the gear case along the parting edge between rear driveshaft housing and the gear case. The 1971 Cutlasses and 442 featured blacked out grilles. I have not been able to locate the build sheet anywhere in the interior. It included the Outside Air Induction hood and air cleaner, an aluminum intake manifold, body stripes, sport mirrors and lightweight body insulation. It is possible to get market price of new or used Oldsmobile VIN decoder - Lookup and check Oldsmobile VIN number and get Original inner fenders and doors, quarter panels. Visible through the windshield. Decoding your GM A-Body's FORMULA NO. The 1971 Oldsmobile 442 was a muscle car produced by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. Starting in 1968, the engine and transmissions received partial VINs to aid police in recovering stolen vehicles. Muscle cars quickly became unaffordable and impractical for many people. 6 digits - Production sequence starting at 10001 at all plants. In a photo taken in 1999, Minore proudly poses with his gold with black stripes 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass W-31. (W30) 455 V8 380 4-BBL AT 10.50:1 QE(Hurst/Olds) 1970 ENGINE HP CARB. xb```f``dl`g@ ~r,`Td^ tl[6H.``` 600[00(5005 % i^k720j3e5yN@ "g The performance features are usually coded as "W" options. Encoding the body number in Oldsmobile can be a good way to verify your car before you buy. In particular, the information affecting the price of Oldsmobile, i.e. SOLD . The Cutlass range included hardtop, convertible, two and four door sedans and even station wagons. Built as a response to the Pontiac GTO, Oldsmobile prepared the 442 as a performance option on the Cutlass. For complete information on Powered by Invision Community. A lot of people don't know that. The dangerous year is 1972 because 442 became an optional handling and trim package and no longer coded as part of the VIN number. The Rocket 350 wasn't used in the 442 until 1972. The W-30 setup associated with blueprinted engines and banzai hole shots would last only through '72, though the name appeared on enthusiast-oriented Oldsmobiles for years to come. Share this: Oldsmobile used hotshot parts previously only available to police departments. 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W30 (Orlando, FL) | OldsmobileCENTRAL.com Sport steering wheel. Oldsmobile 4-4-2 2gen production numbers data - Automobile-Catalog . This would include a six- to 10-page detailed vehicle report with breakdowns on cowl tag info; date codes on the engine, transmission, rearend; and all the important pieces that make a W-30 or W-31 car what it is. 1970 442s have bold vertical column grilles and if W30 equipped the hood has twin scoops with hood locks. But the muscle car era was unmistakably in decline due to rising insurance rates and soaring gas prices. Oldsmobile knew the time was right to field a high performance intermediate after the runaway success of Pontiac's Tempest option called GTO. This was available on Cutlass S four barrel cars as well as 442s and W30 cars. However, it may not be easy to find the VIN in the Oldsmobile because the number is not always in the usual places. 1970 442 W30 Verification - Oldsmobile - Discussion Forums First, I need to have my travel, motel, and any ancillary expenses paid for regardless whether I have to fly or drive. Ordered via Carlson Oldsmobile Inc. on February 26, 1971 and delivered to its first owner on April 7, 1971. 1969 Oldsmobile Vehicle Identification Numbers (vin) stream Wagon: 5437: 2 dr. Holiday Coupe: 3635: 4 dr. Sta. The 1968, 1969, and 1970 carburetors are W-31-specific, have their own W-31 part numbers, and are big-dollar items. If it's a car for cruising and personal enjoyment, you can relax about a non numbers matching engine or transmission. Registry | Messageboard | This 1972 Oldsmobile 442 W30 features the X Code in its vehicle identification number (VIN 3G87X2M251063). I ended up buying that car, and that's what got the ball rolling with my research on the W-31s. Sport Coupe: 9487: 2 dr. Hardtop Coupe: 4467: 2 dr. Convertible Coupe: 9687: 2 dr. Cust Int Htop Coupe There are Julian codes on the front disc brake calipers, the master cylinder, and the radiator tag. If owning a show car is your aim, a frame in good shape cuts down your restoration cost significantly. Has original spot welds on the lower quarter panels. trailer How to Check and Decode an Oldsmobile VIN | GetJerry.com Wagon The 442 package had run into the 1971 fuel crisis, federal legislation that curbed 442s power output. This 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 sold 2 months ago. From 1968 to 1971 it was attached to the top of the instrument panel . MCR: What are the areas you look at when authenticating a car? Unfortunately, we only support translating VIN numbers from cars built between 1965 and 1972 as of now. MARKETS . Anti-spin rear axle. 11. All 1972 Cutlasses had six window tail lamps. Oldsmobile vehicle history report may contain the following information: title problems, prior damages, unsafe salvage rebuilds, odometer mileage, theft, past sales. I can only do one car at a time, but the job gets done right.". Pictured at left: sample 1966-1972 Oldsmobile RPO Codes, Descriptions, and Applications I would like to learn more about both the earlier and later year cars, as my ultimate objective is, for lack of a better term, to become the Kevin Marti or Galen Govier of Oldsmobile authenticators. However, after a car has been restored, it's much harder to figure out whether or not it's the real deal. The 442 and W30 option in particular are wildly popular and from 1970 onwards, it's relatively easy to make a Cutlass look like a full house W30 optioned 442. This number contains important information about the car, such as the model year or place of manufacture. One of them was a 1970 4-4-2 W-30 convertible. Original floors. This meant that engineers had to cut compression from 10.5:1 to 8.5:1 on the car's standard 455 CID V8 engine. There are dead giveaways, like the wrong [mounting] hardware has been used. Sitting in the passenger seat, peering out over that ram-air hood, I was totally corrupted and have been ever since.". Although lower case, the A is also quite large. All rights reserved. Here are features on more than 100, Muscle cars created their own culture. HVrH}W[fM*I9)g< I8@HDAO[bp N b? However, like every car, it has a unique identification code called VIN. He pulled it out, and it was the broadcast sheetthat car's Golden Ticket! Very early 1972 cars might have red plastic fender liner but most were black. %PDF-1.5 It also allows to obtain information about the history of the vehicle, i.e. This number contains vital information about the car, such as its manufacturer, year of production, the plant it was produced in, type of engine, model and more. 1971 Oldsmobile VIN Decoder - VINmagic.com The flat ridge acted like a spear. Let's face it. The hardtops still used 442 emblems on the glove box doors. information concerning equipment versions, potential repairs, accidents or mileage. Real W-30 VIN NUMBERS MATCHING 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Every 442 came with front and rear sway bars. The muscle car hardware options everyone wants include W30 high performance 455 Rocket with 370 horsepower. For 1972, the 455 engine letter code was Fa. x ko xX { bYN u p . Every buyer must check You've really got to know what you're looking at. Car Parts: Mercedes Benz W111 Sedan, Coupe Bumper. Originally, this was a complete aluminum rear differential carrier but it was only offered in 1970. Finally, a few details to help determine if the car is a 442. It became the W31 option in 1969 and 1970. By 1968, the Cutlass gained more respect from buyers. The 350 Rocket four barrel, the 400 Rocket four barrel and the 455 Rocket four barrel. The Ramrod 350 Cutlass appeared in 1968 and became the W31 in 1969. W-30 option cars were equipped with Ram Air intake hoses leading from a chrome-topped dual snorkel black air cleaner to special under-bumper air scoops and set . They have the wrong markings on the bolt heads. It was obviously a 350/325hp car with all the options. Otherwise any engine from a 350 two barrel upwards could be ordered in a 442. "Another thing I've done is take a lot of pictures. model year 1971 - Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Series, 2-door Convertible-5p, 4467 - 1304 units General Oldsmobile numbers for that years: model year 1968 - Oldsmobile all versions, total sales - 562459 units Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security. Every "I've been doing engine bay restorations for years," he says. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, Activate Your Premium Membership Today >>, The 1969 Dodge Charger custom build by Ringbrothers, 1960s Muscle Cars Their Beginning, Downfall & The Best Muscle Cars Ever Made, The 2013 Amelia Island Auction by Gooding & Company, 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Convertible 344671M171956, 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 (Ultimate Guide), The Mercedes-Benz 280 is a Bulletproof Beauty. This online service allows a user to check the validity of the car and get detailed information on almost any VIN number, search There was no crush zone in it and ran the whole length of the fender. The car needs some minor body work, the floor pans are mint, it is paint code 75 Matador Red, White Vinyl Top, White Interior, White W30 stripes. 1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30: A Profile of a Muscle Car - HowStuffWorks For the first time, the 4-4-2 became its own model, still based on the Oldsmobile A-body midsize platform. Oldsmobile car parts catalog for additional information if you're looking for parts to repair your vehicle. Very nice, good running and driving 1968 Fairlady 1600. "There's always been something special about 4-4-2s," Motor Trend said as the car was fading. You're looking for a 344 in the start of the VIN on dash or door decal. <> Super straight, no dents. Car has one repaint that was done in 1989. On the driver's side of your dashboard. Original trunk lid. On Canadian built Cutlasses a Chevrolet 12 bolt was used. Among those other pursuits is Minore's complete and total infatuation with Oldsmobile's W-Machines, specifically the 1968-1972 models. There they had a VIN decoder. | 1967 Specifications - Model ID | Product is chocolate soldier drink still made. No patch or bond work. My database is quickly growing on these cars, and it should make for an informative book. I have been able to amass a database for 1970 W-30 four-speed and automatic cars. An X-Code Oldsmobile 442 With 455 V8. An original 1970 W-30 car like the one I authenticated in Chicago [Beth Bimbi's Oldsmobile, "Mom's W-30," Feb. '16] is easy to authenticate. Original Numbers Matching 1972 Oldsmobile 442 W30 X Code - HotCars What to watch For: Unfortunately one of the things you need to watch for are clones. Oldsmobile Division only made 500 of those cars, and all of them were four-speeds. The large O in the upper left corner of this TH400 transmission tag tells you it's for an Oldsmobile, while the 70 in the lower left corner denotes the 1970 model year. Regular 4-4-2 mills lost not only compression, but got a milder camshaft and some other detuning that dropped them to 340 bhp, from 365 (both gross ratings). As these cars became more popular, Stephen began to question things like verifying an Olds as a real 4-4-2. For the Classic Car Restoration Enthusiast. As we have already mentioned, the verification of Oldsmobiles basic data before purchase can be very helpful, all the more so given the current prices of these cars. Oldsmobile VIN decoder | OldsmobileCENTRAL.com Stephen's company is called Cas-Am Performance. The last set I found went for crazy money, $700 per pair! And most importantly, decoding the VIN number in an Oldsmobile makes it possible to search the database of stolen vehicles. Is a restored a car harder to authenticate? Oldsmobile people would actually go just to look for me. In 1970, Oldsmobile Division came out with an aluminum W-31 intake similar to the one used on the W-30s and made by the same foundry. This one confirms a 455 V8 engine. PDF Oldsmobile Engine Decoder - thepartsplaceinc.com This is the Oldsmobile VIN decoder. 1st digit - GM Division . Power disc brakes. Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Very serious restorers go all the way and document virtually every mechanical part including the distributor, carburetor, heads, rear axle and interior by means of date codes and plenty of forum discussions. See Consumer Guide Automotive's New-Car Reviews, Prices, and Information. use this banner. The lower control arms are boxed. A-2080. A Rare and Exciting Find for Muscle Car Enthusiasts. 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W30. The Sports Steering wheel N34 is another solid favorite. The VIN # confirms that it is a 442 (344.) (A Body W-30) (1972) L78 Engine, V-8 4BC (400), Pontiac (1975) L78 Engine, V-8 4BC (455), Oldsmobile L78 High Compression V-8 Performance Engine (1967) L78 High Compression 400 Cu. Oldsmobile Viking Blue Iridescent. The engine is now included as the fifth digit and the 442 model status is gone. You're looking for a 344 in the start of the VIN on dash or door . Minore (right) chats with Ryan Weaver at the 2015 MCACN show about Weaver's barn-found 1969 W-31. 3535: 4 dr. Sta. Like the 1968-'69 models, the '70 4-4-2 was available in three body styles, a two-door post coupe, which Oldsmobile referred to as the Sports Coupe; the two-door hardtop Holiday Coupe; and a convertible. I also plan on expanding it to cover the 1968 and 1969 W-31 cars as well. Location: On plate attached to top left dash board. If you want to find out if the Oldsmobile you are interested in is accident-free, decode the VIN via the form below. Oldsmobile by VIN number. Then in 1971, GM mandated a decree that said there had to be crush zones built into the fenders, so from 1971-1972, all fenders have built-in crush zones. This could be old damage. Reproducing any material on this website without permission is prohibited. Oldsmobile W-30/W-31 Secrets Revealed by Expert Stephen J. Minore In 1970, Oldsmobile Division stamped out only one style of fender. Enjoy! The W32 was a Cutlass Supreme performance package which supplied a 365 horsepower 455. Oldsmobility.com - The 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass and 442 Resource V-8 Performance Engine (1968) L80 Engine, V-8 4BC (403) MC4 Shift, Floor Sport MY1 Manual Transmission, 4-Speed M11 Shift, Floor M11 3-Speed Column Shift (1968) M13 Heavy Duty F-85 Column Shift 3-Speed Manual . 0000001042 00000 n A special Sebring Yellow promo model called Rally 350 was issued in 1970 only. The last six characters should match the last six digits of the car's VIN. The 1970 Cutlass grille has a fine egg crate design with Cutlass script on the driver side while the 442 model has bold vertical columns with die cast 442 letters in the hood divider. We hope to bring you new and interesting content on our YouTube channel. 1971 oldsmobile 442 w30 vin decoder - daxasys.com It's common for inner wheel well housings and even package trays to vanish once they've been acid dipped or sand blasted. 0000000016 00000 n The four speed equipped cars easily destroyed the actual carrier and it was dropped as an option. The correct URL for this website is http://www.OLDSmobility.com/) The Julian code on the rearend has to be correct, and the code will tell you what the rearend ratio is. Over the years, the package grew more powerful with tricarbs, trunk mounted battery, ram induction systems and bigger engines. I have done some research and I understand that for 1970 there was no designation in the VIN # for a W30 and that a build sheet for this car would confirm that is is a W30. These cars have a lot of rare engine parts on them, Minore says, including carburetors that were W-31 specific. The normal body code for a 442 convertible would be ST 68 34467 . Oldsmobile problems, recalls and complaints. I would go to people I had sold parts to and ask, 'You own a 1970 4-4-2 don't you? Is there an service that can provide a history and/or build sheet on this car given the VIN #??? Auction Source: 2011 Monterey Daytime Auction by Mecum. 1971 Oldsmobile 442 - sold for $27,500 1971 was the penultimate year for Oldsmobile's great 442, which retained the powerful 455 CI engine as standard equipment. The first two are verified by partial VIN number stampings on the block and transmission. 0000000616 00000 n So how to find the VIN in Oldsmobile and how to decode it? Selling a 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W30. You can find your Oldsmobile's VIN in the following locations: On your car's insurance and title documents. His cousin Pete Chillemi owned a 1972 Olds 4-4-2 W-30 four-speed car, red with white stripes. "I started looking at things like the Julian date codes on cowl tags, VIN numbers, broadcast sheets, and those kinds of things. Only 110 W30 models were built in 1971 which included the fiberglass force induction hood and turbo 400 transmission. Oldsmobile car has a unique identifier code called a VIN. However, the cost of checking the VIN is small in relation to how much we can pay for a vehicle that may have come to Poland illegally. Introduced in 1964, it was continually updated, receiving the big-block engines in 1965 and a performance option called the W30. The technical knowledge came from owning and parting out cars and dealing with Oldsmobile collectors. On some Oldsmobile models, the VIN can also be found on the label at the top or side of the frame behind the drivers upper swingarm bushes. 4477: 2 dr. Luckily, Oldsmobile still identified its strongest 4-4-2 by a single option code, W-30. What was 10.5:1 became 8.5:1, a drop Motor Trend said "was rather like hitting Dr. Oldsmobile with a malpractice suit. Starting in 1972, the VIN changes in a couple of ways. 1970 Oldsmobile vehicle identification number (vin) decoder. endobj The transmission VINs need to be correct, and the factory tag needs to be on the right side of the transmission. By adding a parts bin special cobbled from the Police Apprehender's package, the Lansing boys made their F85 and Cutlass a performance car. endobj See profiles, photos, and specifications of, Muscle cars came in many shapes and sizes. 0000000833 00000 n 0000004071 00000 n Automatic. Minore was there to authenticate the car, which we recently featured in Rare Finds ("More Than Just a Car," Sept. '15). The VIN # confirms that it is a 442 (344) and it has all of the right parts for a 442 including W30 parts. where the 442 components were installed. 1971 oldsmobile 442 w30 vin decoder - mebw.fabiz.ase.ro Are you thinking of buying a 2007 muscle car, or any other car? A couple of years ago I drove out to New Jersey to authenticate a couple of cars for a client in California. endstream endobj 21 0 obj<> endobj 23 0 obj<> endobj 24 0 obj<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/ExtGState<>>> endobj 25 0 obj<> endobj 26 0 obj<> endobj 27 0 obj[/ICCBased 33 0 R] endobj 28 0 obj<> endobj 29 0 obj<> endobj 30 0 obj<>stream Encoding the VIN number in Oldsmobile can be particularly helpful for people who want to buy a car of this brand, because the VIN decoder will allow you to check the detailed history of the vehicle regarding repairs, mileage and participation in accidents. "1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30" Oldsmobile car history before getting a car loan or credit. All 1971 Cutlasses used square tail lamps divided by a horizontal center bar. 1971 oldsmobile 442 w30 vin decoder Home; . The manual transmissions have a partial VIN stamped vertically on the gear case on the right side of transmission. 1965-1971 Oldsmobile Models. All content on this site is 1999-2008 by OLDSmobility.com/Project 442 Clone, unless It said "W-30" right on it, but the number listed at the top was not the VIN. For 1972, the Cutlass went with a couple of grilles, a coarse checkerboard and a chromed horizontal bar style. Equipped with an Impressive List of Desirable Options. The only way to confirm if it's a 442 by VIN that year is if the engine code is X. Certain things get painted over. If it's a four-speed car, I look to make sure that nobody's tampered with it and installed a new transmission tunnel. Let's start with identifying the 442 option. For more cool information on muscle cars, go to: No muscle cars were more stylish, sophisticated, or brawnier than those from Oldsmobile. VIN decoding. My inspection would be an all-day affair, so the fee would be in the neighborhood of $1,000. The body has a partial VIN stamp as well beside he complete one on the driver side dashboard and door. 2023 Second Chance Garage, LLC. Usually, it was a Cutlass, Cutlass S or Cutlass Supreme engine. The monster 455cid V8 was stock for that 442 but that would be the swansong year although the 442 had put the Oldsmobile in the muscle-car map. 1971 PAINTED TEXTURED METAL MOLDING COLOURS (MATCHED TO VINYL ROOF COLOUR), For correct identification, please refer to the, 1971 OLDSMOBILE PAINT CHARTS AND COLOUR CODES. COMB. I look at the fonts. W-31 fender emblems. 1964-72 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS/442. It's kind of hard to explain, but it's easy to tell if one of these cars ever got into an accident. honolulu police department records; spiritual meaning of the name ashley; mississippi election results 2021; charlie spring and nick nelson That meant it was a 455 W30 engine which was a 442 exclusive. Right away I could determine that the block had been re-stamped. We would share knowledge about these cars with each other.". Home \ Uncategorized \ 1971 oldsmobile 442 w30 vin decoder > Hopefully someone on this forum can answerthe questions, and hopefully shed some light on the subject.I have a 67 Olds 442. 0000001633 00000 n Faithfully Restored by Marque Specialist Joe Cubellis. The W-31 actually started out in 1968 and was the Cutlass-based Ram Rod 350. Luckily, Oldsmobile still identified its strongest 4-4-2 by a single option code, W-30. W-31s have a lot of rare engine parts on them. Minore points out the flat ridge found only on the fenders of 1970 Oldsmobiles. This signifies an Olds 442 model. startxref In time, he also began buying Oldsmobile parts cars and stripping them. Muscle cars wouldn't have much muscle without horsepower -- but what exactly is horsepower? Home / Uncategorized / 1971 oldsmobile 442 w30 vin decoder. Vehicle history and comps for 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W30 VIN: 344871M151712 - including sale prices, photos, and more. The car came with only minor modifications from the previous year. When it comes to the W-30 cars, Oldsmobile made only about five or six different Julian codes, and you've got to be able to recognize those carburetors when you see them. For complete information on decoding an Oldsmobile cowl tag, refer to the Deciphering The Cowl Tag page. "See these hands, son? Check the front frame horns just before the engine cradle. Copyright 2023, Antique Automobile Club of America. 6 Digits - Sequential production number. Here is how it works: 1965 THROUGH 1971 MODELS From 1965 to 1967 the Serial Number identification plate was attached to the left front body hinge pillar directly below the upper door hinge. Through a number of conversations I was asked if I knew anyone who was interested in a 1970 Oldsmobile W-31. The rear bumper will have exhaust cut outs and the fender liners for the front will be red plastic from 1970-1971. Silver with Black interior. A bent, torn or misaligned rear cross member under the bumper could be from collision damage or a tow hitch that wasn't installed correctly. Oldsmobile - General ; 1970 442 W30 Verification 1970 442 W30 Verification. %PDF-1.4 % Links |. Checking the engine codes is essential for proper ID as many cars have been restored or hot rodded several times by now. All 1972 Cutlasses used six window tail lamps. It also was true that torque, the most vital factor in acceleration, remained abundant. How do I decode the body number in the Oldsmobile? Look for hammer marks, misshapen metal, putty skimmed over stretched metal from a porta-jack and elongated holes. Enjoy the rat rods, hot rods, classic trucks, cool . Please check Oldsmobile - VIN decoding. | View My Guestbook All 1970 Cutlasses used rectangular tail lamps divided by two horizontal bars. The partial engine VIN stamping by the way, also contains year of manufacture and assembly plant. If youre wondering where the VIN is in your Oldsmobile, manufacturers have a standard rule of thumb to place the VIN near the left-hand post of the windscreen so that the body number is always readable and visible on the outside. Gross output fell slightly less than on the base engine, to 350 bhp from 370. 1 0 obj Cutlasses will have some horizontal lines while the 442 is fine mesh with die cast emblems on driver side grille. You should also check the transmission for partial VINs. The OPEC oil embargo led to price controls and gasoline rationing, as well as higher prices. W-30s again were factory blueprinted and those used with manual transmission re-tained the hotter 1970 cam. What does it cost to authenticate a 1970s Oldsmobile muscle car? The casting number for the 455 block should be 396021 and can be either F or Fa letter code. The Turbohydramatic 400 was the most common automatic in performance Cutlasses while Muncie units were most common as manual gearboxes. 0000002134 00000 n However, he said that so-called experts had told him that it was not for that particular car because it didn't have the VIN listed at the top of it. The G is the application key; for 1970 this trans would have been used in 4-4-2, W-32, or SX, but not a W-30. For complete information on Oldsmobile 1965 to 1971 1st digit - Make. Oldsmobile was certainly a force in that fray, as the details of the 1970 version of the 4-4-2 and 4-4-2 W-30 illustrate. So how to check the history of an Oldsmobile? Drivetrains: The engine line up used a small block and a big block. "They seemed to be the subtle man's GTO.". These are the two items that most frequently have been changed over the life of a car. Special aluminum intake manifold above is a W455 casting as well. All 1969 Cutlasses used a single, square tail lamp. the number of previous owners, damages, post-accident repairs or meter mileage. Check the FAQ on 442.com. There's a certain spot weld you have to look for where they spot-welded the four-speed transmission boot adaptor bracket into the transmission tunnel. Stephen spent some of his formative years "banging gears and laying rubber all around town" in his uncle Mark's 1969 Cutlass Supreme. Thank goodness for the folks that keep www.442.com alive. When Stephen J. Minore was in high school, his father Joe, a gas station operator, took him aside and gave him some advice. You've always got to be on the lookout for things like that, especially when you're looking at these high end cars.