1971 oldsmobile 442 w30 vin decoder

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 . 3 0 obj 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 . Oldsmobile knew the time was right to field a high performance intermediate after the runaway success of Pontiac's Tempest option called GTO. COMP. Has original spot welds on the lower quarter panels. 0000007285 00000 n Believed to be less than 75 in existence today. This one confirms a 455 V8 engine. The Sports Steering wheel N34 is another solid favorite. x ko xX { bYN u p . The VIN number has a specific format that is globally recognized. They have some things to look for. A-2482. All 1968 Cutlasses used single, rectangular flat tail lamp. The Ramrod 350 Cutlass appeared in 1968 and became the W31 in 1969. But the decline in performance was unstoppable. Pictured at left: sample 1967 Oldsmobile 442 VIN plate, found on the left front door pillar. In. Other favorites include Super Stock wheels. That meant it was a 455 W30 engine which was a 442 exclusive. Location: On plate attached to top left dash board. For complete information on decoding an Oldsmobile cowl tag, refer to the Deciphering The Cowl Tag page. Oldsmobile by VIN number. The biggest thing on any 1968 to 1970 W-31 and a dead giveaway to the car's pedigree is a dual fuel line just like a regular Cutlass equipped with air conditioning. where the 442 components were installed. You're looking for a 344 in the start of the VIN on dash or door decal. (A Body W-30) (1972) L78 Engine, V-8 4BC (400), Pontiac (1975) L78 Engine . 1970 442s have bold vertical column grilles and if W30 equipped the hood has twin scoops with hood locks. The flat ridge acted like a spear. <> 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. GTO VIN Decoding; Firebird VIN Decoding; GM Body Tag Decoding; GM Muncie 4-Speed Decoding; Chevrolet Decoding. This can be done online via the form below. Have you run across any earth-shaking discoveries in the authentication process? 6 Digits - Sequential production number starting with 100001. The VIN # confirms that it is a 442 (344.) When it comes to differentials, the best you can do is confirm a build date before the assembly of car that's within a reasonable amount of time, say between 6 weeks to three months. It looked and sounded like it was a W-30, but it was a Cutlass W-31. Production was very low. P . This is the VIN stamp on a W-30 engine block. The interior of the 442 has cheap-looking, wood-grain vinyl dash but had a real race car feel. I ended up buying that car, and that's what got the ball rolling with my research on the W-31s. And most importantly, decoding the VIN number in an Oldsmobile makes it possible to search the database of stolen vehicles. 0000002134 00000 n %PDF-1.5 I have the original carburetor numbers and pictures so I can compare the fonts. Oldsmobile is a cult brand that has unfortunately already disappeared from the market. <>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Minore was there to authenticate the car, which we recently featured in Rare Finds ("More Than Just a Car," Sept. '15). I can only do one car at a time, but the job gets done right.". A quick visual identification if the car is original is metallic gold for the 350 V8, bronze for the 400, and metallic blue for the 455 V8. This code has a 2-letter prefix code followed by . The technical knowledge came from owning and parting out cars and dealing with Oldsmobile collectors. Power steering. Last . The manual transmissions have a partial VIN stamped vertically on the gear case on the right side of transmission. Documented with Build Sheet, Dealer Invoice, and Protect-O-Plate. Obviously, I look at the VIN on the block and transmission. The VIN decoder will allow you to determine the technical data of Oldsmobile based on the model year, type of equipment or place of production . This Viking Blue low mileage example is trimmed with the W-30 striping package and equipped with the twin-scooped forced air induction hood and air cleaner. Powered by Invision Community. Is a restored a car harder to authenticate? Starting in 1972, the VIN changes in a couple of ways. 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. Every 442 came with front and rear sway bars. The VIN, or vehicle identification number, is a sequence of 17 numbers and letters that is unique to your vehicle. My database is quickly growing on these cars, and it should make for an informative book. The Hurst Dual Gate shifter with separate ratchet shifting gate was coded W26. % By }Z8.u\!"),%S.YXfs)eWj1E_0E&WcoX FW`Q#|wR;2Wiw>&K~*!q77 sWH,*[jSliSu6X M*F9 VIEW AUCTION . SUFFIX OR CODE 250 L6 l55 1-BBL MT 8.50:1 VB 250 L6 l55 1-BBL AT 8.50:1 VF . To learn about it, read. An N.O.S. All Rights Reserved. 1 0 obj It is possible to get market price of new or used No patch or bond work. Transmissions were available in automatic, three or four speed manuals. startxref 1971 oldsmobile 442 w30 vin decoder Home; . Are you thinking of buying a 2007 muscle car, or any other car? Drivetrains: The engine line up used a small block and a big block. However, it may not be easy to find the VIN in the Oldsmobile because the number is not always in the usual places. "At the time, I was about the only Oldsmobile swap meet vendor around. You've always got to be on the lookout for things like that, especially when you're looking at these high end cars. Oldsmobile vehicle history report may contain the following information: title problems, prior damages, unsafe salvage rebuilds, odometer mileage, theft, past sales. However, like every car, it has a unique identification code called VIN. Stunning Saturn Gold over Black Color Combination. Hurst His & Hers option. This could be old damage. 1st digit - GM Division . It's vital that you take a look at the firewall to see that it hasn't been fooled with. The W-31 actually started out in 1968 and was the Cutlass-based Ram Rod 350. Aside from replicas, you should watch for rust. Oldsmobile used hotshot parts previously only available to police departments. Oldsmobile - VIN decoding. See profiles, photos, and specifications of, Muscle cars came in many shapes and sizes. Bigger changes were underhood, where GM's ruling that all its cars reduce emissions and run on regular-grade fuel caused a compression-ratio cut in the 4-4-2's 455-cid V-8. 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. Original inner fenders and doors, quarter panels. 0000002448 00000 n Cougar pulled out of Mustang's shadow with the striped and spoilered 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator. 1971 Oldsmobile vehicle identification number (vin) decoder. Power disc brakes. All content on this site is 1999-2008 by OLDSmobility.com/Project 442 Clone, unless The bloom was off the performance rose by 1971, especially at General Motors, and it took a determined assault on the order sheet to come up with a muscle car worthy of the name. 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. On older Oldsmobile models, however, the VIN could be replaced by a serial number. The body has a partial VIN stamp as well beside he complete one on the driver side dashboard and door. The engine balancer is big and as rare as hen's teeth. Cutlasses will have some horizontal lines while the 442 is fine mesh with die cast emblems on driver side grille. Cruise control. The 1969 Cutlass has vertical grille columns while the 442 has die cast numbers in center of hood. The Rallye 350 was an insurance beater promo model in Sebring Yellow and was one year only. "That's when I got really charged up over those cars. endobj For more cool information on muscle cars, go to: No muscle cars were more stylish, sophisticated, or brawnier than those from Oldsmobile. The car came with only minor modifications from the previous year. For questions, comments or Super straight, no dents. Silver with Black interior. Check the FAQ on 442.com. Minore's expertise hits its sweet spot with the 1968-1972 Oldsmobiles, but . The 4-4-2 itself reverted to a Cutlass option after '71. Up to that point I didn't know the difference, so I went and inspected the car. It had ram air, sport mirrors, W-31 side stripes, and W-31 fender badges, but otherwise it looked just like a W-30. Oldsmobile Cameo White. In 1970, Oldsmobile Division stamped out only one style of fender. First, I need to have my travel, motel, and any ancillary expenses paid for regardless whether I have to fly or drive. This is why a bill of sale or build sheet is important for 1972 models. This was available on Cutlass S four barrel cars as well as 442s and W30 cars. 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 This online service allows a user to check the validity of the car and get detailed information on almost any VIN number, search for Oldsmobile car parts and check the car's history. On dual exhaust cars, you might need a mini mirror to get a good look at it. Tie ins with Hurst using the Dual Gate shifter and H/O model helped initiate the supercar concept in 1968. <>>> The 1971 Cutlasses and 442 featured blacked out grilles. Guest Here are features on more than 100, Muscle cars created their own culture. Post in the forum instead. . This page last modified on February 15, 2003. Auction Source: 2012 Daytime Auction by Mecum, 1971 Oldsmobile 442 sold for $27,500 1971 was the penultimate year for Oldsmobiles great 442, which retained the powerful 455 CI engine as standard equipment. The 442 engines were 400 and 455 blocks. Check out these profiles of muscle cars, which include photos and specifications for each model: For related car information, see these articles: Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide FORMULA NO. is chocolate soldier drink still made. On a true four-speed car, you'll see the slag on the edges of the opening. Oldsmobile car history before getting a car loan or credit. It was the body number, which matched the one on his cowl tag. For instance, if someone wants to There really is no book that I can pull out and unequivocally say this is the way it was done. The casting number for the 455 block should be 396021 and can be either F or Fa letter code. The body color sports mirrors were D35. These fenders had a flat ridge running all the way down to where they meet the hood. The owner I purchased it from stated that it is a W30. The convertible 1972 442 glove box door used a Cutlass Supreme badge instead of 442 as the Supreme model was the only trim level available. The Julian code on the rearend has to be correct, and the code will tell you what the rearend ratio is. When Oldsmobile did its four-speed conversions on-line [1970-'72], it just cut out the floor with a torch! Buying a used car? In 1970, the Cutlass had a moderate restyle of front and rear ends and improved interiors. Olds' W-27 aluminum rear axle carrier and cover reduced weight by about 22 pounds over the standard cast-iron carrier and stamped-steel cover. Oldsmobile problems, recalls and complaints. 0 However, after a car has been restored, it's much harder to figure out whether or not it's the real deal. We'll guide you on how to buy a good Rocket instead of a dud Scud. This 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 sold 2 months ago. Can I look at it?' Stephen's company is called Cas-Am Performance. "Hardware store hardware," we call it. It also allows to obtain information about the history of the vehicle, i.e. MARKETS AUCTIONS DEALERS VALUATION BLOG SELL YOUR CAR LOGIN . That's a dead giveaway that the fenders have been changed. 1971 oldsmobile 442 w30 vin decoder. 2 0 obj The VIN also allows a user to get a build sheet of Oldsmobile. In 1972, the Cutlass Supreme used a coarse checkerboard grille while the 442 model used last year's grille only painted in silver instead of black. 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. 1971 Oldsmobile Paint Charts and Colour Codes: For correct identification, please refer to the Color code listings on this site. zEBpq=M[&\k. All rights reserved. The VIN decoder will allow you to determine the technical data of Oldsmobile based on the model year, type of equipment or place of production. The rear deck spoiler W35 was offered only from 1970 442s and Rally 350 models but it's so popular you'll find them installed on later examples. It was gold with back stripes and had a ram air hood. It's clean work, and you have a natural talent for it.". Muscle cars wouldn't have much muscle without horsepower -- but what exactly is horsepower? these models were equipped with the W-30 32-bbl engine. The Cutlass range included hardtop, convertible, two and four door sedans and even station wagons. The Rocket 350 wasn't used in the 442 until 1972. An X-Code Oldsmobile 442 With 455 V8. 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. Startseite > Uncategorized > 1971 oldsmobile 442 w30 vin decoder. The rear bumper will have exhaust cut outs and the fender liners for the front will be red plastic from 1970-1971. Every This is long but SO WORTH IT! Vehicle history and comps for 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W30 VIN: 344871M151712 - including sale prices, photos, and more. All photos on this website are copyrighted material. We'll cover specific details to look for in a later section. 20 16 I don't have a lift, a compressor, or anything like that, just handtools. Do not forget to read about 0000000833 00000 n This is most often the case with vinyl roof cars. suggestions, please e-mail me. Specs | General Specs | Engine Then there's the more obvious. 1967 Oldsmobile 442 VIN plate, found on the left front door pillar. "1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30" Aluminum intake manifold, low restriction air cleaner and exhaust system, and air-induction hood continued as components of the $369 W-30 option. The 4-4-2 nomenclature stood for a four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and two exhausts. Among those other pursuits is Minore's complete and total infatuation with Oldsmobile's W-Machines, specifically the 1968-1972 models. Anti-spin rear axle. The W-30 setup associated with blueprinted engines and banzai hole shots would last only through '72, though the name appeared on enthusiast-oriented Oldsmobiles for years to come. Wagon: 5437: 2 dr. Holiday Coupe: 3635: 4 dr. Sta. By Guest June 10, 2004 in Oldsmobile - General. xko xX{ bYNup.P63}Y)897EUWO8jJOODrnlz?_^}>Z7Wk>V[VLB____OO.^vmm*!ZWNOrij-Uq@9`5BGW'K$ Oldsmobile parts by VIN number. I have not been able to locate the build sheet anywhere in the interior. 4477: 2 dr. To learn everything you need to know about car engines, see. On the driver's side of your dashboard. Minore's expertise hits its sweet spot with the 1968-1972 Oldsmobiles, but he's boning up on earlier and later models as well. But the muscle car era was unmistakably in decline due to rising insurance rates and soaring gas prices. xref A sticker on the passenger's side door hinge. <]>> His cousin Pete Chillemi owned a 1972 Olds 4-4-2 W-30 four-speed car, red with white stripes. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Please The dangerous year is 1972 because 442 became an optional handling and trim package and no longer coded as part of the VIN number. A numbers matching drive train is essential and a car with most of its factory hardware intact is preferred. W-31 fender emblems. The transmission VINs need to be correct, and the factory tag needs to be on the right side of the transmission. The 1971 Oldsmobile 442 was a muscle car produced by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. By far, the most popular performance options are W30 and M22, the heavy duty four speed shifter. He can be reached by email at casamperformance@sbcglobal.net. Built as a response to the Pontiac GTO, Oldsmobile prepared the 442 as a performance option on the Cutlass. The only way to confirm if it's a 442 by VIN that year is if the engine code is X. To be able to look at a picture of an original W-30 car from back in the day to reference something is priceless.". It's kind of hard to explain, but it's easy to tell if one of these cars ever got into an accident. Copyright 2023, Antique Automobile Club of America. So the muscle car era lived on for another year with the help of the 1971 . 1971. "There's always been something special about 4-4-2s," Motor Trend said as the car was fading. decoding an Oldsmobile cowl tag, refer to the Deciphering The Cowl Tag page. The hardtops still used 442 emblems on the glove box doors. "They seemed to be the subtle man's GTO.". Very solid, very special 1972 VW Beetle in Pick Up version. The predecessor to the 1969 W-31 was Oldsmobile's 1968 Ram Rod 350. Oldsmobile Viking Blue Iridescent. There was no crush zone in it and ran the whole length of the fender. 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. . If someone owned a 1970 4-4-2 W-30 and it was rotted to the core, but it was one of 96 4-4-2 four-speed convertibles built, less scrupulous souls might remove the VIN and cowl tag and install them onto a Cutlass convertible body. You can find your Oldsmobile's VIN in the following locations: On your car's insurance and title documents. Oldsmobile. In particular, the information affecting the price of Oldsmobile, i.e. 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. (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. (W30) 6th Digit - Model Year 2 = 1972 ; 7th Digit - Assembly Plant . You look at the head castings because there are a lot of forgeries out there these days, especially with Oldsmobiles. You can search I have pictures of the cars that I actually took apart and took photographs of and can tell within two seconds whether the VIN is right because I have examined so many cars. Vehicle history and comps for 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W30 VIN: 344870M241859 - including sale prices, photos, and more. 4 0 obj 1964-72 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS/442. In 1971 slight improvements were added to the Oldmobile 442 which can be easily identified by its round running lights and black grille with 442 script. TRANS. decoding an Oldsmobile cowl tag, refer to the. The next two numbers afterwards should decode to either a hardtop, pillar coupe or convertible. 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Convertible sold for $189,750 An Exceptional Example of Oldsmobiles Legendary W-Machine. If it's a car for cruising and personal enjoyment, you can relax about a non numbers matching engine or transmission. For complete information on This is all the more so because these cult cars reach dizzying prices. At the present, my expertise covers 1968-1972, and that includes W-30s, W-31s, and others. You don't find the right color or plated bolts in the right places anymore. 11. 6 digits - Sequential production number starting with 100001. By 1968, the Cutlass gained more respect from buyers. 1965-1971 Oldsmobile Models . 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. | Home | Year by Year Identification Guide: Due to the popularity of the 442 option and the wide variety of Cutlass models, this guide focuses primarily on the Supreme and 442 models. Is there an service that can provide a history and/or build sheet on this car given the VIN #??? Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). If you're buying a car to restore as a concours show winner, the car has to be good to start with. From 1968 through 1971, the 442 was a model in its own right. 0000004616 00000 n 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. Starting in 1968, the engine and transmissions received partial VINs to aid police in recovering stolen vehicles. We give you a hint. I know where there are a number of excellent condition, unrestored 4-4-2 W-30 cars that I can refer to when the occasion arises, which is an excellent source to have. F-85 Club coupe F-85 Deluxe Holiday coupe stream Encoding the body number in Oldsmobile can be a good way to verify your car before you buy. A 1968 442 convertible is a rare sight and has blacked out grille with 442 badge and die cast vents on hood. My photo file goes back over 20 years. Contact Us - DO NOT EMAIL CAR QUESTIONS. "This is the car that got me interested in the W-31 small-block cars," he said. 0000004071 00000 n I became involved with the W-31s after I went to the 1993 Oldsmobile Nationals in Somerset, New Jersey. W-30 package was the most powerful Rocket V-8 built by GM for the day. Copyright 2023, Antique Automobile Club of America. Do you want to have hands like this when you get to be my age? Y)h nx$103uo. Tim Murphy (right), a longtime friend of Minore's (and a "1969 fanatic"), helps him remove the air cleaner on Weaver's W-31 to check the date code on the air cleaner and the number on the carburetor. 1971 oldsmobile 442 w30 vin decoder . Use our VIN decoder to find more information about the history of your car. A very nice original VW Kever. I'm currently in the process of working on a W-31 Authentication Guide and am hoping to have it published sometime next year. COMB. The 1969 Cutlass grille has vertical fins, a center metal divider and four headlamp arrangement in pairs with the parking lamps moved to the front bumper. Registry | Messageboard | (31) F85 or Cutlass L6, (32) F85 or Cutlass V8, (33) F85 Standard V6 or L6, (34) F85 V8, (35) F85 Deluxe V6 or L6 or Cutlass L6, (36) F85 Deluxe V8 or Cutlass V8, (38) F85 Deluxe Vista Cruiser or F85 Cutlass or Cutlass Supreme V8 (67), (42) Cutlass Supreme V8, (48) Custom Vista Cruiser V8, (52) Jetstar Eighty . Enjoy! Note the telltale M in the sequence, denoting a real-deal W-30. Thank you. Very nice, good running and driving 1968 Fairlady 1600. Followers 0. This classic car & truck bonanza was a feast for the senses. Gross output fell slightly less than on the base engine, to 350 bhp from 370. There are dead giveaways, like the wrong [mounting] hardware has been used. Last As you can see, whether you are interested in the Oldsmobile in Aurora, Bravada, Custom Cruiser, Cutlass, Delta 88, Silhouette, Supreme or Toronado, its worth locating the VIN in the car, because its the VIN thats stamped on the fixed element thats most reliable. The OPEC oil embargo led to price controls and gasoline rationing, as well as higher prices. Very early 1972 cars might have red plastic fender liner but most were black. endobj Checking the engine codes is essential for proper ID as many cars have been restored or hot rodded several times by now. Frame damage from accidents is common with older cars. The VIN # confirms that it is a 442 (344) and it has all of the right parts for a 442 including W30 parts. All engine casting numbers are found above the water pump housing in front of block. By 'numbers matching,' we're talking about the original engine, transmission and body the car was born with. based on its combination of four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and two exhausts. Beitrags-Autor: Beitrag verffentlicht: 14. One of them was a 1970 4-4-2 W-30 convertible. If it's a four-speed car, I look to make sure that nobody's tampered with it and installed a new transmission tunnel. HVrH}W[fM*I9)g< I8@HDAO[bp N b? A cool car show held annually in Wisconsin. "I've been doing engine bay restorations for years," he says. You should also check the transmission for partial VINs. All 1969 Cutlasses used a single, square tail lamp. 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 1971 oldsmobile 442 w30 vin decoder. When the cars weren't worth much thirty years ago, it was common to stretch out the frame, slap some filler over the wrinkled area and hang replacement sheet metal on it. The main setback for the 1971 Olds 442 models was that aforementioned unleaded gas requirement. ISO institute. The engine is what gives a muscle car its flamboyant personality. Every car manufacturer is obliged to mark all its vehicles in this special format. Only 355 of the $158 option were ordered in 1970; 243 . 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. See Consumer Guide Automotive's New-Car Reviews, Prices, and Information. One of Only 32 Four-Speed W-30 Convertibles Built in 1971. COLOUR. The four speed equipped cars easily destroyed the actual carrier and it was dropped as an option. These cars have a lot of rare engine parts on them, Minore says, including carburetors that were W-31 specific. Stephen's first "real" car was a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, purchased from a customer of his father's who had bought the car new. MARKETS . Last 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. Right away I could determine that the block had been re-stamped. This online service allows a user to check the validity of the car and get detailed information on almost any VIN number, search The following year the car was changed to the W-31. That too has its own part number. He pulled it out, and it was the broadcast sheetthat car's Golden Ticket! On the TH400, you'll find the VIN stamped on the driver side of the oil pan rail. That certainly was true of a W-30. W-30 package was the most powerful Rocket V-8 built by GM for the day. The Turbohydramatic 400 was the most common automatic in performance Cutlasses while Muncie units were most common as manual gearboxes. This brought horsepower down to 340 from the previous year's rating of 365. Equipped with an Impressive List of Desirable Options. the number of previous owners, damages, post-accident repairs or meter mileage. Location: On plate attached to top left dash board. A newer gas tank and rear bumper may be your only clues. Only 110 W30 models were built in 1971 which included the fiberglass force induction hood and turbo 400 transmission. It's easy! These Oldsmobile press photos of the then-new 1968 4-4-2 were taken in April 1967 by Petersen Publishing's Bob D'Olivo. Wagon I look at the fonts. All 1972 Cutlasses used six window tail lamps. The lower control arms are boxed. In a photo taken in 1999, Minore proudly poses with his gold with black stripes 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass W-31. (3) Oldsmobile 2nd and 3rd digits - Series. #olds #oldsmobile #442 #oldsmobile442w30 #4speed #convertible #olds442 #gm #driver #racing #musclecar #testdrive #carguy. There they had a VIN decoder. But there's still some soul left in Lansing, and despite all the furor, a 4-4-2 will still churn up all the smoke and fury the average muscle car driver could need and probably handle.". Cool supercar stuff only. I have been able to amass a database for 1970 W-30 four-speed and automatic cars. Solid, handsome and fast, the Cutlass and 442 have been favorites for decades. By 1971 it was only available as a cover. Meriden, Connecticut's Stephen Minore is a self-professed "Oldsmobile nut" with a particular interest in the 1970 W-Machines. 3535: 4 dr. Sta. The 442 package had run into the 1971 fuel crisis, federal legislation that curbed 442s power output. The 442 grille is a blacked out egg crate with the 442 emblem in the center. It's common for inner wheel well housings and even package trays to vanish once they've been acid dipped or sand blasted. 1970 Oldsmobile vehicle identification number (vin) decoder. From 1968 to 1971 the VIN will identify if the car is a factory 442. 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 $99,000.