44070dart

have a chance to buy a 72 442 W-29 which now has a well built 455 for 4-speed for 16k .. great condition inside outside underneath ..engine was recently rebuilt and he has paperwork and bills for it ..car has great paint and interior .. my question is from what I've read about 72's if they have an X fifth digit in vin then it is a 442 ..?? thanks

66trakpak

X in the vin means it is a W-30 442.

RetroRanger

U in the VIN means it came w a big block.

only paperwork can tell if its a 442 for 72, in 72 442 became a stripe option vs a performance option earlier 442s ha d a VIN thats starts w 344.

IMHO it doesnt matter much if it is a 442 if it has a 455 w 4 speed in good shape and the price is a point your comfortable w get it.

oldsmobiledave

A factory 455 4 speed car will have a V as the 5th digit in the VIN.

Even if it is a real 455 4 speed car it may not be a W-29 optioned car.

U and V code cars need additional proof to verify the car as a 442. X code car is a 442 unless it is one of the rare W-30 optioned HO cars which clearly this is not.

44070dart

I was told it was a W-29 350/4-speed ..so there is no definitive way without paperwork to tell a 72 ?.. the car looks like its worth 16k ...

oldsmobiledave

Correct. Since it is not an X code car you need a build sheet, a broadcast card, a dealer invoice or, if sold new in Canada, GM of Canada documentation to prove that the car received the W-29 442 option.

BackInTheGame

Great looking ride, in any case!

44070dart

yeah going to see it this weekend .. if it checks out top to bottom I think its worth the money .. if it is a 442 all the better ........is there someplace like Mopar and Ford have to document the 442's

oldsmobiledave

For me the Cutlass Supreme grilles and 1971 headlight bezels detract from the look and raise suspicion on the 442 option on the car.

44070dart

thanks didn't know that those things were wrong ..of course they could have been added because they were available at the time of repaint....I was also told to check for boxed rear lower control arms and front and rear anti-sway bars ...which also could have been added ... nice solid car with a potent 455/4-speed should be enough

BangScreech4-4-2

Treat it as a Cutlass Supreme and don't pay 442 money for it unless the owner has paperwork to prove otherwise. It's not likely that a PO would have added the Supreme grilles to a 442 as that would have a negative effect on the car's value.

It's more likely that what you have stumbled across here is a half-finished clone.

joe_padavano

It is NOT a Cutlass Supreme - just look at the roofline.

To the OP: Starting with the 1972 model year, the 442 got demoted from a separate model line to an "appearance and handling package" that was available on four Cutlass models (Cutlass Holiday Coupe, Cutlass S Sport and Holiday Coupes, and Cutlass Supreme convertible). The 442 package only included the emblems, grilles, and suspension parts. There is nothing unique in the VIN to designate the car as a 442 in 1972 (expect for the rare case that the car was a W-30). As a result, the 1972 cars are the most frequently cloned. Obviously this car is far from original, so assume it is not a 442 and price it accordingly. Frankly, the difference between a 1972 Cutlass and a 1972 Cutlass with the 442 option is negligible when the drivetrain is the same. It appears to be a fun car to drive and if it looks as good in person as in the photos, the price isn't that far out of line.

oldcutlass

X2, if its as nice in person I'd buy it.

Stefano

Take someone with you who is familiar with GM A-Bodies and/or Oldsmobiles even better.

Based on the pictures and info posted there is no where near enough info to determine if the car is worth $5,000.00 or $20,000.00.

oldsmobiledave

True but I would say that it is closer to $10K than it is to $20K.

BangScreech4-4-2

I didn't say it was, but I can see how what I wrote might be taken that way. Of course if it WAS a Supreme there's no way it could be mistaken for a 442. Sorry about that.

The rest of the point should still be valid, though.

44070dart

guess I'll have to see just what he has done to the engine ( said he has dyno sheet and receipts ) and the condition of the car top to bottom before I spend that much ( a well built 455/4 speed sound great) ..hes getting pictures of the car on a lift and sending pictures of the interior that he says is excellent before I drive a couple hundred miles to see .. ..not the first muscle car I've bought, but lately they have been Mopars (sorry)

thanks for info

BangScreech4-4-2

Pictures of the underbody and chassis will tell a lot about general condition and rust (or lack of it). Also reveals something about the seller if he's willing to send them. But make sure you see it in person before you commit to anything.


And remember, as to comparable value it's a Cutlass with an engine and trans swap so if you decide to get it make sure you get it for YOUR price.


Nothing wrong with Mopar -- I have one of their trucks.

rtanner

just pay that dude and enjoy having that ride

m371961

That's a pretty car, but with apologies to my Olds friends, I hope you ain't trading a 44070dart for it. (there are a few mopar guys here.)

44070dart

nah, the Dart's not going anywhere ... its a 493 now / 4 speed

44070dart

did the 72 442 come with a 2bbl carb

joe_padavano

Yes. In the 1972 model year the 442 "appearance and handling package" was available with any engine offered in the Cutlass Holiday Coupe, Cutlass S Sport or Holiday Coupes, or the Supreme convertible. The 2bbl 350 single exhaust with 160 net HP was unfortunately one of the available engines.

44070dart

this is one of them .....thanks

joe_padavano

The fifth character of the VIN will tell you exactly what motor was installed from the factory. "H" would mean a 350 2bbl single exhaust, "J" would be a 350 2bbl dual exhaust.

44070dart

yeah its an h ...3G87H2M