Vader

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Oldsmobile-4...US_Cars_Trucks

oldsmobiledave

The W-29 option in 1972 mandated that the standard rocker panel mouldings be omitted. Why does this car have them?

A/C was NOT available on any W-30 in 1972. Why does this car have a/c?

The glove box emblem should read Cutlass not 442. Another clue.

Something stinks. Can you say re-body?

Joffroi

Beautiful car, but at that price it better be perfect.

z11375ss

That's the best looking musclecar ever made.

Sampson

That car is gorgeous! Oldsmobiledave poses some interesting questions. For this kind of money I would want a lot of documentation and even then I am not sure it would be worth it. Very nicely restored/built car though.

Blackpage

Wrong rocket emblem on the stoneshield. Should have the black background.

oldsmobiledave

I think you guys are missing the point. This can NOT be a W-30 car.

The X vin has to be from another car.

69HO43

Looks clean, but then again, the 442 emblems aren't straight or spaced properly. Also, I thought the 455 cars should have the metal lower "air dam" piece or whatever you call it under the radiator. This car doesn't appear to have that. Or was that just on earlier cars?

There's way too much skeptical items to this car to make it worth that much in my mind. Clean car? Yes. Would I buy it for that much? No way.

Looking at the front seat upholstery, I don't recall bench seats having a button on the leading edge like that. I could be wrong.

Vader

I posted this because the car looked like Alans signature line. Thought maybe he sold it and it was being flipped by a dealer.

kitfoxdave

The car is very pretty... Give it to Alan's tender loving care for a couple of years... THEN it would be worth the money! ;-)

Allan R

Uhh, no. That's not my car. It's someone's 'tribute' or 'clone' of a nice 72 Cutlass S. Note: the picture in my sig is a placeholder which will show my car as it will look (sans W30 emblems) when it's finished. I'm not trying to fool anyone into thinking it's something that it's not. If you want to see what my car looks like check my profile album '72 Cutlass S'. The black vinyl roof will likely be installed next year when I have the rear glass changed out.

I agree with others about the irregularities with the presentation. The strongest evidence that it's not a W30 is that AC package. The rocker trim is wrong also, as well as some minor cosmetics that can be changed.

Nice looking car though. No way it's worth 79K though.

Allan R

I fully get your point Dave. Just thinking though - it might be an original body but with a fraudulent VIN tag. Just another way to look at it. What would be interesting though is to know whether the engine derivative, Trans and frame stampings would line up right. I think it's safe to say there's no question it's not a 72 W30. Sad part is that someone likely will buy it thinking it is. This is where it pays to do some homework before shelling out cash.

dc2x4drvr

Beautiful car, too bad it's one of one..

1969w3155

. No a/c on an automatic, which became available starting in 1970?

oldsmobiledave

I am not clear if you are asking a question or making a statement or both.

Please clarify. My statement above is clear. No a/c on any 72 W-30 regardless of transmission.

anthonyP

Sent a question to the dealership asking how the '72 442 W-30 has air conditioning, when A/C was not available on a '72 W-30.

Their response was "Car is in TEXAS, it's HOT here".

1969w3155

Both really, as a/c became available in 1970, but only with the auto, so I was trying to clarify myself if the same held true for 1972.

1969w3155

I checked W.A.C. website and the Olds 442/W Machine resto guide, and it confirms what you stated, N/A w A/C.

billmerbach

Alan r how do you get said placeholder

Heymukatuka

Needs a manual and buckets me thinks?

z11375ss

X2 for sure!

oldsmobiledave

seller's reply

Dear oldsmobiledave,

Dear customer

Never say never, in 1972 you had to basically 'build' your own 442 by ordering the option(s). The VIN has both the X (455 W30) and the M (Lansing, Michigan). The C60 option (AC)shows to be available for Cutlass, Cutlass S and Cutlass Supreme. I will add photos of the trim tag and the VIN to the auction today. Please view pages 147, 150 and 168 in Motorbooks Workshop, Guide for Restoration of Oldsmobile 4342 and W-Machines, by T Patrick Sullivan for indicators that it WAS possible to order C60 in 1972. I will post the additional pictures to the auction for all to see. Thanks, Randy


- collector_motors

Rocketbrian

Pretty car, but definetly a made up W30. In my opinion it was a Cutlass S based 350, perhaps with the 442 option. The nuts and bolts aren't there for the big block front fender braces, a feature easily missed by those who try to pass off a 350 car as a factory 455. I dare say if you could see, the rear braces would also be missing. And while were at it, for that price, they should know how to run the heater hose correctly.

1969w3155

Page 154 under option: W30 performance package has N.A. with C60. he seems to have missed that. Page 147 shows the interior of a 442 with the vents for what appears to be A/C, but the model pictured has no indication of being a W30, nor would it validate it if it did, because frankly, we know nothing of the car pictured and if it is legitimate. This book has a few errors in it to boot. page 150 is the optional equipment for ALL models including the big cars, so naturally it is listed. Page 168 upper left box bottom line, shows a/c, but this again covers other years when it was available, but does not isolate model year 1972.

Finn5033

One of the reasons I love this site. So much knowlege, I would never buy a 442 or W car without consulting here first.

anthonyP

I received the same message from the dealership:

Dear customer

Never say never, in 1972 you had to basically 'build' your own 442 by ordering the option(s). The VIN has both the X (455 W30) and the M (Lansing, Michigan). The C60 option (AC)shows to be available for Cutlass, Cutlass S and Cutlass Supreme. I will add photos of the trim tag and the VIN to the auction today. Please view pages 147, 150 and 168 in Motorbooks Workshop, Guide for Restoration of Oldsmobile 4342 and W-Machines, by T Patrick Sullivan for indicators that it WAS possible to order C60 in 1972. Thanks, Randy

- collector_motors
Click "respond" to reply through Messages, or go to your email to reply

driverchoice

What was the reason to not allow a/c in a 72 w30 but a 70 could have it (automatic) . Were the 72's so down on low end power w/ w30 cam and lower compression that it wasnt a good idea ?

oldsmobiledave

A/c was allowed in '71. The '72 W-30 engine was identical to the 71 engine with the exception of the Ga heads used instead of H heads. The engines made the same power in '71 as '72 so the decision not to allow a/c was not related in a drop in power from '71 to '72.

Allan R

Interesting question. A member of this site made it for me. I also have a non animated one, a supergirl one and a zinger one. In order to have the animation feature I have it hosted on another server because C.O. server won't support that. Anyway, I don't remember who it was - but he also apparently spelled my name wrong . There are a few other members who also have these sig pics in their signature line - it's done with photoshop from what I understand.

zinger.jpg

AllanRSGmerged.jpg

Tony72Cutlass'S'

Whats my girlfriend doing next to your car :O

oldsmobiledave

Thinking about leaving you for a better ride!

Allan R

LOL Dave, now THAT is funny!

1969w3155

Ouch! Good one!

507OLDS

This is another fine example of a company or individual that has no idea what they are doing when restoring a car,or,in this possible case,taking notes when rebodying a car.
"IF" the car was converted to AC,then it will still have the round openings up under the dash,for the side vents in the dash.AC bodies don't have these openings.

There were ZERO 72 W30's that came from Lansing with AC.

As for the book.The car pictured on page 147 is NOT a W30.Look at the flat hood.It is the same car pictured twice on page 146.For that matter,I suppose the 442's didn't come with arm rests on the doors because this one is missing it.The top plate in the console must have been optional too.

1969w3155

I pointed out his errors and assumptions, and received a "thanks for your opinion" response. These types never back away from the chance to turn a profit, even when they are wrong.

oldsmobiledave

opinion..... exactly the same message he sent me.

The seller refuses to answer questions within eBay so that potential buyers do not see all this banter.

Clearly a clown that knows nothing about our cars.

anthonyP

After sending a message to the dealership about the correct page in the 442 & W-30 Restoration Guide which shows the non-A/C availability on '72 W-30's, and the '72 Oldsmobile Assembly Manual & Inspector's Guide also noting no A/C for the W-30 option, I have not heard a word back from them.

oldsmobiledave

And you will not hear from him. He now knows he got caught with his pants down & they need to unload this car to some unsuspecting & uneducated buyer.

I suspect that they bought the car & assumed it was the real thing. What pisses me off is their refusal to accept the truth & be honest in the auction details.

allyolds68

I'm bringing this to the top because Jeffrey Herboltzheimer of H&H Classic Auto has posted pages from an October of 72 revision of the 72 Assembly Manual which purports to show that A/C was indeed available with a 72 W30. I'm not sharp enough to post screen shots and post them here, but there's a thread going on under the Oldsmobile, 442, W30 & Hurst Olds Fan Club of Facebook.


I would add that he's not exactly being nice about it and he jumped down the throat of the guy that originally posted the ebay link to this car that's for sale again


Not sure if you can see this if you're not in the FB group:


https://www.facebook.com/groups/299592856777855/


I'd be interested in what the 72 experts say about this.