Gary M

If there is no proof of being a 442 then the next guy to sell it will likely be told it's not. I would not want to be him. Nice cutlass convertible though.

rgk1977442

I saw on 442.com in the FAQ section that only 113 W30 convertibles(442) were built in 1972.

Allan R

Ok, I was pretty close with my estimates, except the Trim code. 970 is black but with the stitching patterns for the Strato bucket seats.

As noted, NONE of the GM A bodies had ebony black (code 19) in the standard paint selection pallet for 1972. It could be ordered as a extra cost item (see my post in permalink 20 above).

Sadly, without documentation, there is no way to verify your W29 car. That's just the horrible part of the option. Find a broadcast card in the car that shows W29 and your golden.

rgk1977442

Thanks. The only thing yet I can think of to do is to look underneath the carpet of the car. In my 77 442, I found the build sheet, it was located behind the front seat underneath the carpet mat. Could you do the same for a 1972? It is not my car, but I have an interest in buying the car to replace my convertible that was stolen.

Allan R

Well, I found one of the broadcast cards for my car under the carpet and it's a Lansing car. You might find broadcast cards in other locations of the car, but sorry to say you won't find a build sheet. Lansing was almost **** about making sure the build sheets were removed at the end of assembly. You'd have better luck finding a Franklin left in the cigar tray than finding a build sheet in a 72 Lansing car.

Other common locations for broadcast cards - tucked under seat springs, or behind the uprights of A51 seats.

Octania

"I'd almost buy that Chris. The base engine for a 1972 Cutlass, and Cutlass S was the L32. BUT, the base engine for the 1972 442 CS vert (only CS that was offered with 442 option) was the L34 which was the 4bbl. "
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I do not have the factory docs in front of me, I was going by memory.
The memory involves the owner of the newspaper where I used to live having a red/white '72 convert 442 which from a 1/4 mile away looked about like my '68. Even closer to the Olds-impaired. One day I peeked under that car's hood and was surprised to see a 350. I vaguely recall it being a 2-bbl but may be wrong. I later looked up to see what engine choices were available in the Chassis Service Manual [?] and could swear it said 350-2bbl was the base engine.

Maybe I am confusing it with my Driver's Ed ? 71 Cutlass 3-on-the-tree manual trans which has a 350-2bbl. I was wondering why they did not select the Chevy inline 6, come to find out that the Olds 350-2bbl was the low end engine that year.

If you say the '72 350-4 was the minimum engine for that year 442, I believe it.

That makes it a "342" or "341" perhaps type "442" type Cutlass then.

rgk1977442

Sorry, I am not familiar with a "broadcast card". Is that similiar to a build sheet? What is the size of a broadcast card? Is it like a small index card? Thanks again.

Allan R

Broadcast cars were smaller pieces of paper that had minimal option codes on them. Used by workers when installing some of the body components at Fisher. They look like this and are about 3 1/2" x 8"

rgk1977442

Thanks Allan for all the valuable information.

rgk1977442

I just emailed the seller about the information that we found on the car and he already had sold it. Unbelieveable, so now another person who bought it thinks they have a "real" 442 convertible.

rgk1977442

I just saw this car is for sale again in Morehead, ky. You guys can see at lexington, ky. craiglist. Yes, the seller is selling that car as a real 442.