Ok first let me say in my defense, I have owned a few Olds in my time. I have always been a Ford & Chevy man though and never learned much about an Olds. So this brings me to a few questions. I just purchased a 1971 Cutlass. I plan to do a complete resto on it and make things factory correct (or better) & absolutely perfect with a few exceptions. I am trying to absorb all the info on these cars I can before I turn the first wrench.

I am seeing and hearing people referring to their car as a “W” ?? , ie: W30 etc…. I am also hearing things like Cutlass S and F-85, Rallye Pak and Rallye when referring to these beauties. What does all this mean? What are the Designations GM made for these cars? What were options on one and what was standard? I don’t have my vin handy to try a decode (the car is 150 miles away from my location).

Can you aficionados educate me on these cars? I have always thought the Cutlass was a sharp ride but only owned a couple. The rest of the Olds I have owned were 98’s and Deltas. When it comes to these cars I don’t know chit from shinola about them. Ask me about a Crown Vic Ford or a Ford P/U or a Camaro /Trans am and I have knowledge of these. Even built several of each. Help?!?!?!?!

 

GM called these cars "A-bodys" in this era, 1964 but not limited to 1972. 1973-77 began another era as well 1978-88. They share the same frame/chassis as their cousions chevelle,skylark,lemans, etc in the same era. You'll find many things interchange. The exception of course is sheet metal and cosmetic appearance items. El camino and station wagons are stretched versions of the A-body to put it simply.

An F85 is a basic stripped no nonsense cutlass.

Cutlass and Supreme as it denotes, is a little nicer. More options available. In fact, the bodys are different in the rear. When looking at photos, you'll see the rear quarters have different styling lines.

The W30 is the tire shredding factory high performance version like the W31. It depends on what engine, 350 or 455.

You did'nt mention the Cutlass SX. You might check that out. Performance in a mild looking supreme body.

edit The ralley 350 cutlass, was a performance appearing package. Standard engine in a blazing yellow painted car right down to the bumbers. All show and no go. (wink-wink)

The rally pac was a guage option. Standard on some? It gave you needles that swept across the gauge instead of those dang idiot lights. You'll also hear "rallye" wheels used too. That refers to SSII and SIII versions. Depends mostly..on the color.

I'll let some one else tell the "option" vs. "standard" in any particular model. It varied greatly across years and models of availability.

You asked a lot of questions, I can't answer them all. In fact, there are many more details to be explained. Welcome and enjoy your Cutlass.

 

Thanks Don for answering so many questions. I have owned & built a few muscle and non muscle cars in 40 some odd yrs but never an Olds. I ran across a 71 and the owner just simply called it a Cutlass. He didn't elabotate much because he was a Mopar guy and new less about the Olds than me & I am a severe dummy when it comes to an Olds. I have owned newer Cutlass and 442 and a couple H/O cars. I found my current Olds mentioned above and have been searching for more info on them. This one is a 350 Rocket w/350 tranny. I don't have the vin handy nor the data plate info handy at the moment. I bought this one for $1500 with only 1 small rust spot and a few dings. The frame rails are even good. I plan a frame off resto on it during the next couple of yrs. As soon as I can I am going to start the hunt for the elusive build sheet so I can make sure not to use the wrong parts. I wish this was a 442 car but alas I believe it to be justt a plain F-85 .I know the interior is original to the car. It is only a 53,xxx mile cars.She is perfect inside down to the pkg tray and the dash pad. It a red car and has a gauge instrument cluster original at least I believe to be original wheels as they all 4 match. I just hope I can make it look like it should. I plan for there to e less than a quart of filler in the whole car when finished. Mainly I want to learn all I can about the Olds line and especially 71 which seems no one really has much info on the 71 model year for some reason. Again thanks for all your hlp. This place has already proven to be a plethera of info and I am enjoying every minute of it. Great site.

 

Just to clarify a little more, the "W" codes were the regular production option (RPO) codes for the various performance options and packages, just like the Z28 (and later the lamentable Z24 and Z26) package at Chevy. When it was an option (as opposed to a separate model with unique VIN) the 442 package carried RPO code W29. The W30 was the top of the line performance package on the 442. The W31 was a 350 motored performance package for the Cutlass. The W32 designated a 442 performance package in 1969 and a Cutlass Supreme performance package for 1970. W33 was a package for the Delta 88 and W34 for the Toronado.

In addition, specific parts also carried W codes. For example the fiberglass outside air induction hood carried W25, the Hurst Dual Gate was W26, the aluminum center section rear axle was W27, and the dual plate clutch was W37. There were others, but you get the idea.

These W codes were almost never keyed to the VIN or the body data plate, so without a build sheet (which may or may not be in the car) verification is difficult. As you might imagine, as musclecar prices go up, so do the number of clones. Most of these rare option parts are also being reproduced now, which makes it even easier to fake an expensive car.

 

Joe thanks for the info. Now I understand all the numbers that are thrown around. I for one am a clone hater!! It is ok if you make your car look like a 442 but to pass one off when selling really gets my goat. I have seen it happen too many times over the years. I am not going to make a 442 or any clone out of mine. I just hope the build sheet is in or on it somewhere and readable. I want to put the original look back just because so many don't. Mine may not be worth as much or win any showa without 442 badging but I ill have the knowledge I am quickly learning here with a l'il help. I will also know that mine is better than the day it rolled off the line in Lansing or whereever.

 

Welcome aboard

As you can easily see, all are the answers are here.

If I were you I would try to deal with specific questions in each thread. As this site grows it is getting more and more difficult to read every thread, everyday.

Pics, vin and body tag ## also help when you have time to post them. Many Olds guys are nutty about numbers.

Welcome to the flock, Have fun and enjoy your converstion to Oldsmobile

 

Welcome to our site. Another source of information is right here, click on the "tech" option which is in the menu bar at the top of the page.

 

Thanks guys and I will follow the suggested above. Bad news is I brought the car home. Well it was good news. I got it home and we got it off the rollback and I was happy. It looked better than I thought. Then right back up on the roll back it went. Why? Well it had been off the truck about 15 minutes when a guy stopped and said hey will you sell it? I said no!!!!!! He kept on. I thought "well I will price it high so he will leave me alone". Well it turns out he had one with the same options,engine etc.... His was stolen and destroyed. I priced her high at least I thought it was an unreasonable price. He offered me $100 less than the $6600 I priced it at. Number off top of my pointed head.The rollback driver was his brother. He called him and told him about the car during its 150 mile trek home. Shoot I only have 4 pictures of her. So I decided to sell. It made me $4000. The driver had his brother pay the tow bill even. So now I no longer have a 71 I now own a 77, T-top car . I hated to let go of her but it paid for this otherone with enough left to do a good bit of resto to it. Don't worry I will have to stick around here so I can build my 77. So I guess it is all good in the end.

 

Can't beat that with a wooden stick!! Thats pretty smart dealing on your end. Enjoy the 77, I bet its a nice car.

 

Don I thought the same thing. The 77 is a #'s matching car but needs a floor pan on the pass side. I am going to go ahead and replace the whole thing if I can find one.Then she will get painted and new weatherstrip just to keep it sealed up good. I think I came out very well with the 71. I have a line on another 71 for $1000 that needs a few things done but it is not bad. The pans in it are good. I may pick it up just because I like the 68-72 body style.

 

DANG! Thats how to make a buck. Good for you, I suggest you pick up the other 71 as well... you can never have too many