Hello, new in the forum..
I bought 1968 442..would like to check is it W30 car..VIN: 344878M312410..?

Thank you very much for help!

Regards Petr

 

Nothing in the VIN or cowl tag will tell you if it's a W30 or not.

 

Thanks Joe, what could help me? car has this part but I do not know is it original..or not. P.

 

Short of finding a build sheet (which is highly unlikely on a Lansing car) or some other documentation like a window sticker, there is almost no way to prove if the car is originally a W-30. IF it is an automatic trans car and IF it has the original numbers-matching TH400 and IF that trans has the correct OW trans tag, that's the best you can do. Unfortunately, you can get new blank OW tags on ebay. If it's a manual trans car, there's nothing. All of the parts that make it a W-30 are bolt-ons. That air cleaner is available repro, as are red inner fenders and under bumper scoops. Obviously those metal ducts are not original. More and better photos of the car would help.

 

Hey Joe, you said something particularly interesting. Why is it highly unlikely to find a build sheet in A Lansing built car? Thanks. —Billy

 

The build sheets were not supposed to be put in the cars. Lansing followed this most often. I don't know that I've ever seen a Lansing build sheet. Certainly finding one is extremely rare.

 

The Protect-O-Plate in 68 has the engine code. If it was exported to Canada, GM of Canada will have paperwork on it and that is available from Vintage Vehicle Services of Canada.

Other than that.....what Joe said....

 

I don't know 68 and 69 cars very well but did they have broadcast cards in those years? If so, did they say W-30 like 70-72 did? I do have a couple Lansing Build Sheets but they are crazy rare to find in a car.

 

68 Lansing broadcast cards will only have W29, denoting that it’s a 442 (which obviously you know anyway by the VIN)