vette442

Oh man, I hope this gets a proper restoration. I'd love to give it a good home, but I'm stretched thin on the car $$ for right now. Based on his added description I'm guessing it was a code 24-26 blue originally.

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



Terry

tru-blue 442

Very cool.

ent72olds

Looks like a frozen catfish! A face only a mother could love......or an Olds Fan.

tru-blue 442

I always thought the 73 442
front end was so cool and unique.

GAOldsman

Someone needs to save this rare bird.

Allan R

Ok, maybe I'm just dumb but really? According to the ad this car has an original 3.73 12 bolt rear axle??? I thought they stopped making them in 1970.

oldsmobiledave

12 bolt Chevy stayed in production thru 1972 in the Chevelle & some Pontiac applications. Not in Olds or Buick. The original axle in a 1973 442 was an 8.5" 10 bolt & came with 3.23 gears with the 4 speed or possibly with the optional 3.42 gears. The seller is "mistaken" on the differential.

Allan R

Thanks Dave, that's kinda where I was going with that comment. The 1970 referred to Olds production

66400

Wrong transmission, Muncie 4 speed in auction pic is a 64-65 trans.

Henry

GAOldsman

Says majority of parts in horse trailer and also claims to be 1 of 95??

oldsmobiledave

Correct. 95 V code cars were built on the G37 body style in 1973.

tru-blue 442

Wow, only 95 4 speeds, so cool.
Someone will save it. I curious where
it will go. It has a 4K bid on it already.

seansolds

That's exactly the color of mine originally was before a past owner painted it white tutone rust.. My care was in much worse shape than that one dent and rot wise..I still have that original front header and bumper as keep sake... Originally mine came with 3:23 10 bolt but 3:90 works much better..idk about the 3:73 12 sounds wrong to me.

vette442

He checked the cowl tag for me and posted it. Code 19/19 Ebony Black car. Mmm Mmm Mmmmm.....

costpenn

Really like the 73's. Had a triple black N10 equipped 350 4v Cutlass back in the late 80's, but have always wanted a 442. 4 spd. would be awesome.

Hurstolds1973

Its is the wrong transmission. M20 was available on the 73 Cutlass.
OLdsDave is very knowledgable on these cars!
Like he said only a 3.08 or 3.23 was available for rear gears.

The cowl tag M20 and vin do indicate how rare the car is. To bad the originality has been lost with some important parts. Not to say it cant be taken back with 73 correct parts and a boat load of money. At least back to a decent driver for sure! Hope!

vette442

I asked him about the trans and whether that was the only one he had (the original may be in that horse trailer, who knows...). No response yet. My current roadworthy '72 V code Supreme does not have its original M20 either, my rusty one does. My previous two V codes had their original M20s too - 3 out of four isn't too shabby. When you're dealing with double digit production numbers, you take what you find sometimes. I'd love to have that '73.

Terry

Hurstolds1973

Agreed!

Diego

Where did you get this information from?

All I know is 1,567 G37s had a 4-speed for all engines.

I also have 4,165 L75 motors were built for this model/style.

Hurstolds1973

95 total 1973 4 speed V code Cutlass's in all bodies total. 350 and 455s
You are mistaken. Perhap your number derives from all 1973 Oldsmobiles?

Diego

Still, no source has been stated.

My source is Oldsmobile documents from the GM Heritage Center. This is for all Cutlasses and 4-4-2s for G37.

69ishHoliday

I understand it is rare but the Grillwork and front bumper make it look like it's wearing braces. The model has a face only a mother (or die hard olds enthusiast) could love!

Hurstolds1973

I would like to see that see your paperwork.

I have talked with the gentleman at GM heritage center on two occasions on v code and v code 73 H/O's. Thats is not the information I received. All publications I have read are clear on 95 V codes outside of the H/O model which is extamated only at around 100.
Doesnt mean im right Im just stating what I know of this topic. We bought ours in 1973 and have restored 6 of them sice....
Hope you can post your data.

Diego

I think the Olds evolved into 1973 in good shape. Perhaps only the Buick GS turned out better? The GTO was lame (the Grand Am was quite nice but not quite a muscle car), and the Chevelle was gawdawful.

Oldsmaniac

Me like! Me want! ME CANT HAVE!

Diego

I'm not allowed to post the data, but it's possible that Kurt Shubert knows it.

Most of my time at the library has been for Pontiac stuff, so it's possible I haven't seen another document. But what I have in my possession is a selection of options and the number installed in a number of Cutlasses, such as motors, two-tone paint, trannys, and rear gears.

That being said, if there's something you want to ask in the docs, I'm happy to tell you what it says.

Allan R

Just curious, why not? Doesn't the GM Heritage center make this information public domain via the net and mailouts to their clients. I got GM documentation on my car and there was never any request NOT to disclose information.

Diego

Did they give you printouts of the production sheets? Did they photocopy Helen Early's notes?

You should post what you received from them if you want to compare notes, but I made the promise to them not to publish the documents I have. I'm happy to dispense of anything that I have, however.

Allan R

Ya know Diego? You could benefit a lot just answering the question with a simple "Sorry, I have a signed privacy agreement with them and just can't discuss". I was not being sarcastic like your response, just curious. ??? OH THANK YOU, apology accepted.

IMO, I think Joe and Terry know what they're talking about and are also very credible in my books about the X code production.

Diego

Allan, you should back off a bit. I answered your question my way without inferring any sarcasm, and I didn't imply anything sarcastic either.

vette442

I think the only '73 V Code numbers I've seen were from Bob Cline. I think he was the source for the number of '72 V Code fastbacks as well. Those numbers have been out for years but I haven't seen official verification.
Terry

Allan R

Oh, Really? Not the way I read it. But if you say so, I'll drop it because it's not worth wasting more time on.

Diego

I'll rephrase it so you know where I'm coming from:

Did they give you printouts of the production sheets?

(I have some pages. If that's what you have and you seem you can post them, please do so.)

Did they photocopy Helen Early's notes?

(I've seen them, but they are not original documents.)

I'm just curious what they send people, but I can't post what I've taken photos of.

jwsolds

I would guess that Deigo's numbers are correct for what GM knows. Have heard 95 thrown around for awhile but never seen any proof. Joe you quoted Diego's numbers to say all Oldsmobiles, what '73 Olds had a 4-spd other than a Cutlass? And he's giving G37 only and J57 would add more. Also your gears are correct for the H/Os and Dave is right for 3:23 and 3:42 opt. But if you look in the assembly manual, 3:73 gears are available as dealer installed as long as no air cond or heavy duty cooling. Kicker is that it still should be a 10-bolt.

I've emailed two individuals at GM Heritage Center in the past and conclude that they cannot determine mutiple options. They can say how many M20s but not specific to 350 or 455. More specific numbers came about earlier on and when Helen Earley & James Walkinshaw lead the Olds History Center. Problem today is that those important Olds people are no longer with us to ask the questions.

The other story told I hear often is of the fire Olds had which destoyed most of these important records we are look for. Well GM Heritage Center today cannot comment on that but will say that the '73 records are incomplete. I have not found any record of this so-called fire whether it happened or not. But can easliy believe records were destoyed for whatever reason. Having an Olds that went to Canada is a good thing because they kept better records!

So my question is does anybody here have evidence of this fire? Or letter proof of the 95 total V-code cars as stated? Definately a rare and desirable car never the less.

Diego

I can tell you that Oldsmobile is not the only company with rumors about a fire. Either it happened to one brand or never happened but I think it's the latter.

Allan R

The docs they sent me are photocopies as well, and they pertain specifically to 1972, which is my cars model and production year. If you have access to the Oldsmobile documents from GM Heritage Center, you have access to all the docs I got from them. But I'm not going to spend a couple hours scanning them and posting them here.
Here is a link to the info they sent me. Exclude (owners manual, Product selling guide, SPECS booklet, Inspectors booklet) and that's what I got as photocopies. I have complete originals of all the Owners Manuals, 72 Dealer showroom guide, 72 SPECS, and 72 Guild binder, which are nice to have when comparing what info the Heritage center decided to send.

The also told me how many cars of my specific model were shipped/sold to the Canadian market, when the car was built and shipped, all it's as built options, and it's selling dealer. Hope that helps answer your question. Some production numbers I quote I find in Setting the Pace which you are familiar with. Others are found in web based sources like 442.com etc.

All said and done, I expect the Heritage Center also sends similar packages to anyone requesting info for a car they (HC) can document. I don't know what the limitation of their model years is for documentation purposes. I can say though that I'm glad they have this resource available for cars like mine.

Diego

What I have looks like this.

11971four4two

where can i get my decoder ring????

Hurstolds1973

All I know is 1,567 G37s had a 4-speed for all engines.

I also have 4,165 L75 motors were built for this model/style.

I see nothing there to verify your statement either???
That is a total build for each body style? G37 AF37 and J57 refer to the Cutlass portionof Oldsmobiles production for that year??
What am I missing here?

kevdog442

I don't know what happened in '73. I love all years of Olds but in '73, the designers must have been on vacation. I know it just my opinion. The only cool part on that car is the louvered hood and that's been cut up.
That car might be rare but I personally couldn't put any money in it.
Although there was a lot of ugly across the board in that year.

There, I said it........