Something's fishy about this car. Guy says it was a 1972 442 4 speed w/ a 455. Just a frame and shell with a dash now. No engine or tranny. Can you please let me know what this cowl tag tells you?

ST72 33687LAN394423 BDY

TR 940 65 B PNT
*O2D A52 B80

*Not sure if it is an o(letter) or 0 (#) or if is even an O. Rivet cuts it off.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Its a "zero" -- means month is 02-February -- D means 4th week . Tag doesnt ID a 442 or the 455 motor!
33687 is the body style and LAN means it was built in Lansing.

Ask Wmachines to decode the rest. i dont have my info here right now!!

 

Thank you for responding.

 

33687 is Cutlass "S" Holiday hardtop, if it was equipped with the 442 appearance package can really only be determined with original paperwork. As the 442 was no longer a seperate model in '72.

 

65 = Flame Orange, B = Black vinyl top, A52 TR940 = Black vinyl bench seat. Is the VIN tag still on the dash? If it was an L75 455/ M20 4 speed in 1972, it will have a V in the VIN. If it was a W30 455/M20 it will have an X in the VIN. If it's a V code, please send info and pics for my registry page. Thanks.

Terry

 

A "U" in the VIN would mean its a 455 auto correct?

 

Yes - L75 455 w/ TH400 trans.

 

Gentlemen,

Thank you for the info. I'll see if I can get back there for the vin #. I appreciate your knowledge and time.

 

I think the VIN # is: 3687K2M186274. The third and last digits were hard to make out.

Thanks

 

It should be 3F87K2M186274
3 = Oldsmobile
F = Cutlass
87 = 2 dr hardtop fastback coupe
K = 350 4bbl single exhaust
2 = 1972
M = Lansing, Mich assembly plant

 

K = 350 4 barrel single exhaust (180 net hp). Could have been a TH350 automatic or an M20 4 speed originally. There's nothing in the VIN on 350 cars to designate the trans unfortunately. However, since that car's a shell it should be really easy to see if it does or did have the 4 speed-only hump.
Terry

 

B80 = Exterior bright roof drip moldings

 

It definately has the 4 speed hump. Is it safe to say that it wasn't a 442 because it did not have dual exhaust?

Again, thanks for all your input.

 

No, but you would need a build sheet, sales order, window sticker, etc that says W-29 is the only way to tell if in fact it had the 4-4-2 appearance and handling package. Unless of course it was a W-30 then it would have an X in the VIN and be a 4-4-2 by default.