Jolly Green

Well guys, I just put a deposit down on my first project car. Ran the VIN and its a 442 Holiday Coupe, 68. Have to double check the motor though, cause after readin some more, I'm wondering if the engine is matching or not. Guy said it was a 455 but those were all Hurst/Olds and this car was made in CA, not Lansing, MI. Can't complain too much, paying $2300 for it.

My first question of what I hope to be many to you guys is, what's the difference between a holiday coupe and a sports coupe?

Ranzan

Welcome and congrats on the new purchase

A sports coupe has a frame around the door glass, which in turn creates a post system which seperates front and rear side glass. The sports coupe for 66/67 actually wieghs less than the holiday coupe due to the fact more bracing was inserted into the holidays body shell to keep it rigid. I`m not to sure is there is a wieght difference for the 68/72 but I would assume it would be the same

Oldsguy

Jolly Green, welcome to our site, and the world of Oldsmobiles!

Jolly Green

Another question for you guys! Only Hurst/Olds came with 455's right? Trying to figure out if this car is numbers matching. Cause if I remember correctly the guy said it had a 455 in it, but the stuff I've read said only 400's came in regular 442's.

joe_padavano

You are correct - the only 455 installed in an A-body prior to 1970 was in the 68-69 H/O. It's very easy to determine whether or not the engine is original. Starting in 1968, there is a VIN-derivative stamp on the engine block (also the trans and rear axle). This is located on the driver's side of the block, on a pad below the no. 1 spark plug. Note that the pad may be covered with grease and may be obscured by the power steering pump bracket.

The VIN derivative will be nine characters long. The first character should always be a "3" for Oldsmobile division. The last eight characters must match the last eight of the car's VIN to be a "numbers matching" original engine. If the numbers don't match, that's not the factory installed block and no story by the seller can change that (and I've heard a lot of such stories).

Jolly Green

So I when I ran my VIN, it gave me the basics, like it was a 442...ok...is there a way to find what options it came with? Like is there anything in the VIN that would be a telltale for a W-30 package or anything?