My new 1991 Calais 442 W41!

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Old September 5th, 2011 | 03:52 PM
  #1  
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My new 1991 Calais 442 W41!

Just bought a 1991 Quad 4 442 W41. (one of 204) The cat is all there and really solid! 114,000 on it. The car is filthy inside so over the next couple of weeks I will be cleaning the heck out of it.

Any information you can give me on the car would be greatly appreciated. How to figure what car # it is is something I would like to know.
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Old September 5th, 2011 | 04:10 PM
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Nice car.

I would think the last three numbers in the VIN would be the number car it is, but IDK if all the Calias of the day were in the mix with the VIN's or not
Old September 5th, 2011 | 04:14 PM
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Sweet car. I would love to find one of these but they are so hard to come by.

Cheers,

Wayne
Old September 5th, 2011 | 04:17 PM
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There is one on craigslist by me that has 14 miles on it!!!!! The guys is asking $50,000! I picked this up for a song! It is all there and runs and drives great! Just needs a good detailing and it is a pretty nice car!
Old September 5th, 2011 | 05:09 PM
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great car! i had a W-41 from 93 till 09. very impressive 4 cylinder. there are only 2 ways i know of to find the order number and one is on the window sticker and the other is on the order info from the dealer. here is a thread where i posted where to find it on the window sticker.
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...41-engine.html
Old September 5th, 2011 | 05:25 PM
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I like a song and dance versus $50,000!
Old September 5th, 2011 | 05:43 PM
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Me Too! Do you think the Heritage center would have that information? I do not have the window sticker for the car. What do you think the car is worth? I'm guessing somewhere between 4k and 6k. Any thoughts?
Old September 5th, 2011 | 05:59 PM
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values of these cars are very hard to place. $50,000 is not going to happen for the other guy. mine had 48,000 miles and in great condition and i got $9000 for it but that is pretty much unheard of. i know of a couple that were close to the condition of mine and they were closer to $5500. the problem with these cars is that so few people know about them and of those people almost none want them. they are a rare car but that don't make them valuable. it took me 2 years to sell mine and i got lucky with the buyer that got it. it was a true privilege to have owned one. people just don't know till they drive one. also, if you don't already know. the red line is not 6800 rpm like the dash shows, the W-41 is 7400 but they didn't change the tach face for a 204 production run.
Old September 5th, 2011 | 06:04 PM
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just noticed the muffler. the original was much louder and free flowing with 2 large outlets. i would find a good free flow muffler for it. you will be surprised how much it will help.
Old September 5th, 2011 | 06:15 PM
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I think I did pretty good on the car. I paid $2,500. It does have its bumps and bruises but the paint is pretty solid and with a good cleaning it will be a very presentable car - And RARE!

Above 6,500 rpm this thing screams! Just a blast! I knew the muffler was wrong - will it really help that much? If so I will have to get one.

Does the invoice sent by GM to the dealer have the car number on it?
Old September 5th, 2011 | 08:12 PM
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i would have paid that for it myself. i will give you $2600, lol. the muffler really does help but if the engine is tired you may not notice much. i do recommend keeping a good quality oil in it. i ran Mobil 1 in mine, that is what the original owner had in it so i just keep the same thing going. also a good idea to flush the antifreeze and don't go to the new long life stuff. i will have to look at my info to see what the other paper work was that had the order number.
Old September 5th, 2011 | 08:27 PM
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Nice find! Don't know the last time I saw one of those. Good luck with your new ride.
Old September 5th, 2011 | 08:39 PM
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I'd say that was a hell of a deal for one of those.

What I like about them is that they are OLDSMOBILE powered and have an unreal power to weight ratio. Sleeper. No one expects an N-car to perform like those did.

Ask the Camaro punk who got his *** spanked by one in a street race at the 95 OCA National Meet in NC. That one was also red. Young buck from Ohio owned it and I rode shotgun. The Camaro boy was in an inside lane and could not get to a side street for escape- there were wall to wall Oldsmobiles around him!
Old September 5th, 2011 | 09:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Hark442
There is one on craigslist by me that has 14 miles on it!!!!! The guys is asking $50,000! I picked this up for a song! It is all there and runs and drives great! Just needs a good detailing and it is a pretty nice car!
Do you have a link to the one on Craigslist? Not that I'd pay that much, but I would like to look. I'll raise Jensen's offer to $3000 for yours!

I had a 1990 Quad 442 new. Fantastic car. I have always kicked myself for selling it (though at the time I really had no choice).

Glenn, I think all of the '91 W-41's were red.
Old September 5th, 2011 | 09:53 PM
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Hark442, I think you got what they call, a "steal"!!! Shows well. Clean up that interior, and go out and 'prize some folks!!!!!!!!!!!!
Old September 6th, 2011 | 04:58 AM
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Here is the link to the $50k car for those who have more money than smarts

http://lansing.craigslist.org/cto/2546637794.html
Old September 6th, 2011 | 09:45 AM
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My concern is the gaskets / seals etc. how often was the car started etc?
the obvious lack of miles shows it wasn't driven.
how is the tranny after sitting that long ?
Looks pristine.. but really . .Definitely NOT worth the 50K..
I just checked NADa.. orig price is 15K.. with current High retail of 3800. AT Best I would guess that 15K is about a HIGH mark for this low mileage of a car.. and I know.. I am being VERY Generous
Old September 6th, 2011 | 11:01 AM
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but that current high retail will be for a Quad 442 and not the W-41. there is no book value from any supplier that has the W-41. i do agree that $15,000 will be tops for that car. most of the W-41s were in the $16K to $17K price range new.
Old September 6th, 2011 | 11:11 AM
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here is a couple papers that came with my W-41. the one is the paper that has the order number on it. it has W-41009. my car was the number 9 car. that goes all the way to W-41204. the other one showes the 7400 red line.
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Old September 6th, 2011 | 06:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Hark442
Here is the link to the $50k car for those who have more money than smarts

http://lansing.craigslist.org/cto/2546637794.html
Must be worth $50k, it's the ultra rare "W43"

That's two better than a W41...


Damn thing has crank windows.
Old September 6th, 2011 | 06:19 PM
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Originally Posted by starfire
Must be worth $50k, it's the ultra rare "W43"

That's two better than a W41...


Damn thing has crank windows.
i may be wrong but i don't think you could get power windows with the W-41.
Old September 6th, 2011 | 06:25 PM
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The carpet looks like it has more than 14 miles on them.

Last edited by oldsca; September 6th, 2011 at 06:26 PM. Reason: mileage correction
Old September 6th, 2011 | 07:49 PM
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You could not get power windows or locks if you ordered the W41. There were other options you couldn't get as well. Here is a nice little link that I found.

http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/.../the_w-41.html
Old September 19th, 2011 | 05:44 AM
  #24  
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More pics

Spent some time cleaning yesterday
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Old November 20th, 2011 | 05:27 PM
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Nice find....These cars terrorized the Firehawk Racing Series in their day. I inherited my Mom's 90 Calais I-Series. Spanked many a BMW. Put out 190hp and flew while getting decent fuel mileage. Take care of this one as that engine is hard if not impossible to replace!

BTW-I worked in Lansing for a number of years....it was a thriving place back then.

GOG
Old November 20th, 2011 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by GoodOldsGuy
. Put out 190hp..........

GOG
Um, not if it was stock. Only the '91 and '92 W41s were 190 hp. Just keeping us from getting truth decay....
Old November 21st, 2011 | 06:21 AM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by wmachine
Um, not if it was stock. Only the '91 and '92 W41s were 190 hp. Just keeping us from getting truth decay....
Don't believe that I stated the word "stock". You can easily "tweak" a Quad for 10 hp.You need not to assume when criticizing, and then labelling someones statements... Mr. Jello Sheriff.

GOG
Old November 21st, 2011 | 08:22 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by GoodOldsGuy
Don't believe that I stated the word "stock". You can easily "tweak" a Quad for 10 hp.You need not to assume when criticizing, and then labelling someones statements... Mr. Jello Sheriff.

GOG
Easy there, Sheriff. I did not say you said stock, I did not assume a thing, nor did I criticize. You're wrong in *your* assertions and are yourself guilty of what you're accusing! You won't keep your badge long at that rate.
Old November 21st, 2011 | 11:04 AM
  #29  
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So what are the recommended tweaks to make these engines develop precisely 10- extra HP, anyway?
Old November 21st, 2011 | 02:26 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by aliensatemybuick
So what are the recommended tweaks to make these engines develop precisely 10- extra HP, anyway?

Air intake and exhaust.....basic air pump. Planning on building one maybe? I can sure help you if you are.

GOG
Old November 21st, 2011 | 02:35 PM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by wmachine
Easy there, Sheriff. I did not say you said stock, I did not assume a thing, nor did I criticize. You're wrong in *your* assertions and are yourself guilty of what you're accusing! You won't keep your badge long at that rate.
How about keeping the "truth decay" comments to yourself then. If that doesn't constitute a criticism can't imagine what does....I don't appreciate that kind of stuff being addressed to me.

If you wish to continue this lets go to PM.

BTW....I have my Olds badge and will keep it till I pass on. I know your still working on acquiring yours....good luck!
Old November 21st, 2011 | 03:49 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by GoodOldsGuy
Air intake and exhaust.....basic air pump. Planning on building one maybe? I can sure help you if you are.

GOG
Nah, that's OK, already got the skinny from wmachine via PM.
Old November 21st, 2011 | 06:32 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by aliensatemybuick
Nah, that's OK, already got the skinny from wmachine via PM.
Exactly what I figured....nice jump in too bad it didn't work. The "skinny" is about all you will get there.
Old November 21st, 2011 | 07:06 PM
  #34  
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Its OK. I understand.
Old November 4th, 2018 | 07:39 PM
  #35  
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Hawk442, how did this car clean up? Do you still own it? The interiors of these cars were made of robust materials. The interior of my 1988 Calais International still looked like new when I sold it in 2002 with 179k miles.
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