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An unrestored 1970 Cutlass/442 rim blow steering wheel. There are no horn contacts under the center pad. There is a rubber ring on the inner circumference of the rim. It can be squeezed anywhere to operate the horn. Both hands can stay on the wheel in an emergency situation. (for sale if anyone is interested)
The horn contact switch was in the "rim" or perimeter of the steering wheel so you didn't have to remove a hand to blow the horn. The stressed out urban people who lived in traffic jams seemed to like it.
The horn contact switch was in the "rim" or perimeter of the steering wheel so you didn't have to remove a hand to blow the horn. The stressed out urban people who lived in traffic jams seemed to like it.
Oh, thought it was some cool a/c & heating steering wheel
I have yet to see a car come up for auction that isn't fully loaded with these "rare" options. Seems that the first thing anyone does anymore in a resto is to pile on every option in the book. Kinda defeats the whole "rarity" thing...
I'm sure I've mentioned previously that my 68 W-30 really is loaded with options, and is totally unrestored (and currently very trashed). I guess I'll have to document that before I start the resto, to lend credibility to the fact that these options were all factory installed (power seat, power windows, UHV). On the other hand, both my 70 W-30 and 69 H/O are totally devoid of options, and will stay that way. Who wants a 70 W-30 with AT, PB, and A/C - and the less radical cam?
I have "in my basement" all kinds of stuff that came off my 1967. I hope to put them all back one day... I was curious about my steering wheel, it has tilt and cruse. Is this option correct for 1967 "442" car? I have no build sheet and no protecto plate. I got the car about 25 years ago from a guy and it had a blown up "not correct" 455. A lot of other things that looked old / origional were
UHV High Capasitor Discharge Ignition
Rally Pac
AC
Power Drivers Bucket
Passanger Bucket Recline
Power Breaks
Power Antenna
Rear Defoger
Remote Rearview Mirror
Cruse / Tilt Steering Wheel???
All of those were available options on a 1967 442, as shown on the page from the SPECS booklet that I've included at the bottom. That's an incredibly highly optioned car if those were all factory-installed. The RPO codes are as follows:
RPO K88 - UHV High Capasitor Discharge Ignition
RPO U21 - Rally Pac
RPO C60 - AC
RPO A46 - Power Drivers Bucket
RPO A70 - Passanger Bucket Recline
RPO J50 - Power Brakes (J52 with disks)
RPO U75 - Power Antenna
RPO C50 - Rear Defoger
RPO D33 - Remote Rearview Mirror
RPO N33 - Tilt Steering Wheel
RPO K30 - Cruise Control
How about a '72 Cutlass Supreme that was born with HEI? Experimental maybe? Is there any way to confirm the date code on the base without removing it?
Why do you think it was "born" with HEI? Considering that GM didn't release the large-cap HEI distributor on production cars until May 1974, I'd say the chances that the car was "born" with it are slim to none.
I have a '70 W-31 with "P01 wheel discs". They were a $21.06 option, and are the full wheel covers typically seen on a Cutlass Supreme. XT wheels are under the full wheel covers.
I found the carcass of a 1970 98 today in a yard. It had been heavily stripped but still had the interior Hood lock option on it. I had never seen one of these in a big car before. It was the correct one piece cable unit for 1970. The hood core support was completely gone so I don't know what the latch looked like.
I found the carcass of a 1970 98 today in a yard. It had been heavily stripped but still had the interior Hood lock option on it. I had never seen one of these in a big car before. It was the correct one piece cable unit for 1970. The hood core support was completely gone so I don't know what the latch looked like.
I sourced one of my spare latches from a 98 quite a while back. The only difference between it and my A body examples was that the mount stud was shorter on the big car example.
Would the Oldsmobile unit also be fender-mounted for '68 (due to the hidden wipers, I assume)? Could someone hint at some factory literature that would prove it?
Hello, I have a question concerning rare options...
Is this a genuine Oldsmobile option for 1968?
Well, the box clearly says it's Oldsmobile...
It was not a factory-available option in 67 or 68. The package in the ebay ad appears to be a dealer-installed package with all the required retrofit equipment. Unfortunately, I cannot find any reference to a dealer-installed Guide-Matic package in those years. The accessories lists I can find do not list it.
I have a '66 - '67 - '68 parts and accessories catalog. Guide-Matic accessory packages are listed for all three years. I had a '68 kit when I had my '68 Delta Custom. Yes, it would have mounted on the fender. I never got around to installing it. When I bought my '67 98, I traded the '68 kit for a '67 kit. It mounted on the cowl in front of the wipers. It never worked...
I have a '66 - '67 - '68 parts and accessories catalog. Guide-Matic accessory packages are listed for all three years. I had a '68 kit when I had my '68 Delta Custom. Yes, it would have mounted on the fender. I never got around to installing it. When I bought my '67 98, I traded the '68 kit for a '67 kit. It mounted on the cowl in front of the wipers. It never worked...
Thanks for the info. The only accessories info I had access to was the accessories pages in the Parts Book. The Jan 1972 version doesn't show the Guide-Matic, but it could have been dropped from the system by then.
I have a '66 - '67 - '68 parts and accessories catalog. Guide-Matic accessory packages are listed for all three years. I had a '68 kit when I had my '68 Delta Custom. Yes, it would have mounted on the fender. I never got around to installing it. When I bought my '67 98, I traded the '68 kit for a '67 kit. It mounted on the cowl in front of the wipers. It never worked...
Thanks a lot. This was exactly what I wanted to know!
I have some further questions concerning this issue:
) You mention the "'66 - '67 - '68 parts and accessories catalog". I have googled for it but was unable to find it. I would like to get a copy but the usual sources for factory literature do not have it! Do you have the exact title or maybe a picture of the cover?
) Is the guidematic eye mounted directly in front of the driver's side a-pillar? Is it supposed to be painted or is it chromed? The only reference that I have found is this Electra:
) Does your literature also list the Auto Level Control for 1968? The Pontiac catalog for that years lists also the Superlift Shocks plus the underhood compressor (as a dealer-only installation). The Oldsmobile optional specifications booklet that I have only mentions the Superlift Shocks. Manual, I assume...
But according to Delco ads you could get ALC in an Oldsmobile... Confusing!
This is just the illustration section. I have illustration and text, which has a red cover. Mine covers '66 thru '68, and there might be some '69 stuff in there.
On a '68 it would be mounted the same place as on that Buick. On a '67 it is mounted dead center on the cowl grille. Both of the ones I had were chrome, and kind of dull. The one I had installed on my '67 I had painted. I was concerned about reflection.
There are listings for SuperLift kits, but only for '66 and '67 - One for Vista Cruisers, one for F-85 models and one for full-size cars. None for Toronados. The listings say "Shock Abs. Pkg., super lift (rear - auto).
Last edited by Oldsfan; July 16th, 2018 at 09:28 AM.
But according to Delco ads you could get ALC in an Oldsmobile... Confusing!
I don't know about Delco ads, but the 1966 SPECS booklet shows RPO G67 Automatic Level Control available on all A, B, and C-body cars except with the 442 option. It's also shown in the Assembly Manual and in Chapter 15 of the CSM. ALC was NOT available on the Toro in 1966, however airlift shocks (RPO G66) were an available option. Note that G67 was a one-year-only option. In the 1967 model year, only G66 airlift shocks were offered on all model lines.
We've talked about the Delco kits before. The retrofit Jac Pac kits were not automatic but had an under dash control panel that let you dial the pressure provided from an on-board, vacuum-operated pump.
This is just the illustration section. I have illustration and text, which has a red cover. Mine covers '66 thru '68, and there might be some '69 stuff in there.
On a '68 it would be mounted the same place as on that Buick. On a '67 it is mounted dead center on the cowl grille. Both of the ones I had were chrome, and kind of dull. The one I had installed on my '67 I had painted. I was concerned about reflection.
There are listings for SuperLift kits, but only for '66 and '67 - One for Vista Cruisers, one for F-85 models and one for full-size cars. None for Toronados. The listings say "Shock Abs. Pkg., super lift (rear - auto).
I don't know about Delco ads, but the 1966 SPECS booklet shows RPO G67 Automatic Level Control available on all A, B, and C-body cars except with the 442 option. It's also shown in the Assembly Manual and in Chapter 15 of the CSM. ALC was NOT available on the Toro in 1966, however airlift shocks (RPO G66) were an available option. Note that G67 was a one-year-only option. In the 1967 model year, only G66 airlift shocks were offered on all model lines.
We've talked about the Delco kits before. The retrofit Jac Pac kits were not automatic but had an under dash control panel that let you dial the pressure provided from an on-board, vacuum-operated pump.
Thanks for the hint and the helpful information. The Jac Pac is very interesting but an Oldsmobike-authorized dealer accessory would be preferable. I search for the smoking gun that lists those items as dealer accessories. Just like the Buick fold-out. Interestingly both options are not listed in Buick's regular brochure but in the fold-out that depicts the authorized accessories. So I hoped there could be a similar brochure for '68 Oldsmobiles.
No. That catalog is a good resource, but it was printed in 1983 and includes what was still available up through 1975. There is a LOT of stuff that was discontinued before that 1983 that does NOT appear in that catalog.
My catalogs were printed in December 1967 and includes everything for 1966, 1967 and 1968 (up through that printing date).
Yes, the GuideMatic is included in the accessory section of the catalog.
I have one of those '67 accessory sales catalogs. Can't remember if I have a '68. There were smaller ones put in the owner's manual packets in '69 and '70.
No. That catalog is a good resource, but it was printed in 1983 and includes what was still available up through 1975. There is a LOT of stuff that was discontinued before that 1983 that does NOT appear in that catalog.
It's not even a good resource. Here's an example. The only BBO cylinder heads listed in that 1983 edition are J and K heads. The K heads are shown as superseding all performance applications (D, F, and H) and the J heads are shown for all other applications. How is this useful? Nearly all of the important parts for 1960s cars had been either superseded or dropped entirely by that printing and are not in the document.
Oldsmobile also offered trailer towing brochures around this time. Automatic Lever Control appears in the '66 trailering brochure, but not in '67 or '68 (that I could see - I wasn't able to view all pages.).
No. That catalog is a good resource, but it was printed in 1983 and includes what was still available up through 1975. There is a LOT of stuff that was discontinued before that 1983 that does NOT appear in that catalog.
My catalogs were printed in December 1967 and includes everything for 1966, 1967 and 1968 (up through that printing date).
Yes, the GuideMatic is included in the accessory section of the catalog.
I have one of those '67 accessory sales catalogs. Can't remember if I have a '68. There were smaller ones put in the owner's manual packets in '69 and '70.
Do you have a picture of the cover? I would like to scan Ebay for it but have found nothing which matches your description...
Originally Posted by joe_padavano
And FYI, the 1968 Options and Accessories brochure looks like this.
Thanks. This can be found on Ebay. I am going to order it!
I believe a painted top in a different color, with the vinyl trim, was the option mentioned.
Still not that rare, at least not in the 1960s. RPO D99, Finish, Two Tone, available at least through the 1973 model year. Of course, nearly all of those cars have been repainted one color by now. My dad bought a brand new 1965 F-85 that was blue with a white painted top. My 68 W-30 is white with a black painted top.
I'm relatively new to this site. I have recently aquired a 1967 442 that has an aluminum trim piece on the rocker panel below the chrome pieces that runs from wheel well to wheel well. I hadn't seen one in any of the pics of 442s I've seen on line and I was about to give up on it as not being original to the car but then I saw a pic in a 1967 Old brochure that has one on it. Mine on the driver side is dented and since it appears to be original and very rare, I would really like to have it but can't find part numbers for it to search and the crease looks like it will be difficult to make look well again. Any help from you guys who seem to know a lot on the subject of rare parts. First pic is from the brochure and second is my damaged piece.
I'm relatively new to this site. I have recently aquired a 1967 442 that has an aluminum trim piece on the rocker panel below the chrome pieces that runs from wheel well to wheel well. I hadn't seen one in any of the pics of 442s I've seen on line and I was about to give up on it as not being original to the car but then I saw a pic in a 1967 Old brochure that has one on it. Mine on the driver side is dented and since it appears to be original and very rare, I would really like to have it but can't find part numbers for it to search and the crease looks like it will be difficult to make look well again. Any help from you guys who seem to know a lot on the subject of rare parts. First pic is from the brochure and second is my damaged piece.
Welcome. Unfortunately, that lower piece of trim is not original to your car. The approx 1" wide upper trim is what came on every 1967 442. That lower piece with the dent appears to be the rocker trim used on the 1966 F-85 Deluxe models. Apparently a prior owner liked it and added it. I do not see that trim piece in the upper photo you posted. That's body color below the narrow trim piece. Here's what a 1966 F-85 Deluxe looks like.
It looks silver or gray to me, so I thought it was this piece. You're saying it is body color, but by that do you mean it is different than the black that the rest of the body color is, or that it is not really silver/gray there?
Thanks for your insight though. I couldn't find it in any other manuals so I thought it was not original until I thought I saw it in this brochure. I assume therefore that it would be better to delete it in my rebuild/restore project.
It looks silver or gray to me, so I thought it was this piece. You're saying it is body color, but by that do you mean it is different than the black that the rest of the body color is, or that it is not really silver/gray there?
All your are seeing in that rendering of the black car is an artistic highlight in the artwork. That area was painted the same as the rest of the body. The narrow trim just went on over the paint. FYI every single 442 built in the 1967 model year was based on a Cutlass Supreme and has a 338xx VIN. That side trim is the same as was used on the Supreme and should be on a real 1967 442. The rocker trim on your car was not.
April 24th, 2016, 09:43 AM
Care to share a pic of the broadcast card? 
