Joffroi

I've been here once or twice before so I didn't think I needed to go in the Newbie forum with this "new" car. I'm very proud to introduce my newest Oldsmobile. I'm now the very excited owner of a 1972 Oldsmobile 442 W30, one of the 623.
Here is a little information about it.

Purchased in Canada
NOM 455 (oh well)- Still has the aluminium intake though but different carb. E heads.
rallye gauges
Pewter Silver
Black interior, buckets
His/Hers hurst shifter
Front disc
Posi
Sports Steering Wheel
Rear Defogger
Bumper guards
Hood lock
Cruise Control
and 3 point seat belt alert system

The paint is driver paint. It definitely has its chips and wasn't the greatest paint job to start off with. It runs great and so many of the original options work. The OAI hood is functional, AM radio works, gauges all work, etc. I believe the only things that might not work on the hood lock, cruise control and rear defogger.

I know 72s don't get as much appreciation as the earlier years, but I'm really proud (and shocked) to say I'm now the owner of W30 car. I look forward to definitely enjoying it!

Daylight savings (and the fact it just got delivered today on a very hectic schedule) is making it tricky for pictures, but I'm sure I'll have more to come.

I do also want to give a shout out to Ted on these boards (Sammy) for helping with the process of getting the car to the states!

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I still have my 68 but unfortunately, it must go. My wife needs her parking space . Let me know if you know someone interested. Great quality driver at a great price.
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don71

Nice car buddy. Hope you get to enjoy it for a long time. I often toss on my favorite color schemes, and black and silver is one good combo. Sorry You don't get to keep the 68.

Look forward to you showing it off some more.

oldsmobiledave

Congrats on the purchase.

Where did it sell new and what is the build date?

I think that is the car I saw on kijiji in Ontario and Sam checked out.

Another 72 W with cruise control.

anthonyP

What a great find. The W-30 looks in fantastic condition, especially for a driver. Cruise control is rare enough on a Cutlass, even rarer on a 442, but for a '72 W-30, it must be extremely rare. Making it even more unusual, it is usually seen on cars with highway gears, not one where the only ratios available were 3.42 or 3.73. Was the W-30 listed on Oldsmobile Central or Classic Oldsmobile?

sammy

You are very welcome Joffroi! Great car . When I picked this car up for you, the PO was great and easy to deal with...which made it enjoyable. I still like the buzzer...when the car is in drive it does not come on, but when it is put into 2nd it buzzes😄. Hope you are having fun with the mountain of paperwork it came with!

oldsmobiledave

It was on kijiji in Ontario and I posted it on Facebook and on here

farmer52

Looks nice! I am partial to 1972 model year.

budg

Very nice. I too am partial to the 72s .

joe_padavano

Congrats. I assume that you have (or have ordered) the GM of Canada documentation for the car. Also, those heads look like "E" heads in the photo.

Joffroi

Yikes, that was a typo that could have been very misleading. Yes. E heads.
Build date looks like it was the 2nd week of January in 72. I have not ordered the GM of Canada documentation yet just because I need to hold off on some of my spending for a while but is is on my "to do" list.
I do have an order form from what I assume was the original purchase.

stlbluesbrother

Very cool. I'll have to see this car in person some day - we live in the same area

Rocket North

Nice to have the GM of Canada doc, but not really needed to prove it's a 72 W30 as it has the X in the VIN. Plus he has the original dealer paperwork.

joe_padavano

Yes, it has the "X", but that receipt from the dealership doesn't show the W-30 or even W-29 options. Obviously the VIN is on the paperwork, but it would be nice to have the build info also.

Diego

But we don't know how many were installed in one or another. Considering the 4-4-2 was a package, it's prob impossible to determine the distribution or rarity among models.

oldsmobiledave

No optional gear ratio shown on the Dealership order form. Most likely the car has the standard 3.42 gear set.


The $100 cost for the documents is insignificant compared to the investment in the purchase of the car & its' log term value. GET THE DOCUMENTS!




My Mom's 78 Camaro came from that dealership as hid her 1969 Malibu.

Joffroi

It does have the 3.42 original transmission. Getting the document is one of the top things to do once I sell my 68!

oldcutlass

Congrats, movin on up aren't we.

oldspackrat

More pictures please!! Congrats, great car.

83hurstguy

Congrats! That's a really sweet ride.

Joffroi

And look what just showed up! Looks like this car is very close to what it was like leaving the factory.

BackInTheGame

Way Cool! Congratulations!

sammy

Wilson Niblett motors is still around.
What was the final purchase price originally?

jozw30

Nice!

Add me to the partial for 72 W30's list.

That thing is pretty loaded up with options, my Info fit easily on one page....

Good luck with the new ride!

anthonyP

Does anyone know what was included in the mandatory Z49 Canadian Equipment package? Also, how much extra fuel was included with a Canadian sale? Interesting how the vinyl top is called soft roof covering - is that what a vinyl top is called in Canada, or was just noted that way on the document?

oldsmobiledave

Z49 includes extra fuel and coolant mixture suited to the colder climate. Someone once told me it was 2 gallons more fuel but have no proof of that claim.

anthonyP

Thanks Dave. My brother recently bought a '71 Cutlass that was originally sold in Winnipeg. I will pass the information to him. His Cutlass also has the optional OEM engine block heater and an aftermarket under dash electric heater that the owner plugged into a house outlet before retiring so to have a toasty warm interior in the morning. Oh those days before modern conveniences like remote starters for a warm interior on those cold and blustery winter mornings.....

Joffroi

I just got done doing a little driving to the gas station then a little cruise around town. I took a few pictures only to find out they didn't actually save on my phone. It was great. Engine sounds really nice, all the lights work with the except of one high beam, gauges work, posi works .

The only this is that the steering is a little sloppy compared to my 68. To drive straight, the sports steering wheel isn't aligned straight, and I felt like occasional when driving around 30 mph, it seemed to have some play.

Slower speeds and faster speeds seemed OK. I'll do some digging. Suggestions are welcome. Next time I take pictures, I'll make sure they save too. It look great under the gas station lights!

oldsmobiledave

128 W-30s sold in Canada in 1972. I wonder if the 4,speed to automatic breakdown is known? Mine is one of the 4 gear cars.

jozw30

^
Mine too.

There was an oil usage decal on the left valve cover (Dr. Decal sold it not sure if it's still available) that I think is part of that Z49. I put one on my car when I first restored it and it crinkled up and looked like crap so I had to strip and repaint the valve covers and I never replaced it.

Joe

jozw30

Found an image of the decal......

stevengerard

What's a remote starter?

Congrats. I too love 72's my Olds I owned was a 72, I still really don't understand how they are worth less than a 70 when they are the only ones with the X in the VIN

Diego

Everything in the document was written in modern times. While I'm not Canadian, it simply may be an issue of semantics done by an employee doing the database. I know this because of the "W-Machines" characterization for pre-1969 cars even though the term was not developed yet.

joe_padavano

As Dave points out, part of the Canada car prep was an extra percentage of anti-freeze. In perusing the 1967 PIM, for example, you find RPO V48, Maximum Anti-Freeze (Canada).

And "soft roof covering" is what Fisher Body called a vinyl top. They also used the term "roof covering, fabric" as well as "vinyl".

anthonyP

I agree with you that the '72 W30 is just as valuable, in my eyes anyway. Saw many back in the day, along with 71 442's, parted out since they were not a '70 model. This did not include the many good Rallye's parted to upgrade other '70 cars because it was not a big block or W-car.

Oops, I guess a "remote starter" could be when your father told "you" to go warm up the car on those cold blustery days.

Joffroi

Just took it for about an 90 minutes worth of driving and it was spectacular. This car is amazing. Got some pictures this time.

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Joffroi

and one more for fun.

farmer52

Nice looking ride!!

Dave26

Stunning

anthonyP

Will you be adding the side stripes in the near future? A great car, looks like this one will be a keeper for you.

Hopefully no local law enforcement see the photo with the one way sign, they might mail you a summons for the W-30 going the wrong way prior to being parked. lol

Joffroi

Haha, I was actually in school parking lot so no real traffic :-). All the extra stripes are missing and I'll eventually get to that. It may not look it in pictures but the paint is the worst part of the car. This one will definitely be my keeper. Then again, I said that after my last one too haha. But seriously, one of the 72 W30s. This is my keeper.