Found and bought a real 1977 442, highly optioned, and needs a resto. I've attached the body tag and broadcast/line card. It seems like 76/77's are harder to decode or maybe I need another sheet with options called out, not sure... Hoping Joe can shed some light on this. Car has 403 / Posi / P/S P/B Cruise / PW / PDL/ and a 6way power driver seat. Original Color is Firethorn Red with a red gut. The stripe is either white or silver, but most probably white. I see that all previous Oldsmobile historical sites have been collapsed into the GM Heritage Center, but looking at that site seems to be a far cry from preserving the heritage. Was hoping to get a window sticker, but that does not look to promising.. I'd like verify the options the car has and also before I go and look at the rear, see if the code is documented. Thanks in advance...

 

If anyone has some info on this I would appreciate it. As of now my search for info has gotten me nada, zippo, zilch...and no trace of a 1977 Assembly Manual. There were 11,649 '77 442's produced, second to the most 442's produced in 1970 of 19,330. But that ratio does not hold up on the support end and I'd imagine there are very few 77's around, from what I'm seeing anyway.

 

I have one! Mine has the 403 with posi as well and only 17k miles. Yours sounds like a nice one, the 403 is pretty rare with only 350 made.

 

I believe that the GM Heritage Center can still get Olds invoices back through 1977. Not cheap but it will tell you everything that came on the car.

 

Wow did not realize it was that rare. Mine has 80k on it, but it's been sitting for a while. I don't see many, if any good references for 77 Cutlass/442. I called Fusick today and they said that nobody (that they know of) has saved a 77 Assembly manual so there's none around. Makes sense because nobody is selling them. Your car is really nice...do you have the broadcast sheet?

 

I recall seeing something on the site stating that they cannot provide individual customer information anymore. Pretty sure I'm SOL on that front.

I was looking at your window sticker and I dont know if my car came with the y60 or y70 options. My dad's 76 Supreme had those, but someone spray canned my original paint (don't ask) and I dont recall seeing an under hood light, so part of my problem is figuring out which options I have. Your car and window sticker is helpful...thanks for posting it.

 

Very cool documentation, and obviously the W29 on the build card is the money shot. 71V trim code is Dark Firethorn vinyl interior. The 71X on the cowl tag indicates that this has the Compaticolor interior package with color-coordinated carpet, kick panels, dash, and package shelf. RPO A51 is bucket seats. 36 paint code is Firethorn Red lower and upper body color. 03A build date is first week of March, 1977. RPO Y74 is the rocker and wheel opening moldings used on the 442 models. THe codes in boxes 38-99 unfortunately require an Inspector's Guide or similar document to decode. There are a handful of 1977 Inspector's Guides out there (Kurt Shubert has one) but I have not found a copy for myself.

 

Thanks Joe,

I'm pretty sure the strip color is white, but the seller told me it was silver. Any indication on the body tag showing stripe color? Also, what do you think the possibility is of finding another build doc in the car? The seller had pulled the line card some years ago. I haven't yet pulled the seats or rear interior side panels. Carpet is up, console and front buckets are still in. I guess I'll find out soon enough, but curious if there may be another doc showing options in the conventional format.

 

Unfortunately nothing on the cowl tag will tell you the stripe color. That build card might if we can decode the boxes.

 

What's your definition of cheap? I purchased the invoices for both my '77 and '78 Toronados, 50 whole dollars each, and worth every penny.

I can see not wanting to spend the money on an invoice for this car until you own it, but if you do buy it, I strongly recommend purchasing the invoice from the Heritage Center. They don't have window stickers, but the invoice has everything the window sticker does plus much more.

Here's the invoice for the '78. Note that it lists each option code, the "dlr pr" price for that option, which I'm guessing is equivalent to a wholesale price, and the "sugg pr", or retail price of each option. The base price of the car is shown at the upper right. It also shows the date the car was shipped from the factory, the dealer to whom it was shipped, and a complete breakdown of the total price at the lower right. Next to the ship date is "EXP TR TIME" with a date given. The date is 12 days after the ship date, so I'm assuming that it was expected that it would take 12 days for the car to reach the dealer.

One thing cool about this car is the VIN. Note the last six digits. 700005. All Toronado serial numbers started with 7, so this car was, apparently, the fifth Toronado to roll off the assembly line for 1978. The ship date of September 14, 1977 is consistent with this.







This is the letter from the Heritage Center that came with the invoice. Everything was sent to me by email.

 

I have the car, and just left a message for the archive department (thanks to your letter with contact info)
I couldn't find a link on the website, so I thought they may have deprecated that service, hopefully they still have it.
When did you get your invoices, was it recently?

I called the phone number, so now its just a waiting game ....thanks again.

 

Did you see this site for requesting an invoice? It's how I applied to get the invoices for my cars..

https://www.gm.com/heritage/archive/archive-form

That link comes off of this page.

https://www.gm.com/heritage/archive


I have invoices for both of my Toronados. I got the one for the '77 in April 2021 and the one for the '78 in March 2017,

 

Thanks, I just submitted that form. It's a big help , I appreciate it.

 

When you get invoice, post it here. We'd love to see it.

 

Got the invoice today...

 

Thanks for everyone's help on this...now I just need someone to tell me how to remove the front hood release handle so I can remove the kick panel. I looked at it a few times and cant seem to figure out how to remove it.

 

Very cool! The car has a lot of options!