Took a couple of pics when I was up in PA. Here is what I saw:

 

Ok, I have 60 views and no replies. You guys are starting to scare me here....

Also was wondering what's up with the two blanks on the cowl tag. Found an (advertised) 1970 442 W30 on ebay. Their cowl is on top. Mine is on the bottom. See attachment.

 

"- -" paint code for extra cost paint: rallye red, aegean aqua, sebring yellow or nugget gold, if I remember correctly. I'm not a '70 expert, so don't take my word for the colors without verifying.

 

That is reassuring. Thanks!

When I look at the vintage pics, some of them look a little more red and some look a little more orange. The pics I took looked somewhat orange, but were under florescent lights inside the garage. Very cool but strange color. I've seen others in a quick google search that appear that way also.

 

Rallye Red = orange like Chevy Hugger Orange/Monaco Orange, but it's actually a different color code.

 

Yeah, my eyes aren't too good with the colors sometimes. I can't help it. Defective, I guess.

 

So based on the limited pics I have here, does everything look correct? Valve covers look like they might be aftermarket. Might mean the other ones are sitting around the garage somewhere.

 

It looks like it should based on whats in the pics. Valve covers should be engine color.
If you take the covers off could they be for sale at some point?

 

What is it you want to know? Can't tell much from two pictures. I have no reason to believe it's a fake, but you're a long ways from proving everything's "correct."

 

Not trying to prove validity here just yet on the W30. Especially since the car isn't just out there in my garage and I can go take another pic or two (or ten.) Just was looking for any potential issues in the two pics I had. I was a skeptic a little before, but the more research I did and the more vintage pics I ran across I began to feel a little better.

So far, I'm believing this is the real deal, but not with 100% certainty. That is until I go through the car and find what I need. But it is looking good so far. Very good. Like someone here said before, vintage pics and ownership from the 1970s go a long way toward making the assumption everything is legit because that was before everyone tried to make a W30 out of...well just about anything. HA!

Speaking of which, if it is a true W30 car, what about those valve covers? What if I can't locate the originals? Is this going to be an issue?

 

I'm sorry, I would feel bad selling anything from the car that's currently on there.

This sticker was in the driver's side window. I'm still taking it seriously.

 

Not an issue. The notched valve covers aren't specific to the W-30. They were used on every A-body with a 455 in '70 - 72 (and probably earlier). They don't grow on trees, but you'll find them.

 

That is great news! The other ones may be in the garage somewhere, but most likely were swapped with something else and are long gone.

 

Nice open face alternator..probably original.

 

Nice original OAI air cleaner base with the hole in the bottom of the snorkel. Looks very good so far. Stickw31 should be jumping in soon - he has a great eye for authenticating these cars.

Terry

 

Thanks to all of you for your help. This really is turning out to be quite the experience. Found out the build date was October (3rd week) and VIN appears to be a very low #. BlackGold said in another thread that there was only one he knew of lower than his, but the one on this car is in between that one and the one he owns.

One of the first 367 ever built? That is very exciting if this becomes a verified real deal. Long way to go I'm sure, but you guys let me know what I need to provide and I will try to get it when I am up in PA next month.

Saw this list to verify a W car over at this site: http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofwmc.htm

Does that pretty much cover everything? Or are there still other things to look for?

 

The information in that section of the FAQ is incomplete at best; there's some outright misinformation in it, too.

 

I don't know where you're getting your 367 number from, but I don't think there's anything to get excited about. IMHO, focus on the authentication without being distracted by speculation.

 

http://www.wmachineregistry.com/inde...total-by-month

 

Yeah, I later caught that . . . by chance, no less!

Anyway, I personally don't think it's worth getting excited about - be glad it's not from September! Some others may disagree. Certainly not intending on raining on your parade.

 

Oh, I know you aren't raining on my parade.

Hopefully it is authentic, but being that he had so many nice Olds cars (69 H/O and 2 70 W30s), my doubt doesn't really lie in whether this is a true W30, because I believe it is...however, my doubt does stem from the fact that items were swapped from one car to another. So far, nothing major...a console and potentially valve covers. If that's where it ended, then great. If not...and the transmission belonged to the other W30 (Which I have the protect-o-plate for, by the way), then things take a downturn. Nothing I can do about that.

But as someone told me via PM, I need to go through that garage with eyes wide open because if things were swapped, then he could very well have the originals hiding somewhere. The original wheels were hidden behind a stairwell back in a cubbyhole. So who knows what I'll find.

Any experts local to Western PA? I'll be up in about a month to load the car for the trip to NC. I've already asked someone here from CO to make the trip and hopefully they will be able to...but maybe the more the merrier??? Actually was thinking 6 eyes are better than 4. Or 8 eyes...well...you get the point.

 

Where at in Western PA exactly? I live and grew up in Western PA and would love to meet a member here and help out if I can. Not that I know much about '70's.

 

Within a stone's throw of you. Was this past year really the final year for the Festival of Lights?

 

From everything I heard threw the grapevine yes, the lights are done, major bummer, but you never know they may be back this winter. Very cool that it is close to me, let me know if you want to meet or need help. I'll see if I can get my best friend to show up as well and show you our twins in person.

 

I will let you know. I'm unsure as to an exact date yet, but it will include a full weekend so that allows for some flexibility. Looking like around a month away. But I might not know until a few days before.