I know about the 4 special paint colors for the 1970 442. It seems like when you’re talking about double dash cars that 1970 is the year mentioned. I know that GM was pushing special paint for 1970. If you ordered a color other than Aegean Aqua, Sebring Yellow, Nugget Gold or Rally Red, was there a charge? What other years did Olds offer special paint that was designated by the double dash on the data tag?

 

I have definitely seen it on a '69.

 

The "- -" paint code was used across model years for special order paint. Be aware that Olds had RPO codes for multiple special order paint scenarios, not just the four not-so-special order colors that everyone knows about for the 1970 model year. These special paint codes were how cars got painted Mary Kay pink or Yellow Cab orange or police car black and white or even Plum Crazy. This process is well documented. Note RPO Y62, Y66, and Y76 for the 1970 model year.

 

Joe, did Y-62, Y-66 or Y-76 supplant " -- " in the paint code position on the data plate when ordered, or were they noted in addition to the double dashes?

 

No, but different assembly plants dealt with this differently. Plants like LInden used the WAxxxx paint formula code. Some said "SPECIAL".

Here's a Linden tag with the WA paint formula code for special order Cinnamon Bronze.




Here's a Lansing tag with the SPECIAL notation and the "LXxx" code that's been

 

1968 442 double dash with a 2 at the end

 

Oshawa seemed to use whatever letter code GM used. This is a 68 with a non-Olds color Q-Q which was Verdoro Green.

 

Interesting. Usually there's only a single dash with the convertible top color.