L4.125

Long Story but I will try to be brief, but I feel you all need to know the story behind the car, This car was purchased by my father from a dealer in Lancaster, Pa. My father let my brother order a car for my mother. She always had convertibles. My brother was hospitalized because of severe burns on his legs needing skin grafts. At that time my uncle was in the auto world and told my father 1970 would be the last year for convertibles, her prior car was a 67 Camaro convertible, which I have, before that was a Studebaker Lark convertible, no I don’t have that. I was 13, brother 17. My father had no idea what my brother ordered from the hospital bed, only that it was an Oldsmobile convertible, he loved Oldsmobiles, always had 98’s, Deltas and Toronados up until the day he died. My brother ordered every conceivable option available. My uncle unfortunately was buying a Cadillac at the same time. He called my father to inform him that this Olds was going to cost more than his Caddy, of course my father said well knock off some options, which he did. The day our family picked the up the car, which was Feb 2 1970, my brothers 18th birthday. When my father first saw the car, he said he didn’t want it, of course my brother was walking to the car pulling out an 8-track tape he had in his suit coat. The salesman said you have to take it because we don’t think we could ever sell it. Lucky for me he kept it. It pains me to think about selling this car, however, it is time. So now you know the history.

THE GOOD, this car is a survivor, 1970 Sebring Yellow, W-30, Convertible, 36,100 miles, A/C, Auto, 8-Track. I have some documentation, never looked for build sheet. Top is original, paint is original, interior is original, the spare tire is original, but was on the car for a short period. I think it had a factory replacement engine, based on serial # stamped on block.

THE BAD, I last drove the car in 1996. I decided a few weeks ago to wake the car up.

THE UGLY, when parked I did fog the engine, when waking her up, I dropped oil, fresh oil and filter, plugs out marvel oil in cylinders, by hand rotated engine several revolutions, distributor out, primed engine for a long while, fresh plugs in, again rotated engine several revolutions. I put juice to her had friend watching engine, wife behind key and me holding buckets over exhaust to prevent rust and stuff flying all over my garage. She made 1/2 revolution and THUNK, WTF, “no please don’t do this to me” I screamed, started pulling plugs, well # 5 plug was hit. It looks look a valve hung and well you know what happens.

Price 125,000.00 USD, Location of Car, Southeastern Pa.

Fun71

No, I really don't know how a spark plug, which is in a fixed position in the combustion chamber, and is in that position for every revolution of the engine with the piston moving to TDC on every stroke, comes into contact with anything. Can you elaborate on how this can occur?

scrappie

Cool car and story, too bad about motor. GLWS

L4.125

Sorry, I should have been clearer on what happened. A valve must have hung open, the piston hit the valve, valve broke off and hit the plug and locked up the engine. Thankfully, she didn't start and then do it. You can see the valve in the chamber.

dragline

A factory replacement engine? When did this happen?

hurst68olds

any chance you can add a couple pics of the spare tire's details to add another data point to the Goodyear VS. Firestone VS. Uniroyal G70-14 RWL debate?
sidewall "SUP-R-BELT"
DOT code
wheel date by the valve stem

can you also add the body tag date & the door sticker date?

thanks!

L4.125

Not sure but before I had a Drivers License, I'm guessing 71,72

L4.125

I will

L4.125

L4.125

Lousy pictures, will get better ones.

L4.125

prenouf

Please send me your phone number so we can discuss your W30 convertible. I am interested and VERY familiar with W30s.

hurst68olds

thanks for the wheel tire pics - it is the earliest Firestone Wide Oval SUP-R-BELT I've seen (have seen them in January - this is the first from mid-December)

don't know anyone that can decode the number, but can you get a pic of the DOT code off the back-side?

L4.125

hurst68olds

DOT codes were standardized during the 1971 calendar year, this one I can decode & it is from 1973

VCLF Y4A263
VC - manufacturing plant = Firestone, USA (location ?) "VC" is currently used by a plant in China
LF - size = G70-14
Y4A - type = fiberglass belted w/RWL
263 - date = 26th week of 1973

any pictures of the 442 pre-'73?

I'm back to the mindset of NO Firestone WIDE OVAL SUP-R-BELT tires until January 1970

L4.125

If I find some I will post for you.