Anyone in Illinois know this W-30?
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From: Atlanta, Georgia
Anyone in Illinois know this W-30?
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Palm Bay, FL
Dude needs to look at the car before making his claims about it.
The Oldsmobile 442 was introduced as an option beginning in 1964 on the F-85 and Cutlass Models. It became its own model in 1968 and continued as such through 1971. The 442 package included a stiffened frame, boxed rear suspension control arms, a heavy duty clutch, a FE2 suspension, a heavy duty drive shaft, heavy duty cooling, disc brakes, higher rate coil springs, heavy duty shock absorbers, a large front anti roll bar and an additional anti roll bar for the rear. The addition of the W-30 package added Ram Air intake hoses leading from a dual snorkel air cleaner to special under-bumper air scoops, bright red plastic fender wells and a hotter cam which increased the hp on the 400 ci block to 360. This particular example was optioned with the tic-toc-tach and a wood grain steering wheel. This car is 100% numbers matching and was repainted in its original color about 15 years ago. Don’t be mistaken by its looks though because this car was built to perform with its 360hp V8 effortlessly putting power to the 12 bolt rear end (with 4:11 gears) via the crisp shifting M-21 transmission. You could buy it and drive it anywhere or you could put 15k into making it a #1 car which would easily add 30k to the value. Either way they only made 1,097 of these cars so if you have been looking for a real W-30 you better call us because once this one is gone it is gone!
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From: Atlanta, Georgia
It's so nice to have so many young friends who can see WTF they're looking at.
I hate the way e-bay pics are laid out. I did notice the Oldsmobile script on the trunk deck.
And the funky tail pipes sans trumpets
I hate the way e-bay pics are laid out. I did notice the Oldsmobile script on the trunk deck.
And the funky tail pipes sans trumpets
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,532
From: Chi-town
not familiar with it, but its far away form me - not a lot of detailed pictures, didn't think 4.11s were available that year. Maybe the engine is just painted the wrong color. If it has steep gears wouldn't it come with heavy duty cooling, can't tell that from the images. Wonder what heads, carb, manifold and distributor is on there?
Snap-on center caps too
Snap-on center caps too
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 395
From: Creekside, PA (near Indiana, PA)
The little bit I know about '69 442's includes the fact that they say "Oldsmobile" no where so someone added that script to the trunk, heck even the Cutlass doesn't say "Oldsmobile" like that on the trunk. As far as engine color maybe they didn't know which color was correct so they painted in what they thought was universal gold like chevy engine orange. And yes I know not all chevy engines are orange.
Jon
Jon
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 25
From: Calgary, Alberta
I don't know the car, but I went directly to the seller's site. More details. http://www.hotrodschoppers.com/69_442_w30.htm
Looks like it has a matching block, but has G heads from a 71 442. 69 W30's have D heads.
Nice 442.
Looks like it has a matching block, but has G heads from a 71 442. 69 W30's have D heads.
Nice 442.
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From: Atlanta, Georgia
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From: Ontario, Canada
Look at the pictures on their website, particularily the one with the VIN stamping on the block.....why does it start with a "79M" It should start with a 39M, with the 3 meaning Olds division.
It also has a 455 F block NOT a 400 G block in it - restamped for sure!!
Cheers
It also has a 455 F block NOT a 400 G block in it - restamped for sure!!
Cheers
Last edited by 72xw30; Sep 23, 2011 at 03:30 PM.
Trying to remember member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,112
From: Ohio
Notice the latest Q&A in the ad:
Q: If you are going to try and pass a car off as numbers matching, can't you at least put forth a little effort and do it correctly. A) The stamp is incorrect. A little research would show that it should start 39MXXXXXX, not 79M. The 3 indicates Oldsmobile. B) Stamp a 400 block, not a 455. The 396021F casting number is for a 455, most likely a 1971 judging by the cylinder heads (G). A 1969 W30 would have a (D) head. A 1969 442 W30 without ironclad documentation is just a 1969 442. Please edit your listing. Sep-24-11
A: We are selling this car for a local customer who was told he had a numbers matching car when he bought it in 1998. We only checked the vin stamp and were fooled by the forgery. We have been enlightened by multiple members and have since revised our listing to indicate that this is not a numbers matching block. I am awaiting a return call from the owner and hope to have a price reduction soon. Thank you for your input... Sincerely, John D. Moore STERLING MOTORS inc www.HotRodsChoppers.com (815) 625-2500
Q: If you are going to try and pass a car off as numbers matching, can't you at least put forth a little effort and do it correctly. A) The stamp is incorrect. A little research would show that it should start 39MXXXXXX, not 79M. The 3 indicates Oldsmobile. B) Stamp a 400 block, not a 455. The 396021F casting number is for a 455, most likely a 1971 judging by the cylinder heads (G). A 1969 W30 would have a (D) head. A 1969 442 W30 without ironclad documentation is just a 1969 442. Please edit your listing. Sep-24-11
A: We are selling this car for a local customer who was told he had a numbers matching car when he bought it in 1998. We only checked the vin stamp and were fooled by the forgery. We have been enlightened by multiple members and have since revised our listing to indicate that this is not a numbers matching block. I am awaiting a return call from the owner and hope to have a price reduction soon. Thank you for your input... Sincerely, John D. Moore STERLING MOTORS inc www.HotRodsChoppers.com (815) 625-2500
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Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Muskegon, Mi.
Well, I appreciate the fact that they are trying adjust the price now that they have more accurate info, but why, as a dealer would you just take someone's word and not do your own research before taking on any car? This seems to happen too frequently by the musclecar dealers.
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Posts: 4,112
From: Ohio
Well, I appreciate the fact that they are trying adjust the price now that they have more accurate info, but why, as a dealer would you just take someone's word and not do your own research before taking on any car? This seems to happen too frequently by the musclecar dealers.
It is far from practical (if even possible at all) to be able to do anywhere near the amount of research it takes to be anywhere near 100% with every car that comes across them. One look at this forum should tell you that. No offense to anyone here in particular, but "authenticity" threads are wrought with misinformation and errors.
So if a forum of Olds experts don't have it right, how can a middleman seller acquire the answers *even if* they have the time and resources to devote to the "research'? Which they don't.
Which all simply means that it is the *buyers* responsibility to know what he is looking at, no matter who is selling.
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From: Muskegon, Mi.
Which all simply means that it is the *buyers* responsibility to know what he is looking at, no matter who is selling.
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From: Ohio
Easy to say, impossible to do. They provide a service by making the car available to sell. Expecting more borders on absurd. Walmart doesn't know everything about their products.
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From: Muskegon, Mi.
Yes, one and the same
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From: Ohio
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,468
From: Muskegon, Mi.
Yes it is hard to do, and time consuming, just trying to find correct info in an assy. manual or Chassis service manual can be a pain in the butt, but I would be more inclined to to business with someone who made the effort, which, generally you can get the feel for, by talking with them. Even if they they were off on some items for correctness or availability of an option etc. Their willingness to be open and to learn, garners some respect. I sure as hell don't a lot about Olds as I wish that could, and always listen when someone tells me something that I wasn't aware of, and will research it to try and get the correct info on it, and I have been wrong many times. I am also quite pleased when I learn something new about our cars...but perhaps the volumes that they deal in make that unrealistic. We have a dealer in my town that has been in the business for a couple of decades, who had a '72 H/O "only 27 built"! I would not give that guy the time of day, even to point out what was wrong with his claim, he just does't care, because if I don't buy it, someone else will.
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Look at the pictures on their website, particularily the one with the VIN stamping on the block.....why does it start with a "79M" It should start with a 39M, with the 3 meaning Olds division.
It also has a 455 F block NOT a 400 G block in it - restamped for sure!!
Cheers
It also has a 455 F block NOT a 400 G block in it - restamped for sure!!
Cheers
Its an olds 455 but would like to no more if u can help is it a rare block
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