I ran the vin on http://v8cars.hu/oldsvin/decode.php and it shows


Year: 1972
Division: Oldsmobile
Series: Cutlass S
Body: Holiday Hardtop (2 door)
Engine: 455 (7.5) V8 4BBL

Here is a link to the car.

http://cars.oodle.com/detail/1972-ol...-www-_-NA-_-NA

Thanks,
Jim

 

I don't think you can tell for sure on a '72 coupe, unless you have paperwork, because 442 was only an appearance option on the Cutlass in 1972.
Steve

 

You can't without documentation such as build sheet, broadcast card(s) or window sticker that has W29 on it. In 1972 the 442 reverted to merely an appearance and handling package.

 

It's fairly rare being a U code big block though.

 

that car is in west haven and thats where i live...have not seen it around though

 

if a matching # 455 I don't think it matters price-wise whether it's a 442 or not. I think more 442s had 350s in 72...which would be worth loss than a 455 non-442.

 

That's one of those "can't be disproven" cars
So, much like the other thread yesterday-

If it has all the right stuff
and none of the wrong attributes
and you say it is a 442, or W30, then it is.

Whether the boys in Lansing made it in 1971-2 or someone else did, later, is immaterial and perhaps unproveable.

 

Though it cannot be verified as a factory '72 442 without documentation, it is still a factory U-code 455 automatic. The next desirable 455 would be the V-code 4-speed model. A '72 W-30 as we know had it's "documentation" in the VIN, with the X engine code, though there was no distinction between automatic and 4-speed models.

 

In Ohio,there was a factory 72 Cutlass 'S' with the U-code 455. It was later "converted" to a 442. It's hard to say that it was originally a Cutlass,but it was.
If it is a U-code,that's pretty good,and a good chance that it is a 442. The ones with the K-code,M-code,and whatever else,are a crapshoot without paperwork.
The X-code is a given.

 

Okay, I'll *really* split hairs here. The X code is more like 99% (definitely something less than 100%) W30. It can also be a L77 H/O. Same engine as the W30, but the W30 is an option package not an engine.

 

The really rare of the rare. The elusive '72 Hurst/Olds with the W-30 engine.


I've only seen one, it was on eBay with a factory sunroof, which was probably a good idea since A/C was not available with W-30 option.


Unfortunately, it was very, very, rotted. Does anyone know how many W-30 optioned Hurst/Olds were produced, and how many with the sunroof option?

 

No sure how many had the sunroof option but 4257 (hardtop coupe) = 23 built
4267 (convertible) = 5 built

 

Yeah, but in this case, thinking you are getting a W-30 and actually ending up with an L77 H/O probably wouldn't disappoint you.

 

Now *that* is an absolute.

 

Any 72 A body engine was available except the H engine code which was the base 2 barrel single exhaust which was not available with the 442 option package.

 

I've not seen such a car, but according to some original ordering literature the "H" code could have been ordered in conjunction with the W-29 "442 Appearance and Handling Package". The option lists what is included and states "available with any engine". Years ago, I was interested in such a car that was "supposedly" a customer factory order and was "documented" to prove the authenticity. The car was a 2dr hardtop, Red w/ White vinyl top and white buckets and console. It was out of state, but I never went to see the car in person. I'm curious on this topic myself. If anyone here has a documented "H" code W-29, I'd like to know about it. It is somewhat surprising to me that here aren't more real '72 442s out there---the group of items included in the W-29 option was WELL WORTH the few dollars it cost.

 

Only two (2) 72 H/O s with the W30 option and sun roof were built by Hurst. There may be some clones, however production info I saw on micro-fisch said two.

BTW: Jim Gedhy in Austin, Texas has one!

 

I'm with Dave. Why do you say this? While not a desirable combo, I've never seen any factory documentation that proves that the H code engine was not available with RPO W29.

 

Barry Custer owned a 72 442 with 350 2bl,and single exhaust. We called it a 321.
I do not remember the engine letter code,but it did have paperwork to prove what it was.

 

I stand corrected, after further review the play on the field stands I am wrong. I checked the 72 assembly manual and salesmen's spec and you guys are absolutely corect. I don't why I thought the base engine was unavailable with a W-29 option but it clearly says ALL ENGINES.