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Hello all,
I was at a car show today in Ohio and started talking to a guy that has a 1970 SX. He told me that the SX did not come with the OAI ram air hood. Is this true? I have seen many with different hoods on them. I have googled 1970 SX and found various hoods on them.
Thanks in advance,
Mike
Unlike today, where it seems every Cutlass variant has the hood, back then it wasn't the case. Very rare to see one on anything other than a W machine or Rallye 350. I knew of one 442 with the W25 factory option back then, and that was 35 years ago. I had one on my SX that we pulled off of a W30 in the junkyard. That was it, they didn't grow on trees.
In 30 years of specializing in 1970-72 Supremes (including almost 20 years tracking SXes) I have seen exactly two 1972 Supreme hardtops with W25 on the window sticker - one of them has an owner on this site. The 1972 Cutlass Supreme options list states "Convertible" at the end for the W25 line item, so how those cars got is is a mystery. It's well accepted that OAI setups on 1970 SXes were dealer-installed only. Nobody has produced documentation of a factory ordered setup yet to the Bob Barry's old SX site, the current SX455.com registry site or to any of numerous threads like this.
It had to be Gary Goodman that you spoke with yesterday with almost-Sienna '71 convertible.
Sure, You just had to check the box and shell out the money!
As Terry correctly points out, W-25 was not factory available on the Supreme. The first page here is from the inspector's guide. Note the "N" (as in "not available") under all versions of the 42xx series. The second page is from the SPECS booklet. Again, no mention of W-25. Pictures on line are meaningless. You can't find a 1970-72 Cutlass or 442 that does NOT have a reproduction W-25 hood these days.
Thats why when I Google SX most of all the cars have a OAI hood on them. I was always under the impression that you could order just about any option for any car back then. But now I see certain thing weren't even offered. You would have thought if GM could make more money on a car they would have offered all options to all cars.
Thats why when I Google SX most of all the cars have a OAI hood on them. I was always under the impression that you could order just about any option for any car back then. But now I see certain thing weren't even offered. You would have thought if GM could make more money on a car they would have offered all options to all cars.
When these cars were new, Supremes were not "performance cars". They were personal luxury cars. People who bought them didn't want the Ricky Racer look.
From what I understand, the only way to get a factory w-25 on a Supreme body from 70-72 was to buy a 72 Hurst Olds, or buy a 442 convertible with either standalone w-25 or a w-30 as it was technically a Supreme body.
From what I understand, the only way to get a factory w-25 on a Supreme body from 70-72 was to buy a 72 Hurst Olds, or buy a 442 convertible with either standalone w-25 or a w-30 as it was technically a Supreme body.
Correct, however for 1970-71, the 442 convertible came with a 442 VIN. Only the 1972 models came with Supreme VINs.
From what I understand, the only way to get a factory w-25 on a Supreme body from 70-72 was to buy a 72 Hurst Olds, or buy a 442 convertible with either standalone w-25 or a w-30 as it was technically a Supreme body.
Did the SX W-32 versions have the OAI hood available?
Did the SX W-32 versions have the OAI hood available?
Nope. Keep in mind that the W-32 was simply the 365 HP 455 from the base 442 models, which also did not get the hood as standard equipment. Koda's statement stands.
Correct, however for 1970-71, the 442 convertible came with a 442 VIN. Only the 1972 models came with Supreme VINs.
You are also correct, as I was referring to the physical sheet metal arrangement as opposed to the VINs. A 442 convertible is the same sheet metal as a Cutlass Supreme convertible, but it is officially not one.
You would have thought if GM could make more money on a car they would have offered all options to all cars.
You would think that Oldsmobile, as an upper model car, would have fitted their cars with more options than they did as a standard offering. I'm still inclined to think that if that had happened there would have been a popular uprising to the brand as people would perceive the cars to have better value/return for the $$ being spent. Even the B/C and E platforms suffered from the horrible lack of power options that 'should' have been standard features on those models.
You would think that Oldsmobile, as an upper model car, would have fitted their cars with more options than they did as a standard offering. I'm still inclined to think that if that had happened there would have been a popular uprising to the brand as people would perceive the cars to have better value/return for the $$ being spent. Even the B/C and E platforms suffered from the horrible lack of power options that 'should' have been standard features on those models.
Sorry, but you are too used to how factories price cars today. Frankly, this is one of the reasons why I won't buy a new truck. To get remote keyless entry on a new Chevy crewcab dually, I have to pay $2K for a package that includes the monster touch screen and all the electronic nanny BS. Oh for the 1960s when cars had base equipment and you got to order anything you wanted individually. The upscale package philosophy is just like bundling cable channels.
Sorry, but you are too used to how factories price cars today..
No, I don't think so. I looked at all the options available and what was standard equipment. Even up past 1995. Almost all the options I had on my 95 Regency Elite were upscale options that had to have a check mark on the order, which is sad. My comment was my opinion - not a statement of fact. Obviously the marketing and sales gurus and GM and Divisions had their own grand plan to administer.
A W-25 OAI hood and air cleaner assembly that goes with it could be had on any Cutlass or Station Wagon that had the L34 350 4-bbl or L75 455 4-bbl in '72 only and only if Special Ordered trough the right channels on the Supreme Hardtop and wagons. They made sure to not advertise it especially on those I just mentioned. Bear with me, I'm trying to locate the proof and the pudding as it were.
Last edited by GAOldsman; Aug 28, 2018 at 04:22 PM.
It's in the 1972 Oldsmobile product description summary in the Assembly manual if I recall correctly. My copy is at another location and the AHPS has them now where you have to buy in to view.
Now where can I find the air cleaner assy at a fair price. I was at the car show in alliance Ohio and a man had just the lid for 500.00 dollars. Don't get me wrong it was real nice factory part.
Now where can I find the air cleaner assy at a fair price. I was at the car show in alliance Ohio and a man had just the lid for 500.00 dollars. Don't get me wrong it was real nice factory part.
You're welcome Crank Shaft and Dan. Also thanks to Dan again for bringing this thread to my attention.
On my car it was a special order and the W-25 hood was referred as SPEC HOOD on the window sticker. It came from the factory with white stripes on the scoops and lower body color (Ice Blue Firemist) on the wheels. My Grandfather had the dealership paint the stripes and the wheels St. Moritz Blue Firemist (upper body color) after the delivery. He also had the dealership install 442 grilles, cutout bumper and install 442 and W-30 numerals on the front fenders while they were at it. This was the things the zone rep wasn't going to approve. My Grandfather wanted the W-30 but had to settle with the U code 455.
