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72 W-30 Convertible

Old Feb 5, 2026 | 04:40 PM
  #1  
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72 W-30 Convertible

Between getting this car home in early September and now, I have put another engine in it, an automatic transmission in it, Re-cored the radiator, Rebuilt the rear end, Brakes, shocks, and new tires. It is a real W-30 car but needs restored. I will eventually restore it but till then I made it a driver as it is. Has to be a nice weather car because I am not putting a top on it till I restore it.

It is not an original 4 speed car but had one in it when I bought it. I am likely going to restore it as a 4 speed car and manual brakes since it is not numbers matching.








Old Feb 5, 2026 | 04:49 PM
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Run whatcha brung! love it. Solid sled too.
Old Feb 5, 2026 | 08:14 PM
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Do what you have to do brother. It will be right eventually!
Old Feb 6, 2026 | 10:02 AM
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Originally Posted by jensenracing77
Between getting this car home in early September and now, I have put another engine in it, an automatic transmission in it, Re-cored the radiator, Rebuilt the rear end, Brakes, shocks, and new tires. It is a real W-30 car but needs restored. I will eventually restore it but till then I made it a driver as it is. Has to be a nice weather car because I am not putting a top on it till I restore it.

It is not an original 4 speed car but had one in it when I bought it. I am likely going to restore it as a 4 speed car and manual brakes since it is not numbers matching.







Couple of questions:
1) What is that rectangular louvered looking panel just below the right rear arm rest? I don't think I've ever seen that before. My frame of reference is my '69 convertible so maybe this is something that showed up later?
2) Should it have red inner fenders? Did Olds do away with those by '72 on the W-30?
Old Feb 6, 2026 | 10:11 AM
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Originally Posted by acavagnaro
Couple of questions:
1) What is that rectangular louvered looking panel just below the right rear arm rest? I don't think I've ever seen that before. My frame of reference is my '69 convertible so maybe this is something that showed up later?
2) Should it have red inner fenders? Did Olds do away with those by '72 on the W-30?
Someone put aftermarket speakers in the car. That was not original. In 1972 they want to black inner fenders on the W-30. They also went back to the external regulated alternator in 1972

Old Feb 6, 2026 | 01:32 PM
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Went for an 8 mile drive. It done great! Glad the heater works good.



Old Feb 6, 2026 | 03:21 PM
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72 W30 did not have red wheel wells. Had many fights at car shows over the years on that one. Cool to see a Radiant green. Don’t see it often
Old Feb 6, 2026 | 05:03 PM
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Nice car.... I'm also liking the Honda ATC!
Old Feb 6, 2026 | 05:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Jungle Cat
72 W30 did not have red wheel wells. Had many fights at car shows over the years on that one. Cool to see a Radiant green. Don’t see it often
Yes, that and the cutlass on the glove box door. I had a 72 W-30 from 96 to 2000 and got the same thing. Mostly at Oldsmobile shows, lol.

Old Feb 6, 2026 | 06:06 PM
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Originally Posted by jensenracing77
Yes, that and the cutlass on the glove box door. I had a 72 W-30 from 96 to 2000 and got the same thing. Mostly at Oldsmobile shows, lol.


people can be A holes
Old Feb 6, 2026 | 11:03 PM
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Originally Posted by jensenracing77
................It is not an original 4 speed car but had one in it when I bought it. I am likely going to restore it as a 4 speed car and manual brakes since it is not numbers matching.
Eric, I am curios. When someone converts an Auto A-Body to 4spd, then converts it back to auto (even if temporarily), what do you do to the transmission hump? Do you leave it there or cut it out? I mean is it in the way of the auto shifter cable? Do you happen to have a picture of the floor with 4-spd hump and the hole for the auto shifter cable?
Old Feb 7, 2026 | 02:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Texas442
Eric, I am curios. When someone converts an Auto A-Body to 4spd, then converts it back to auto (even if temporarily), what do you do to the transmission hump? Do you leave it there or cut it out? I mean is it in the way of the auto shifter cable? Do you happen to have a picture of the floor with 4-spd hump and the hole for the auto shifter cable?
Sadly they just hacked a hole in the floor and did not add the hump. Even if they did add the hump, you can still put an automatic in it the same as you would normal. Even the shifter and cable will still work. The hoe for the 4 speed is much farther forward than the automatic shifter mount locations. I did just pick up an original 4 speed hump from Scott Winn
Old Feb 7, 2026 | 03:08 AM
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I like it the way it is- can have a lot more fun with it when not perfect! Great job, Eric!
Old Feb 10, 2026 | 05:30 PM
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Keeping the equalizer is a must haha
Old Feb 10, 2026 | 07:16 PM
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x2 on the EQ!

Put one in my ‘72 V code 442 in high school circa 1979, and left the Cutlass script on the glove box. Some doubted its true pedigree however once taken for a ride, there were no questions.

Great to see your rare W car coming back to life.


Old Feb 10, 2026 | 07:58 PM
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I had the same Sun Super Tach stuffed into the clock opening. It needed a couple wraps of electrical tape for a tight fit, and then it stayed in place for 40 years.
Old Feb 11, 2026 | 02:54 AM
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Originally Posted by bobs72
Keeping the equalizer is a must haha
I hope to hook it up this summer. All the radio wiring was goofed up so ripped it all out. I want to replace the speakers and make it all work. I think I have an old "power booster" like this one somewhere I thought about wiring in, lol.

Vintage 60's 70's 80
Old Feb 11, 2026 | 03:31 PM
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Eric, I want a ride in this thing over the summer. I like the "patina" look. I know it's not the original color, but that radiant green is so good!
Old Feb 11, 2026 | 05:30 PM
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Originally Posted by WTHIRTY1
Eric, I want a ride in this thing over the summer. I like the "patina" look. I know it's not the original color, but that radiant green is so good!
Any time. I am not registering it at the nationals but it will be there as my driver.
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