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I'm pretty much over seeing every '70 A-body with a fiberglass hood. Seems like every single picture you see of a '70 it has the W-25 hood and stripes. Everything unique about this option has pretty much been flushed down the toilet at this point. In my opinion, it devalues the 'real' cars that got this from the factory (relatively rare) and also devalues (maybe not monetarily) the 'fakes'. All of these cars have something unique to share but all of that goes out the window when the owner decides he has to join the masses and make is car look like a W-30. Enough. They might as well be '69 Camaros at this point - all the same, just change colors.
Reminds me of the Buick guys. Everybody with a '70-'72 seems to have decided he has to make his car look like a GSX. Even some rare cars in their own right (Stage 1's) aren't spared. I've even seen some '68's and '69's with the 'GSX treatment'. Jesus!
It's your car, do what you want. Just don't get annoyed if I walk right past your car at a show as if it were another '57 Chevy.
I have to agree for the most part. I remember 442's with steel hoods. Shocking isn't it. I love the fiberglass hoods. Love how they look. It really has overtaken the original cars. Honestly I would probably put one on if I were building a car. Worse for me are the wings. I think the wings ruin the body lines. To each their own I guess.
I really agree with you on the Buick croud. There are what 100 times more GSX's now than they ever made. So sick of the clones. Hell if someone made a clone that was a different color even. Show some originality.
You will have plenty of people agreeing with your take on this.
As my project gets closer on my 70 convertible and seeing all the hood scooped 70- 72's all over, I am on the fence on what hood to use, I have collected a few options including a fiberglass hood that came with the 70 S I acquired.
Originally I was all in on the scoops. The car is mash of three or 4 cars so not concerned about numbers matching
40 years later still rockin’ the flat hood but still no paint (long story). As a teenager I wanted the wing the hood and the stripe. Even jammed the trunk in red with plans for black stripes.
I had a shot at an OE hood at a reasonable price but after sitting in a 70 that had one I realized that the view out of the windshield wasn’t “my” car.
Sold the sport mirrors I had too, realized that my car is pretty cool the way it was born.
Guilty as charged, though there were extenuating circumstances.... honest. In 1997 I hit a deer with my 71 Cutlass. It was covered with collision insurance and I had it fixed. It needed a hood. The body shop manager asked me to help get the parts cuz then car was 26 years old. We couldn't find a original hood that wasn't rusted on the leading edge. That's Michigan for ya, then and now. Anyway I asked if the insurance would pay for a OAI hood and they did. Now car is 50 years old and still has the all fiberglass OAI hood and duals with trumpet bumper. ( yeah another deviation...) Since then I found a nearly perfect original hood and have it stored away, but it is RED! So probably someday I will get the hood painted and go back to single exhaust, regular rear bumper and steel hood. Back then car was just a neat old convertible, now it is getting to be worth more and I wish I had kept it stock. At least I didn't convert it to buckets and console, it still has a bench.
I am interested in any of the OAI hoods that get rejected for a flat steel hood. I have several flat hoods I will trade for the OAI ones.
Don W
Im w Don
theres a reason people have them they look great. Im fine w flat hood too but cmon 2 scoops of fresh cold air.....i guess we could all go 68-9 under bumper scoops on the 70-72s
theres a reason people have them they look great. Im fine w flat hood too but cmon 2 scoops of fresh cold air.....i guess we could all go 68-9 under bumper scoops on the 70-72s
No!!! Don’t do that!! I like standing out!!
Years ago, everyone thought I was crazy because I refused to put the hood and wing on my car when I painted it. I liked the 68-69 OAI setup. It’s a little unusual, it stands out, and since the Holley Sniper EFI has a intake air temp sensor that always reads just a couple degrees over ambient temp, it’s functional. I don’t know if there is actually any “Ram Air” effect, but it definitely functions for cooler air.
It’s kinda disappointing that the easiest way to stand out is to leave the car stock.
Unfortunately someone put a wing on mine before I owned it. I should have filled the holes when it was repainted around 19 years ago. It makes the car look like a total piece of ****.
Last edited by Destructor; September 29th, 2021 at 04:57 PM.
I'm pretty much over seeing every '70 A-body with a fiberglass hood. Seems like every single picture you see of a '70 it has the W-25 hood and stripes. Everything unique about this option has pretty much been flushed down the toilet at this point. In my opinion, it devalues the 'real' cars that got this from the factory (relatively rare) and also devalues (maybe not monetarily) the 'fakes'. All of these cars have something unique to share but all of that goes out the window when the owner decides he has to join the masses and make is car look like a W-30. Enough. They might as well be '69 Camaros at this point - all the same, just change colors.
Reminds me of the Buick guys. Everybody with a '70-'72 seems to have decided he has to make his car look like a GSX. Even some rare cars in their own right (Stage 1's) aren't spared. I've even seen some '68's and '69's with the 'GSX treatment'. Jesus!
It's your car, do what you want. Just don't get annoyed if I walk right past your car at a show as if it were another '57 Chevy.
Good Lord man, Did we get up on the wrong side of the cage this morning? Thought I was on Facebook for a minute. You pretty much described my car to a tee, and I could not care less if you walk by my car at a show! And while I'm at it these cars are very few and far between at most shows. Seems to me their were a lot more 69 Camaros and 57 Bel Airs manufactured. Anyway this hobby of ours is more about the people and their stories no matter what kind of car it is. At least to me that is. The old saying still applies, if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all.
LOL I dont think anyone meant any offence just opinions\observations
re It’s kinda disappointing that the easiest way to stand out is to leave the car stock.
lol its true
re Unfortunately someone put a wing on mine before I owned it. I should have filled the holes when it was repainted around 19 years ago.
destructor im right down the street from you (central mass) ill come over and remove it for you
re these cars are very few and far between
so true i think ive seen 2 68-72 cutlasses this summer and only maybe 4 68-88 ones (out cruising not at shows) but even if shows \ cruises were included that number would only likely double
all olds or bop shows excluded .
Ha ha ha. I honestly can't hate too much on the fiberglass hoods. If I were building a 70-72 I would get one. I was fortunate enough to buy a one owner car that had it back in the eighties when you couldn't give musclecar's away. Best looking hood out there. Especially from the driver's seat. I have a picture somewhere of a factory steel hood 442 with a wing factory.
PS: People might hate on my Buick wheels with Olds center caps. I didn't care then. Don't care now. 275 60's in the rear. 245 60's in the front. Car needed every bit of the 275 60's.
Last edited by no1oldsfan; September 29th, 2021 at 05:59 PM.
Where does this put me?!? What happened to “it’s your car, you should do what makes you happy?” Will the pic below sicken the 68-69 crowd due to cultural appropriation?
Anyone have a spare $50-100k to donate so I can bridge the gap to a W30 so an OAI hood is legit? Hell I’ll even go W31 to tighten the budget even if neither of those cars in factory trim can hang with mine on a performance and drivability standpoint. If people want to take pity on me, I’ll post a fresh Go Fund Me link.
How many legit “heavy hitter” cars even get driven? Wanna park your W with me @ Walgreen’s or Wal Mart and go in for a few minutes? How many of you have carried plywood, an 8’ Xmas tree or a bunch of 4” sched 40 in your W car?
IMO the “muscle car” hobby as slowly slipping away and anything that helps keep people interested or might attract new interest is good. There are few things I appreciate or yearn for more than a W30, LS6 (had one, sold to Roger Ausley in 80’s before the market erupted), Ram Air IV, GSX, whatever, but there were only so many made and far fewer real examples survive today making them exclusive and expensive so I, as a relative pauper, had/have to build what I wanted/want. I love my stereo, seat heaters, deep 12’s after a comfy drive going 80 mph @ 2600 rpm, all the while looking over that sweet hood that even laypeople recognize as Oldsmobile.
Retain the flavor, carry the flag proudly and make it what you want, just don’t try to pass off mutts as thoroughbreds.
Last edited by bccan; September 30th, 2021 at 04:54 AM.
For those of us that are old enough to remember the days of these dinosaurs wandering around you rarely saw factory fiberglass hoods. Like one out of probably fifty. Maybe more.
People should build their cars as they wish. What's the old saying? Can't please all the people all of the time.
I have a 66 Sport Wagon that is a factory white car black interior. For a Buick that is fairly uncommon. If and when I make it mine. Really good chance it won't be white when I am done. That and the two speed trans will be gone as well. It came with a four barrel 340. Buick fans say leave it stock. I would love to 455 it. It's mine so...
Its like anything , to much of one thing causes a negative reaction. Look how many SS tributes, big block camaro tributes, base car first generation firebirds with 400 hood, most don’t even change out the grill and rear end components of a true 400 bird. Why would Oldsmobiles be any different. I have owned several tripower pontiac gtos, 2+2, none were factory equipped tripower cars. But I have a love of multiple carb cars, in my humble opinion nothing screams 60’s muscle than multiple carbs..When I bought my 66 442 and put a tricarb on it I was basically accused by one or two folks of trying to create a L69 car for nefarious reasons..Of course the accusers know nothing about me or my integrity in general but hey that happens on internet forums..They would never tell you that if they saw you and your car at a car show. So as I understand you get tired of the hood on a 1970-72, think of it this way, it keeps people interested in keeping these cars alive and running.. walk by them in a show if you choose.. its a hobby that we should be maybe a bit more open minded in..there are plenty of real cars out there.. my personal favorites are un-restored factory originals..enjoy your car, how ever you choose.
Where does this put me?!? What happened to “it’s your car, you should do what makes you happy?” Will the pic below sicken the 68-69 crowd due to cultural appropriation?
Anyone have a spare $50-100k to donate so I can bridge the gap to a W30 so an OAI hood is legit? Hell I’ll even go W31 to tighten the budget even if neither of those cars in factory trim can hang with mine. If people want to take pity on me, I’ll post a fresh Go Fund Me link.
How many legit “heavy hitter” cars even get driven? Wanna park your W with me @ Walgreen’s or Wal Mart and go in for a few minutes? How many of you have carried plywood, an 8’ Xmas tree or a bunch of 4” sched 40 in your W car?
IMO the “muscle car” hobby as slowly slipping away and anything that helps keep people interested or might attract new interest is good. There are few things I appreciate or yearn for more than a W30, LS6 (had one, sold to Roger Ausley in 80’s before the market erupted), Ram Air IV, GSX, whatever, but there were only so many made and far fewer real examples survive today making them exclusive and expensive so I, as a relative pauper, had/have to build what I wanted/want. I love my stereo, seat heaters, deep 12’s after a comfy drive going 80 mph @ 2600 rpm, all the while looking over that sweet hood that even laypeople recognize as Oldsmobile.
Retain the flavor, carry the flag proudly and make it what you want, just don’t try to pass off mutts as thoroughbreds.
I love all your points. Your car actually gets driven. Wait drive it??? I thought they were built to sit.
You have so many good points. I too have loaded whatever I needed in whatever car.
The H/O came with one. I like how it looks from outside of the car, but, while the stripes are nice, I don't like the nostrils poking up into my view driving the thing. It doesn't bother me, but I prefer driving a flat hood after the 6 footer on my Chevy.
Edit: Addendum: People have been putting 442 hoods on 67 Cutlasses more commonly, too.
Last edited by Koda; September 29th, 2021 at 08:31 PM.
The H/O came with one. I like how it looks from outside of the car, but, while the stripes are nice, I don't like the nostrils poking up into my view driving the thing. It doesn't bother me, but I prefer driving a flat hood after the 6 footer on my Chevy.
Hurst Olds cars are a completely different beast. They came the way that they did. I am cool with them. Other than that? Not for me. People have different tastes. We are humans. Different strokes for different folks.
What a bunch of lemmings in this thread! Oh leave it stock,oh don't add the w25 hood because it makes your car look like a W30! I have a cowl induction hood and a real w25 hood I also run a rear deck spoiler. Granted my car is a real 442. But I also am rebuilding car I saved
a 1970 Cutlass S it is getting a rear deck spoiler as well. The hood I haven't decided yet but think a fiberglass hood like rocket racing sells with the 4inch scoops. It's my car I do as I please up to drive train!! I will never have a Chevy engine in my Oldsmobile. If you don't like this post then have the addmins take it down .
Proud member of the flat hood society. If i can get through a show or cruse night WITHOUT being noticed because i dont have a bulge,,,on my hood, mission accomplished
I've got all you all's hot buttons: buckets in place of bench, OAI hood, spoiler, AND trunk stripes.
I sold a 1970 442 convertible, 4-speed, with air that I owned for 35 years because I wanted to build a creative car. I wouldn't have felt right modifying that old gal. It even had original factory build documents from Helen Early.
But modifying a Vista? I didn't have a problem with that. They were disposable and no one saved them. There's probably under 500 left of each year. And anyone who knows Olds can spot many departures from stock on mine.
It has no 442 or W-30 badges; there's one Oldsmobile badge. I built a high-performance.family car the way I thought Olds should have done.
Many of the external cues were inspired by the Porcelain White Vistas that Olds supplied to the 1970 Indianapolis race (see my sig pic).
Looks like a bad *** too Gary. Hope to see it in person one day as well. If I ever get my 70 442 up and running you can bet it will have the correct W-25 hood.
...I also am rebuilding car I saved... It's my car I do as I please...
That's a point that most miss. Without people like you, some of these cars would have been scrapped.
A best friend built a custom 1957 Corvette in the 1980s. At shows, people would pile on about ruining a classic, etc. He would answer, "When I found the car it was a roach in the junk yard. I saved it and I can do anything I want with it."
I can’t imagine anyone is expecting car owners to adhere to some kind of rule book. Most will agree it’s your car to do with as you see fit.
Restraint can be appealing, although not as popular with the majority of the car show crowd these days. Some folks like the attention of the masses and others would likely only want to appeal to the educated enthusiast.
There wasn’t enough W30’s built for everyone to own one.
The exception being the flippers who would rather have the money than the car and only make changes to increase profits.
I can’t imagine anyone is expecting car owners to adhere to some kind of rule book. Most will agree it’s your car to do with as you see fit.
Again, missing the point. The issue is that people ARE following a "rule book" by making every car look exactly the same. Dare to be different. The A-body classes at any Olds show are boring as hell. Give me a stripper F85 with a six and column shifted three speed. ANYTHING that isn't another 2dr with repro hood, red inner fenders, and Stevie Wonder stripes.
I have always loved the w25 hood, was fortunate to get one in 1977 off a station wagon in a junk yard, also had original red wheel wells, got them all for $125.00 , just great looking out the windshield with that hood, But I wont have the trunk stripes or spoiler, Just a Cutlass Supreme, no 442 badges!
All the op said was he’s not impressed by the hoods, that they are boring.
Just as clones and restomods are boring to some folks.
I find that reasonable.
Nobody questions that anyone can and should do what they want to their property. But it’s like 20+ inch rims, or wearing pants falling down. Don’t get mad when you get laughed at.
September 29th, 2021 | 11:12 AM
