I thought the yellow bumpers was the only thing available on the Rallye.

 

Agreed, never heard of chrome bumpers on a Rallye. That was one of the signature things about them.

 

There was no option, however there were dealers who swapped out the yellow for chrome to help sell the cars when they were new - some decided their markets didn't care for the painted look. Every now and then you see the chrome bumper Rallyes, but they weren't shipped from the factory that way. You also see cars with trim rings on the wheels, but that wasn't factory, either.

 

^^^THIS!

The painted bumpers were not particularly popular in 1970 and a lot of Rallye 350s sat on dealer lots for quite a while. Eventually some dealers installed chrome bumpers just to move the cars. Same thing happened to Daytona Chargers - I remember seeing one languishing on a dealer lot in the 70s. Some had the nose and wing removed just to get them sold.

 

Is a dealer "let's move it" mod like this considered correct in terms of provenance?

 

Of course not, though everyone trying to unload such a car will list it as "correct day two parts" or some such BS.

"Correct" is how it left the factory. If the dealer installed a Ford motor, would that be "correct"?

 

Your deliberately absurd example would, of course, not be true.

From an OEM standpoint, dealer packages are considered warranty coverable, pre sale, work.

I could argue the case of the 67 W-30 OAI package "track pack" cars, where some dealers installed this package pre-sale, but I view the dealer installing the over the counter w-30 package just like a consumer would be, buying it and putting it on himself.

So, while I think a chromed bumper Rallye, while interesting, and maybe worth keeping that way if it can be proven it was sold like that, is not correct, and is less valuable.

 

But these were not "factory authorized" dealer packages. For example, the passenger side outside mirror was only available as a dealer installed option in 1967, but it was engineered by the factory and authorized by the factory. The replacement of urethane bumpers on Rallye 350s was not. To use a not so deliberately absurd analogy, would the dealer removal of the wing and nose on a Charger Daytona be considered to have "provenance"? Basically the same thing as the Rallye bumpers, just a little more work.

 

Ok, I can buy that. Factory authorized = provenance.

 

The more I look at it the more I like it...

 

I think it looks like a pig with bright pink lipstick. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder right Allen...lol :^}

 

ALLAN did you see the car in person???

These guys are Flim Flam with place on HiWay 65 and more
Yes Oldsmobile dealers did put chrome bumpers on
attempt to sell the cars

 

Of course not Brian. My comment was a generalization of the chrome bumper appearances. Nothing more.

Same for Dr.

 

My own personal preference...I prefer the Rallye cars with the yellow bumpers and without wheel trim rings.
Add the chrome and it throws the look off.
They were ahead of their time with the monochromatic look and with all the chrome of the 50's and 60's people just could not accept the look.
Fast forward to 80's... almost everything was going to the no chrome look.

 

Where does it say a Rallye 350 couldn't be ordered with trim rings?

 

I don't think you will find anywhere that directly states that you couldn't, but since (P06 Wheel Trim Rings) was not an option on the Rallye 350 Order Form how would you?

 

 

 

I understand the appeal of these cars, but I was never a big fan. Just curious if anyone ever saw a chrome bumper car with any dealer documentation that they made the switch?

 

A guy on the Rallye 350 facebook page claims that his Rallye is all original with the QB motor and has the 7040253 carb and the big balancer..

I have not heard of anyone else with the QB motor having that balancer though?

Pat

 

I am pretty sure that the Rallye only came with the standard balancer, and I am not even going to touch the carb. debate, but I have two Rallyes (1 is a 4 speed and 1 Automatic) and neither have a big balancer and both have a 250 carb.

 

I agree about the balancer, that seems unlikely. But there were at least two in that thread that claimed their car came with the 253 carb. At least there is factory documentation that they did use the 253 on the QB motor.

Pat

 

I saw a pic once with 15 of them going down the line painted so some were no options and others were to the max.
Gerald

 

I wouldn't be surprised if they grabbed the wrong one or were short on 250's so grabbed a 253
When I bought my car it had a carb for a W30 Automatic. My car was an early build and the date code matched up. Was it installed at the factory? Who knows for sure?

 

NO factory documented W31 Rallye's exist nor do any with W31 parts factory installed. Rock solid documentation has never surfaced for such a beast. Rumors and clone wanta be's abound.

 

I have the original window sticker for my Rallye 350 and it was ordered with many options and among them were the trim rings. I have not installed them though.

 

 

The carb in question is documented in the engine assembly manual . Not some random grab . My Rallye has the 253 carb, four speed ,

 

Firefrost, when was your Rallye built? Did I see you car at the street machine nationals last summer?

Pat

 

Trying to think if you did it was out side in the parking lot along the fence off of snelling . MY son had it at north st paul a few time and he took it to the state show at the black smith . the Build date is 02D was ordered at Fred Brown olds in Portsmouth Ohio . I know Sonny had his Holiday coupe there its a automatic bucket seat car but that is the only one i remember seeing there . Eddy are you from MN ?

 

Yes, I live in Minnetonka. The car I saw was a 4 speed. It was in the show at the east side not to far from the entrance.

02D, same as my car. Mine was missing the carb so I have no way to say for sure is mine was a QV or QB. Your build date would make me think mine is likely a QB.

Thanks!

Pat