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Was it the 455 vs the 350, or was it more than that? Also, why was the SX dropped for '72?
The SX was dropped in 1972 because the 455 became available in any Supreme that year. For 1970-71, the L33 2bbl 455 was only offered in Cutlii until it was cancelled in Feb 1970. For the rest of the 70 model year and all of 71, the 350 was the only engine option except with the SX package.
Generally, besides the engine, the only difference aside from badging would have been fender braces on hardtops, and cutout bumpers with trumpets with W&Z manifolds as standard equipment. SX cars often had a lot of the “fun stuff” found on the 344 variants, but not always. I’ve seen non console, bench, tan on brown with hubcaps. (Very Jim Rockford inspired) Most had very tall gear sets and standard 2 barrel carburetor.
Generally, besides the engine, the only difference aside from badging would have been fender braces on hardtops, and cutout bumpers with trumpets with W&Z manifolds as standard equipment. SX cars often had a lot of the “fun stuff” found on the 344 variants, but not always. I’ve seen non console, bench, tan on brown with hubcaps. (Very Jim Rockford inspired) Most had very tall gear sets and standard 2 barrel carburetor.
All 1969-72 Olds A-body cars with 455s got W/Z manifolds. Supreme, Vista, whatever. Supreme 2drs came with bucket seats as standard equipment since the 1967 model year. The A65 sport bench seat with armrest was an option. The console was an option. The floor shifter was an option. Good point on the cutout back bumper and trumpets, however.
The SX was dropped in 1972 because the 455 became available in any Supreme that year. For 1970-71, the L33 2bbl 455 was only offered in Cutlii until it was cancelled in Feb 1970. For the rest of the 70 model year and all of 71, the 350 was the only engine option except with the SX package.
So for '70-'71 A bodies, if it wasn't an SX or a 442, the 455 wasn't available?
So for '70-'71 A bodies, if it wasn't an SX or a 442, the 455 wasn't available?
Read what Joe said in your quote....it was available.
In a local old car salvage place that Henry had ("66400" on here I think) years ago (approx 10+) there was a cool car. '70 Supreme, - - Rally Red paint code, no vinyl top, white bench interior, etc and 455. Lots of "medium" collision damage on all corners and I had asked Henry about it when he sold it out of his salvage yard....he said it was also rusty.
So for '70-'71 A bodies, if it wasn't an SX or a 442, the 455 wasn't available?
From above:
Originally Posted by joe_padavano
For 1970-71, the L33 2bbl 455 was only offered in Cutlii until it was cancelled in Feb 1970. For the rest of the 70 model year and all of 71, the 350 was the only engine option except with the SX package.
For the beginning of the 1970 model year the L33 320 HP 2bbl 455 was available in lesser Cutlii (Jerry Wilson of OCA had his L33 Cutlass at the Dayton OCA Nationals). It was discontinued on Feb 24, 1970. There were no 455s available in 1971 Cutlii expect in Vistas, SX cars, or 442s.
Generally, besides the engine, the only difference aside from badging would have been fender braces on hardtops, and cutout bumpers with trumpets with W&Z manifolds as standard equipment. SX cars often had a lot of the “fun stuff” found on the 344 variants, but not always. I’ve seen non console, bench, tan on brown with hubcaps. (Very Jim Rockford inspired) Most had very tall gear sets and standard 2 barrel carburetor.
My brother use to have 1 of these cars, it was special order by a doctor. My brother was the 2nd owner. 1970 Cutlass Supreme with a 455 2 barrel engine W&Z manifolds, A/C, columnshift, fender bracing, 442 mufflers, regular rear bumper, 2.56 gear, 442 lower rear control arms with reinforce braces to the upper arms without a rear swaybar, regular wheels with hub caps and speed warning speedo painted in Aegean Aqua Metallic with a white vinyl top. We were surprised at some of the things that the car had.
My brother use to have 1 of these cars, it was special order by a doctor. My brother was the 2nd owner. 1970 Cutlass Supreme with a 455 2 barrel engine W&Z manifolds, A/C, columnshift, fender bracing, 442 mufflers, regular rear bumper, 2.56 gear, 442 lower rear control arms with reinforce braces to the upper arms without a rear swaybar, regular wheels with hub caps and speed warning speedo painted in Aegean Aqua Metallic with a white vinyl top. We were surprised at some of the things that the car had.
None of that was "special order". It simply required checking the correct boxes on the order form. And yeah, I realize Agean Aqua was called a "special order" color, except that it really wasn't. That was just a way to charge more.
None of that was "special order". It simply required checking the correct boxes on the order form. And yeah, I realize Agean Aqua was called a "special order" color, except that it really wasn't. That was just a way to charge more.
So, what is special order in the Oldsmobile world?
So, what is special order in the Oldsmobile world?
Same as it is in every world - getting stuff that isn't on the order form. The example I like to use is the 1968 Cutlass S that Motor Trend tested that had the L77 400 Police Apprehender package. The big block wasn't factory-available to the public in the Cutlass line in 1968, but it WAS an option to police agencies (who were supposedly the only authorized buyers). Kind if like the 9C1 Nova package in the late 1970s, the B07 package with L77 was basically a 442 in Cutlass clothing. With the right salesman connections, one could order this. Note, by the way, that the L77 was the 350 HP manual trans version, not the 325 HP AT version.
Good answer. So, basically, it was stuff that was there, but not available to normal people, usually.
That would have been an interesting sleeper, the 68 S with the MT 442 powertrain.
Would the plum crazy colored 442 be another example?
Could getting a weird color, like a Toronado color like the 68 H/O had, be another example? I wonder how that worked, if the plant had to be a Toro plant to pull that off.
Yes, and Olds actually had several RPO codes for non-standard paint, interior, and trim. This is how fleet cars got built. Yes, it was physically possible to order a car painted Plum Crazy. The problem is proving it. The cowl tag would typically only have the "- -" paint code, so without a build sheet or broadcast card that listed the actual paint code, the "- -" on the cowl tag could have just as easily been Mary Kay pink or Yellow Cab orange.
It's just marketing vs engineering language. Marketing does not mean anything. This is why a W-30 and a Z-28 and a Z-71 should not have ever been sold as such. It should have been words like Much, Ralley, and Off-Road, respectively.
Too Bad No SX 4 SPEED CARS..... in 1972 they fixed that with the mighty V-CODE
Originally Posted by joe_padavano
The SX was dropped in 1972 because the 455 became available in any Supreme that year. For 1970-71, the L33 2bbl 455 was only offered in Cutlii until it was cancelled in Feb 1970. For the rest of the 70 model year and all of 71, the 350 was the only engine option except with the SX package.
