I bought this 442 in the late fall of 1971. I was a senior in Highschool. Can you imagine a 17 year old with this car? I partied in it, cruised it, street raced it, dated in it, graduated Highschool in it, drove it to work, got married and honeymooned in it, drag raced on the track with it and probably more stuff that I can't even remember!! If this car could talk...

 

Nice car. Is that the original color scheme? I have never seen a burgundy mist W-30 with gold stripes. Is the interior black?

Don W

 

[QUOTE=Mr Shifty Sidney;732526]Nice car. Is that the original color scheme? I have never seen a burgundy mist W-30 with gold stripes. Is the interior black?

Don W[/QUOTE

Black stripes were original but did not show up very well. Back about '73 the burgundy was already looking bad so I had the car painted and changed stripes to gold then. By '82 it was looking shabby again so I did a quick repaint myself, as I was in business by then, just to preserve it. That quick repaint is still on it to this day! I don't know, I may just leave it...

 

Oh and thanks for the compliment, Shifty...the interior is black

 

Cool story and very nice car! Are those the original spun aluminum Centerlines? Can't quite tell from the pics....

 

I think it is talking.....

 

Nice ride Larry!
I like the paint scheme
with the Centerlines.
The stories are the cherry on top.

 

Yes, vintage centerlines. Other than newer drag radials for street use (I still have the slicks) the car is as it was when I quit racing it in the late 80's

 

Thanks...I have stories as this car has been with me most of my life. We've been through a lot, but never wrecked and is still #'s matching. The centerlines are so far out of style that they are back in style. Car came with steel XT's and pie pans...I still got 'em. Standard steering wheel was original on my car but I changed to a rally wheel in the 70's, still have the original. No A/c, no p/s, no p/b and no dual gate. Has tinted glass AM radio, buckets and console.

 

Thanks for keeping it & letting us see it! Any interior shots & what kind of times did it run?

 

That's awesome! I see the polished ones from time to time but rarely the spun version. My originals (spun) are still on the car that they were purchased for in '74.

 

I will get some interior shots. I'm new at this and had my daughter helped me get these first ones loaded. I raced a lot at Julesburg Colorado, Bandimere above Denver and Kearney Dragway in Nebraska. Julesburg, if I remember is about 3,600 ft. With 10 inch slicks 3:90 gears, open headers and a slightly looser converter I ran 12.70's at around 109 mph. No other mods. At Bandimere I was about 5 tenths slower, at Kearney about 4 tenths quicker. Wow, can't believe thats been almost 40 years ago. I will dig up some old time slips and photos in the future

 

Thanks, Lonestar for the compliments. I'm a little sentimental about stuff like that. These centerlines came off my Uncles 70 w-30 when he quit racing it. I now own that w-30. He has since passed on. But that's another story and another set of pictures

 

great story, and car is very slick!

 

Forgot to mention...swapped in a 4 speed cam. No power brakes, no problem

 

Your story and life with your car is truly amazing. I have love affairs with some of my vehicles but not a relationship like yours. Would love to hear more stories....

 

Thanks, I will be laying down more stories (facts). You guys (or gals) just let me know when you get tired of them

 

Did you purchase the car in Fort Morgan??

VERY COOL PICS AND STORIES!! Thanks

 

That's a great story i still have my 2nd car ever owned bought in 1981 a 68 not an Olds.But hey that's another story.Nick

 

very nice car, good job keeping it so nice through your wild days

 

My car came from Denver. I purchased it from a used car dealer in Ft. Morgan that had bought it at one of the used car auctions in Denver. It had an Empire Olds badge on the trunk lid so I guess it must have been sold new there. It only had 16,000 miles on it but you could tell that it had not been treated very well. It was very dirty and had various bumps and scrapes here and there. I paid $1,600.00 for it. Traded in a 66 Fairlane GTA and $1,000.00. I can't remember what the payments were but I had to finance it. Thanks for asking

 

I swear I've either seen this car in Colorado or in pics somewhere before. Hmmm

Nice looking car - I like the color combo.

"My first w-30 and after 43 years I still have it!"

Does this mean you have a second?

 

Thanks..yes I have 2 more. I am still new at loading pictures, but I'll get some of them on too. One is a sherwood green 4 speed w-27 car with abut 25k origional miles. It has an interesting history and I know this car from new. The other is rally red with white stripes and dual gate automatic. The rally red car just got picked at Goodguys for Hemmings Muscle Machine of the Year finalist. I'm still grinning about that one!!

 

The stories can be as interesting as the cars Or even more so...

 

Thank you, I'm not so sure it wasn't more good luck than a good job. I never thought at the time i'd be looking back at 40+ years of ownership!

 

Thanks...

 

Post up pics of the other two Larry.
Quit teasing...We need the stories
on them as well.

 

Will do...

 

Wow, very cool. You and Sam are hording W30's !!!!! I hope you won't mind being a resource to us who have not owned our cars as long as you have. My convertible is loaded, the hardtop not so much - both automatics. Right now one won't start - can't find the keys to the other Someone besides me thought they were an extra set to the SX and placed them somewhere.

I'm always trying to learn what's what on these cars so its great to get some first hand info and pics. Thanks.

 

Nice collection!

 

Welcome aboard. Keep the stories coming.

 

I'll be glad to help all I can...any time!

 

Thanks...

 

Thanks, Stefano for giving me the shove I needed to get started. I will be sure to include the story of the 69 w-31 I bought from you

 

Nice ride, not often we get an owner that has had the same car as long as you.

 

Larry, beautiful car and a great story of a good ride

 

thanks...glad to share

 

I remember seeing a burgundy W-30 at Bandimere back in the late 80's when I used to race my 71 there. I can't remember the stripe color though. Where you there then?

 

Very nice Larry!!! Beautiful cars and great stories!

Sam

 

Yes I was, Do you have photos of you racing back then?