Hi, everybody, I have A guy that thing he has a W-30 car, the vin 344878MXXXXXX, The cowl tag is gone. He has the 4-speed for the car and the exhaust manifold are there. the car has a cover over it. And I could not check the hole car out. So he is going to put it in his shop to see what is all there. The question I have is, what should I be looking for to see if it is a real W-30. The red wheel wells are gone, This is a 1968 442, Lansing car. Is there some wear on the car to find the build date?
Pgr33n

 

Welcome to the forum...unfortunately there is nothing except factory paperwork to verify a W30 option on the car you describe. Every W30 indicator can be added. Aside from that, with a missing cowl tag I would not want the car anyway. BTW the cowl tag would tell you what plant the car was built at. W30s came only from Lansing.

 

Per the vin the car was built at Lansing.

 

https://oldsjunction.classicoldsmobi...sfaq/ofwmc.htm

If it has all the correct motor components it may be worth while.

 

From this statement it sounds like the motor may be long gone? Does it still have the lower OAI scoops below the bumper?

 

Exactly. Even if the motor is gone underhood pictures can tell you a lot still. See if OAI brackets are still there or possibly even just the holes.

68 W-30 is a damn nice car.

 

The OAI tubes go thru the fender liners, which he says are gone.

Sounds like all the important parts a gone, this one is gonna need paperwork, or treat it as a regular 442

 

Without the paperwork, you have a 68 442. That isn't a bad thing but the missing cowl tag isn't good. The cowl tag would show the overall build date plant and trim codes. The VIN would be in question on this car too. Do some homework on what the VIN rivets should look like though they are reproduced too.
There is a vin stamp on the frame. Hard to see with the body on it.

The trans has two sets of ID stampings. Google Muncie identification. Look at the hole cut in the floor.

See if he has the Quadrajet and distributor. Heads and engine block there?

The bottom line is he can't get W30 money without the documentation. Neither will you if you try to resell it as a W30 or even a 442 if the VIN tag is questionable.

Post some pictures of the car from several angles including the engine bay and undercarriage. We can at min assess if it's a basket case or something solid.

 

This weekend I will be getting a better look at the car, the vin is original to the car. I have been building cars for over 45 years, lots of camaro, chevelles and hot rods. It does have the 4-speed with it, the motor was pulled and is available. I hope to have the rear end code and it is a buckets and console car. It does have manual brakes. My shop photo as of last week.

 

Any news on this car?