Was talking to an OCA old-timer tonight at a local show who has several W30s. He said cars ordered with OAI in 70-72 needed to be built in Lansing...evidenced by the M in the VIN.

I know W30s were only built there, but all cars with OAI ? I never heard that before, but it seems like he knew what he was talking about, and in some ways it makes sense. Like maybe that was the only place with the factory mold for the hoods, which may also explain why W30s also all came from there. Not worth the trouble to ship hoods around the country to other assembly plants.

True ? or BS ?

 

I've never heard of that but I was 5 for most of 1970

 

It's a W car thing, not a W option thing. That would be like saying you couldn't order a W27 rear unless the car was built in Lansing. The SX was not a W car and could be had with both of those options so I don't know where he got that information.

 

My 1970 is a Fremont car and it came factory with the OAI hood. He may have been confused and was thinking about the W30 option as Randy mentioned. John

 

Actually, since the W-27 (the whole axle, not just the cover) was only offered on the 1970 W-30 and W-31...

 

BS.
Just another example of someone trying to rewrite history.


.......and the Rally 350 and the W32. So.......

 

OK. Hogwash....but then why were W cars only built in Lansing ?

 

The W-30 and W-31 used factory blueprinted motors that were only assembled in Lansing.

 

Joe, weren't ALL Olds engines built in Lansing? Or were there engine plants at the other locations?

 

I'll back up the statement that it's B.S. My '72 442 is a Fremont-built 455 W-29 car with the W-25 OAI hood and equipment clearly spelled out on the 8.5x11 build sheet. It still has a date in grease pencil underneath from the factory.

svnt442: You could not get the W-25 OAI hood on an SX (or any 70-72 Supreme hardtop except the '72 W45 cars) from the factory regardless of which plant it was built at. Dealer-installed only.

Terry