I was asked this morning " What building was Olds experimental set in."
This is my photo answer.
Taken from my 1967 Oldsmobile phone book.
If you can get ahold of the Oldsmobile main operator try the extension and see what you get.

 

Cool stuff.

 

Amused to see an extension phone number for ‘Rocket Engine’. Which is located in the same building as ‘Experimental’. Wonder if any of the experimental products or documents are still around in GM archives, or they were in the Oldsmobile storage building that burned down? Along with the production records for each vehicle built. (It was mentioned that Anchor Motor Freight, the trucking company that delivered GM vehicles, had a copy of the window sticker for each vehicle delivered for its records)

 

Nothing burned down, it was tossed.

 

Can you check to see what extension number Rich Powers had ? I lost his direct line number but lost it.

 

So true. Urban myth anyone..

 

Harold Arthur Haughton (born 1914 in Flint, MI, died 1995 in Saint Lucie, Florida) worked at Oldsmobile from 1934 to 1974, retiring as Engine Plant Superintendent. Harold worked part time for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s. He served in Europe during World War II in the 301st Heavy Maintenance Company.

WARNING: Serious nostalgia might set in.

Jim Walkinshaw conducted this interview (with Harold) at the Oldsmobile History Center on June 14, 1990.


SETTING THE PACE - Oldsmobile's First 100 Years Copyright 1996: Oldsmobile Division of General Motors

 

Thanks Koda for the correction. Wonder why other divisions kept the records?

 

I have heard this myth for as long as I can remember, how did the story start? What’s the basis for the myth?

 

They didn't. They were all tossed. Pontiac's were intercepted by the guy that runs the verifying thing now. GM of Canada had to maintain records by Canadian law.

 

Oldsmobile didn't admit to their participation in the destruction of records once their cars became more and more special to true Oldsmobile people. Sad but true. Now any fool (VOLO) can call Any car what they want to call it. No record's to show otherwise. It sucks for true Oldsmobile people. So many people just buying an Oldsmobile without one care other than them spending money. I hope they All take a bath on their non true cars. Foolish buyers don't even care about authenticity anymore. Just throwing money. It has ruined the Oldsmobile heritage for me.

 

PS: How many supposed W cars are built to W standard's these days? Good luck. An Oldsmobile 350 with a W-31 intake is nowhere close to a factory W-31. Same for a standard 455 with a W-30 intake. Huge difference if you have ever driven one. Doesn't matter. Not like you bought the car for it's horsepower. So many fools just buying whatever.

 

True. I’d be willing to bet my last dollar there are many times more 442 with the OAI hood now than were ever made.

It’s pretty sad that the easiest way to stand out with a 442 is to leave the stock hood on it.

 

Other than Pontiac, are individual vehicle documents available from any other division?

 

Amen. You are so correct on all of that. I grew up in the seventies eighties nineties etc. My car was one of the only factory W-25 cars I car remember seeing. Even my brother's factory W-31 had been hit in the front and wore a steel hood when he got it. He replaced it but still. Don't even get me going on the wings. You Never Ever saw a car with a factory wing other than a Rally 350 here and there. I saw a total of one. I will find the picture eventually. It was a dark blue 70 442. Non W-30. It had white interior. Steel hood. Guarantee you no way that car was ever rebuilt that same way. Now every single car has at least the hood. 80 percent have the wing... (Towel Rack) now.

 

You can get documentation for some Buicks from the Sloan Museum or the The GS Historical Society.

 

Nostalgic phone book and interview are very cool.