I need to settlement an argument that has a small financial obligation involved. My question is this; were W-30 cars (66-72) available with factory air?

Thanks!

 

Some model years were. 1970-1971 you could get a/c with W-30 option provided you would also take the auto trans. No 4 speed and a/c W cars. 1972 no a/c allowed on any W-30 equipped car. 1966 no a/c.


Others can chime in on 67-69 cars but I think no a/c period. 69 the W-32 allowed a/c. Never in a W-31 car.

 

As Dave noted, only in the 1970 and 1971 model years, and only with AT. The AT W-30 motors in those years came with a milder cam than did the MT cars - 285/287 deg vs. 328/328 deg. Obviously, the AT motors couldn't have made the same HP and torque as the MT motors with that different cam, despite the factory ratings.

 

Anybody know why no A/C offered in 72 W30 automatic cars? Mechanical or marketing issues?

 

Because the 1972 A-body cars weren't supposed to exist. The colonnade styling of the 1973 A-body line was SUPPOSED to be released for the 1972 model year. A strike in the ordering department made it impossible to get the tooling delivered in time to support production for the 1972 model year. With little time left before the start of production, GM was forced to dust off the 1971 cars, add a little lipstick and makeup, and call them 1972 models. The last minute panic forced a reduction in the number of option variations. Apparently, the prior sales numbers for W-30s with A/C made that combo more work than it was worth.

This is why the 1972 models are nearly identical with the 71s. Note, for example, that the 1971 and 72 442 grilles are the same plastic molded part. Only the paint colors are different (silver and black reversed).

 

Thanks for all the replies! With this info, I may be $20 richer!

 

Beer's on you.

 

joe and dave are "spot on" in their answers!

 

I don't believe that a/c was available on the '69 W32, seems that we covered that in another thread some time back.

 

There is a member in Vancouver BC Canada with one if I recall correctly. He owns a rag top and a hardtop. Can't remember all the details.

 

The OP asked about W-30 cars, but since we digress...

A/C was not factory installed on the 1969 W-32 cars. The passenger side snorkel and air hose conflicted with the A/C compressor. The only 68-69 O.A.I. cars that came with A/C were the 1968 H/Os, and just looking at one of those shows you how poorly it fits. Olds did not not install that system, Hurst did. For example, the underside of the hot air adapter that attaches to the bottom of the passenger side snorkel had to be beaten to hell with a hammer to get it to clear the compressor bracket. Not exactly "factory" workmanship.

We've discussed at least one alleged 1969 W-32 with A/C that the owner swore was delivered new to his father that way. After a lot of back and forth, it was disclosed that, yeah, MAYBE the dealership actually installed the A/C, not the factory.

 

Here is crystal59's thread regarding his W32 with self installed AC.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...y-4-speed.html

 

And of particular note is the FACTORY letter in post #104 that specifically points out that A/C is NOT available with W-32 in 1969.

 

What ever happened to crystal59? he has not posted in a long long time.

 

Last signed on a year and a half ago. No word since.