My thoughts are since I've never seen any difference between cars with and cars without the "Z". That possibley the "Z" is broadcast for assembly line reasons not specific to the build of the body. Some ideas are; Maybe some cars were broadcast for certain checks or inspections along the line. Or maybe it's a marker for the trim department to keep them caught-up with body production. These are only guesses as I have no evidence what so ever of what the "Z" is for. ~BOB

 

I was wondering if it had anything to do with the car being ordered with a non-recommended outside color vs. interior color trim and upholstery combination. The only reason I say this, is someone on the forum was showing a 71 cutlass or 442 that was Saturn Gold with Sienna interior, a non-recommended combination according to the factory literature, and it was a Z coded car. Saturn Gold was only to be offered with White, Black or Sandlewood interiors in 71, and not Sienna. Of course, this theory goes out the window if a Z is found on a black or white interior, which I think would be a recommended combo with all exterior colors. Just another thought.

 

Not going to fly. My 1970 Cutlass W-31 has the Z code & black interior.

 

So far if memory serves, we have had Z code units as follows:
1970-1971 up til or about April.
442
W-30
W-31
supreme hardtop
supreme convertible
supreme SX
cutlass sedan
and I believe that some where here on this forum, that someone found a Toronado with a Z.

I have beat this up on my end with an e-mail to the GM heritage center (dear in the headlights response) Talked to Fisher people when ever I have ran across them, asked the Badgleys see if they knew (nope) and Carshinebob has made his thoughts on earlier post.

My only other thought is to see if I can contact the Lansing state journal to do an article trying to find ex-fisher employees that may be able to shed some light. I won't hold me breath on their help.

Pat

 

Not sure on the 'Z' representing a car that was special ordered by the dealer. My '70 W-31 was ordered late April of 1970 and doesn't have the Z code on the tag or broadcast card.

The only other thing I could think of that I haven't seen mentioned is the steering wheel. I know there is a specific code for the sport wheel, but I believe 3 steering wheels were offered in 1970--two that matched the interior color of the car and the black sports wheel with the colored hub.

Great thread!

 

Z=Ziebart undercoating. No thanks necessary.

 

Attached is the Production Sheet from my Rallye 350. Does anyone have this for a Z coded car? There is a column in the upper right titled 'CAN EXPORT'. For a Canadian car I'd be curious what letter is populated in this box.

 

I am starting to think it was some guy that could see into the future and said "I am going to screw with these future people and add a random Z to the cowl tag" lol.

 

Zorro edition.
It was a popular tv show then.

 

I just bought a 70 Cutlass Supreme conv. 350/4 spd car. Lan built. 10C build date. Trim Z979 58 H. Car still retains all its original interior (minus the carpet now). Options include console, AC, 8 track, Power top, Am radio. I don't see anything that jumps out as being different.

 

Hmm. Burnished Gold Droptop with Gold top and Saddle in color interior. Nice combo!

We all agree that the Z pertains to the SPL box on the broadcast card in the same category as the interior code. Right? The infamous "Z" is the only character I've seen in that box.

Anywho this particular one has 58 - Burnished Gold * Lower body Color * and H - Gold * Convertible Top *. The "Factory Recommended Exterior and Interior Color Combinations" chart recommends a code 970 - Black, code 977 - Ivory, code 974 - Gold or code 968 - Sandalwood (Which in this case was only available for the Cutlass Supreme platform in the 4-door Holiday Sedan body style.)

So ultimately with this exterior combo it should've been Black, Ivory or Gold interior instead of Saddle. Clearly this one has a discrepancy with the factory recommended combo and possibly special ordered somewhere between the regional zone manager, the dealership and/or original owner/order placer.

So was the "Z" being just a precursor override for the inspector's and installers along the Fisher Body journey???? Being that Oldsmobile ordered this body to be built by Fisher and the fact that it did in fact deviate from standard protocol. Hmmm....

 

Scot, is there anything that deviates from protocol with the tag imfo from my 70 CS convertibles cowl ...Z 977 14B?.. wondering if there is a pattern that could be established???
And, would this show up as a bypass code on the build sheet?

 

Cool car!

 

Maybe Ted!

Let's see
977 = Ivory in color interior
14 = Platinum Lower Body Color
B = Black Convertible Top Color

A Platinum lower body color with Black Convertible Top was "factory" recommended to have the Ivory in color interior. So no help there...

 

I know I keep bringing this up, but somehow denoting the type of front seat configuration (bench or buckets) and if it is the standard type of seat for the body shell being assembled must have a problem for the line since the special bucket mounting brackets would have to be welded in on the line. I dont think there are unique body shells based on buckets or bench - the same as with A/C or not. Maybe the Z has nothing to do with this, but I've always wondered about where in the assembly process were those brackets added to the car.

 

Well addressing the past hand full of posts.

Permalink #109 70 Green sedan with green interior, recommended 922 green bench only option.

Buckets/bench, I had that thought about that two weeks ago. As we know that supremes came standard with strato-buckets. So I seen a bench code z, so I am on to something! Nope I found Z code with buckets on supremes, SX or plain droptops.

Pat

 

My Z-code W-30 is triple black (upper, lower, interior) and has buckets. I can't think of a single thing on it that's out of the ordinary and might need a special code.


But it IS special.

 

I did notice yesterday that the seatbelts are black, not saddle. I thought they were suppose to color match the interior?

 

Black seat belts were standard in all A bodies during that time period. In order to get color co-ordinated belts you had to order the deluxe belts. In 71 and later, the deluxe belts gave you the color matching belt with the brushed metal buckles. In prior years the buckles also matched the webbing.

 

I don't have any new info but just wanted to share the info on my car if it helps any.
I remember the same discussion on ROP and no one could figure it out there. I don't have a pic
of the trim tag handy but it is a 70 442 vert, with 58 H paint and Z979 trim. Date code is 08A.
It has black seat belts, interior light group, am radio, stock brown steering wheel with tilt, non ac,
and no rear defroster. It had the chrome dash trim. It is a Lansing car and was bought new
at a Chicago dealership and has never been owned by anyone outside of the Chicago area.

 

This showed up at the Olds Nationals in Brookfield, WI last week.
It is a Z code car. 1970 442 W-30 Post 4-speed car. All original paint,
interior, drive train, etc.

20150724_172348_zpsgvorg1ha.jpg

20150724_174416_zpswwhy321y.jpg

20150724_174816_zpsd6fnlw2c.jpg

 

Way cool! Where are the heater vents?

 

Post coupes, post sedans, & wagons that did not have AC had those dash pads. They had the vent windows in the door & the kick panel vents that provided your ventilation.

 

I see, said the blind man. Did not know that. Thanks for the info brother.

 

Could the "Z" be the designation for the engine hook "Paint Delete" rare option?

 

lol, love it!
If that bracket has never been off then the factory forgot to put washers under it.

 

funny you should mention that. costpenn noticed that too and informed us it was an early build vs late build thing. as for when the date was that it changed, Joe stated it's in the PIM

 

Is the original red 70 W30 post car a Canadian export car?
Thanks
Derek

 

The original and current owner bought it new in Wisconsin off the dealer lot.

 

More Z stuff!

Pat

 

At a friends house for a few weeks just south of Lansing, MI and I looked at his Cutlass S W31 optioned car with automatic. It is an 01D (last week in Jan 1970) with a - A paint code (any of four option colors and White top), and Z930 interior (black). Still feel this is an internal Fisher Body code. For what I do not know>>>>>>!

 

I just purchased a 1978 Chev Nova Police with the 9C1 car package. The trim tag shows an interior code of 19Z, 19X according to their info is a black bench seat car. A police car usually gets plain vinyl, plus it has a smaller back seat than a standard Nova. The Z would be an indicator that the code is for something seat/color/style related that is out of the ordinary. I believe from this it could have affected any combination of options that related to the interior.
FullSizeRender%202_zpsqibfv8xn.jpg

 

Back when I was more active on these boards I posted this question to several forums. Never got this kind of activity though. I just happened to Google it today for 'shiggles'.

1) Year & Build Date 10/21/1969 (1970)
2) Assy Plant Lansing
3) Body Style (Hardtop/Post/ Conv) Hardtop
4) Exterior Upper Color - (code) B (vinyl)
5) Exterior Lower Color - (code) 28 Twilight Blue
6) Interior Color - (code) 930 Black
7) Bench or Bucket? Buckets
8) Tinted Windows? yes
9) Seat Belt Standard Or Deluxe? Deluxe?
10) Transmission 4 spd
11) Radio - AM or FM or Delete AM
12) Rear Speaker? Not in the seat. Trunk/pkg tray
13) A/C, Heater or Delete? No A/C Has heater
14) Carpeting, or Base Mat? Carpet
15) Floor Mats? No. But they could have been lost. 7 previous owners
16) Console? yes
17) Package Tray Material? mesh
18) B85 Molding? ???


W-30 Black stripes w/black vinyl roof and Twilight Blue. NOT the most attractive combo. Z on broadcast and cowl

 

Thank you GAOldsman. I KNEW I had an account here but could not remember my username. That is until I saw your post with a broadcast card attached. I'm looking at it and thought 'WOW. This guys car was built the same day as mine'. Then I read the entire post. lol (my card)

Yeah, This has been driving me batty for some time.

 

Haven't talked about his for awhile.

There's a 70 W30 convertible on ebay right now(Aug-2018) that has the Z in the Special box on the broadcast card, so one would assume it's on the body tag as well. No picture of the body tag.

Anyone want to call him and ask him if he knows what the Z is for?

 

For this one, maybe it means "valve covers installed backwards".
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-Oldsmo...0.H0.TRS5.TSS5

 

I've been leaning towards color combinations that were not suggested by the factory. I can't remember where, but I know there was a suggested color combo chart of exterior paint/stripes/ interior/roof covering. My W30 is twilight blue with black stripes . Do you know how much the stripes "pop" on this car? They don't .

 

I can't believe that we have never come across one of these guys. Anywhere . And time is running out.

 

I'm with you, as I indicated back in Jan of 2015. As it is attached to the Trim number, it must be related in some way to the body/trim. I recently came across a 70 Cutlass Supreme convertible that in addition to having a dash in lieu of a color number code, for that Rally Red color, it also had a Z997, which is for a white notchback seat. However, the roof color is a B, for black, and I believe the top usually matches the body or interior. In this case, a red body, black roof and a white interior, not a regular set up. Anyway, that's my best guess.

 

I have the Z also, 70 W-30, Aztec blue, blue interior, blue vinyl roof with black stripes. Im thinking maybe that isn't a dealer recommended combo?