Before the strike that began on September 14, 1970, a high percentage of Oldsmobiles produced at Arlington seemed to be 442’s. Most other Oldsmobile models weren’t built in significant quantities there until December 1970.

About 2,000 442 hardtop coupes were produced in Arlington for the 1971 model year, of 6.285 total produced in all plants. Arlington accounted for over 30% of total production.

See my other posts for information on other models and overall production.




To continue to build the data set, I’d appreciate Fisher body tag information and VINs of 1971 (only) Arlington-built (only) cars. “Build sheet” (broadcast card) information would be a bonus. You don’t need to post the info; a PM is fine.

 

I had an Arlington 71 442 right at the end of high school up until I finished "A" school in the Navy and bought a newer car. Looking back it was a bad idea, but E-4s with <6 months service didn't make a lot of money back then. It's when I found out the R in the VIN stood for the Arlington, plant. Unfortunately, I don't believe I got anything left of that car paperwork-wise, but if I run across any of it I'll check. Back then I had NO concern over build dates or historic nature of cars because it wasn't very old back then. Didn't even get interested in that until about 5 years or so later. My current 71 was built in Lansing, so it's out.

My 85 442 was built in Arlington, too, but like most Arlington 85 G-bodies, it never even came with a cowl tag!! Based on component date codes, I'd suspect build week was 02B or 02C. Couldn't have been 02D because that's when it arrived at the dealership.

 

The 85 442's never had a cowl tag. All of the information was on a sticker on the inside of the trunk lid. I bought a new 85 442 in December of 84 from Freeman Olds in Dallas.