Jon442

Does anyone know what literature existed back in the day for the '68 Ram Rod 350, such as order guides, brochures, factory bulletins, etc? I'd sure like to find that kind of stuff, but I suspect it's made of unobatnium.

Allan R

Jon,
Here's something I found for you on the 69 W cars if that helps.

Jon442

joe_padavano

No, because that brochure is incorrect. There were more Holiday Coupe W-30s made than Sport Coupes. I own a 1968 W-30 Holiday Coupe.

Here is some additional W-31 info from 1968.

Jon442

Thanks, Joe! But do you think that first bulletin is incorrect when it lists the W-31 option available on F-85 and Cutlass Supreme? I would think it should be F-85 and Cutlass S.

allyolds68

This has been discussed for years with a couple original owners weighing in, including one who worked at Oldsmobile when his car was produced. The consensus was that it was available but no one has ever seen one. (certainly not a documented one anyway).

joe_padavano

I've seen a bulletin that subsequently cancelled availability on the Supreme models, but I can't find it now. I'll keep looking.

allyolds68

Another advertisement from 68. It says "a similar performance package is offered on Cutlass Supreme and F85 coupes"

Jon442

I know that those ads and brochures are produced months before the cars are built. Then, somewhere along the line, there is an oops. Either the car was never intended to be built and the literature is mistaken, or the decision not to build the car was made after the literature was printed, or something else. I've learned not to entirely trust marketing material.

I remember going to an Olds dealer event one time. There were numerous "special" versions of the Cutlass, Toronado and 88. I thought, man I can't wait to get back to the store and order some of those. None of them were available to order.

allyolds68

It would be interesting to contact GM of Canada and see if they have a record of any

Allan R

I agree. The person to contact there is George Zapora

larry.d.speicher@gmail.co

Hello jon 442, JoePavadona the for your input and posting of bulletins
Allyolds68 Thx much for the 1968 Olds advertisement on the 1968 Ram Rod 350 W31

I'm one of original owners of a 68 Ram Rod 350 W31 & been Olds Club of America OCA Advisor on model for the last 2-3 years
Worked as an Olds Div Sales Serv & Marketing Field & Home Ofc Mgr 1969 to 2002.
The 68 RR 350 W31 was a mid model year option intro to regain NHRA competitiveness for 1968 season.
All of the initial info on 68 W31 missed start of 68 Model Year printing. Posted below is a pdf of the Dec 8 1967 W31 Dealer Order Bulletin
My research along with input from the former Olds Engineer original W31 owner, sets 68 W31 Vehicles produced at 508-510 units
There were 742 W31 engines produced with significant number of extra 230 engines going to support independent & dealer sponsored cars.
The Sept 2018 OCA monthly members magazine "Journey With Olds" was dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of 1968 Ram Rod 350 W31.
You can order copies from Olds Club of America..... https://www.oldsmobileclub.org/
It does provide added materials on the 1968 & has stories on 8 of the estimated 15-20 estimated surviving cars
The corrected Olds History Center & now GM Heritage Center 68 production notes shows.
38 F85 Sport Cp. model 3277
440 Cutlass S Holiday & Sport Coupes models 3687 & 3677
30 Cut Sup Holiday Cp. 4287 at least 2 were confirmed via a document from microfiche from GM Canada Veh. Hist. Services
...some records at GM Heritage Center say these 30 units were convertibles but dealer publications do not support
....an Aug 1990 Olds Club of America article confirmed Cutlass Supreme Holiday Cp.
There will be a gathering of 6-7 of the 1968 Ram Rod 350 W31's at Nov 17-18 Rosemont IL Muscle Car & Corvette Natls show.
Larry Speicher

allyolds68

Jon442

joe_padavano

Welcome, Larry, and thanks for adding that info to the pile.

larry.d.speicher@gmail.co

Ally the L74 310hp was standard equip on the model 4287 Cut Supreme Hol Cp, so it was not an option, like F85 Cutlass.
The dealer service bulletin is not correct when it say convertibles for 1968 but if it was retained for by Serv Dept for 1969 it is correct

There were 69 Cutlass Convertibles model 3667 built but very small number 26. There were no convertibles built in 68 or 70

Could have been several 1968 prototypes. With right political connections in Lansing, it is possible an Olds GM employee could have
bought a Prototype, but it would have required Olds Pricing Dept to create a special invoice...dont know if that would happen, but it is possible.

Larry

Jon442

Allan R

Well that's interesting
1968 SPECS for Cutlass

1970 SPECS for Cutlass Supreme

hurst68olds

edited for clarity

larry.d.speicher@gmail.co

Hello hurst 68olds, Here is some input on W31 Convertibles and 1968 Cut Supreme W31

The Olds History Center in 2000-2003 was making an error sending out responses to Owner Inquiries for Model/Option counts.
Olds Hist Ctr was saying 68 W31 Convertibles were built. I know as I made an inquiry in 2003 & received one of the responses.
The Hist Ctr was staffed with volunteers & some data may have been mis-read.
This countered an Aug 1990 article by Dennis Casteele an Olds Historian-Writer & OCA organizer, who said,
742 68 W31's were built including 38 F85s, 30 Cut Supreme Holiday Cp & 574 Cutlas Coupes (Sport-Pillar & Holiday-Hardtop).

Dave Heilala a fellow orig 68 W31 owner has told me, Dennis' 742 count number is correct for number of W31 Engines but not cars produced
Dave worked in Olds Lansing Production Engrg in early 68 where engines were put in chassis. Olds Production was to produce 500 W31 cars.
Dave Heilala did see what may have been a pre production 1968 Cutlass Convertible W31 at Oldsmobile Product Delivery in spring 1968.
He tried to purchase it but it was already sold to an Olds Employee or family member.

Both Dave & I suspect this pre production or pilot vehicle is where Production Mgnt runs early units to assure all options will produce correctly.
This car could have been an early run for the 26 1969 W31 Convertible run.
His estimate is 508 were built to meet 500 with a few extra units. That would make corrected count of 38 F85, 30 Cut Sup & 440 Cut S coupes.

On 1968 Cut Supreme W31, I do believe some were produced.
I have seen & retain a copy of a document a GM of Canada Veh Hist Services responded to a owner with.
It shows that Cutlass S Sports Cp owners car in the paper copy of a microfiche GM Canada Production report
That same page shows 2 other 68 Olds Cutass Supreme model 4287 showing the W31 option code in the vehicles description

I have spent a day at the GM Heritage Ctr researching Olds documents that confirm 68 W31 model counts
The Option Penetration reports for 1968 & 1969 are not there to research. They have 1964-67 & 1970-1975 but no 1968-69
It is my belief that those computer reports missing were somehow used with the 1968-69 Hursts Olds projects & never got returned

If you like knowing about 1st yr W31's-see the Sept 2018 Olds Club(OCA) magazine Journey with Olds. 22pp of 46 are on 68 W31
You can purchase it for $5 see info below
Larry Speicher '68 RamRod 350/W31 Advisor Oldsmobile Club of America 630 200-2694

The copies are $5 each and payment can be mailed to:
OCA, PO Box 412 Eaton Rapids, MI 48827

larry.d.speicher@gmail.co

The Sept 2018 Olds Club of America magazine Journey With Olds had the full deck.
That includes the original dealer order bulletin from Dec 7, 1967

Larry Speicher OCA Adviser 1968 Ram Rod 350 W31 larry.d.speicher@gmail.com