Since the H/Os were Oldsmobiles "luxury" muscle cars, why didn't Olds use more cars with p/w,p/l? I've noticed this particularly on the 73-75 models, rarely do you see these options on an H/O.

 

The earliest reference to that from what I can tell was the 07/69 Hot Rod article titled 'Muscle Car with Luxury'. If you read the article it really doesn't mention luxury other than a related item; "Nearly every one of the 68's had air conditioning, and as we said, the buyer who get's excited over one of these cars is one of our more financially secure citizens" Perhaps that article stuck the H/O with the tag of Luxury Muscle car or that alot of 68's came with A/C?? I know plenty of 69's that didn't have A/C, on my car it only has PS/PB & A/C and my 74 H/O only has PS/PB.

 

I don't know that there exist any real stats for A/C vs. non-A/C in the 68 or 69 cars, but I seriously doubt that "most" of either year had A/C installed. After seeing them for 30+ years and originally being from "the North" where A/C was very uncommon in anything those days, I would guess that fewer than 25% came with it. If someone wanted serious (straight-line) performance, they wanted gears that made A/C unavailable and also less weight. Also, A/C was an expensive option compared to the price of a base car. In 68, A/C was just over $360. A base 442 ragtop was only $3300! The way my 69 is optioned out it listed at well over $5k when new. That was Cadillac money in those days!

I've seen a lot of 68/9 H/Os over the years. I don't think they were on average any more loaded down with add-on options than other 442s. The 68 I had only had the bare basics. My 69 was originally a little bit better, but since it has factory 3.91s, couldn't have had A/C. I added the rest of the options years ago (it has everything except A/C). Have you ever seen even a Cutlass with C57?

 

Some of the speculation I've heard concerning the 69 H/O

Northern cars most likely didn't get a/c as in it's day it was a "rare" option

Many of the non a/c cars were raced/crashed on the strip

Many northern cars lost their lives to the typical rust associated with the area[s]

Since a/c vs. non a/c produced cars were approximatley 50/50, there are more a/c survivors % wise.

 

This could get interesting!

 

The one I have has p/w,p/l,tilt,cruise,rear defrost,digital tach., and that funky looking thermometer on the drivers door. I haven't had it long-probably has something else I'm not remembering....umm...does a clock count as luxurious?