1969 442 W32 Converible and 1969 Cutlass Supreme Convertible Factory 4 Speed
#1
1969 442 W32 Converible and 1969 Cutlass Supreme Convertible Factory 4 Speed
I am a new member and I have a 1969 442 W32 convertible which I purchased brand new on June 6, 1969 of which there are four remaining out of the original twenty five.
Also, I have a1969 Cutlass Supreme convertible 4 speed factory is one of eighteen from the factory. I will take a photograph and post. Gary
Also, I have a1969 Cutlass Supreme convertible 4 speed factory is one of eighteen from the factory. I will take a photograph and post. Gary
Last edited by crystal59; May 23rd, 2012 at 07:15 PM.
#3
Never for sale. I have had the W32 long enough that no longer need to show it off but thought the forum members may be interested as chances are you may never see another one.
Last edited by crystal59; May 23rd, 2012 at 11:19 AM.
#12
Thank You for the kind welcome. To answer some of the posts, all of the twenty five W32 convertibles were automatics. I was referring to the 4 speed 1969 Cutlass Supreme convertible which I also have and which only eighteen were built. I am on holidays and when I return next week I will post further photographs of the W32 including under the hood, interior,etc. and also of the 4 speed which is Burgandy with a black interior. To answer the post about what makes a W32, there were a set of items which I will post including ram air induction, posi traction, pin striping, etc. My W32 has the only one that had the option of a ring rim horn and I will post a photograph. Also, the hood on the W32 is much heavier than the hood on the Cutlass. I bought the Cutlass for potential body parts before I found out that it was more rare than the W32 but when the two cars are side by side there is a very small difference with the W32 a little more edgy and heavier looking. Certainly as I said the hood is much heavier.
Last edited by crystal59; May 23rd, 2012 at 07:24 PM.
#13
No 3 or 4 speed manual transmissions in the W-34's. W-32 package consisted of automatic transmission only with the 350 hp 4spd engine instead of the normal 325 hp engine teamed with the 442 automatic transmission. Also all W-32's had OIA and were not available with factory air cinditioning.
Henry
Henry
#14
I should have been more clear in my first post. All of the twenty five 1969 W32 convertibles were automatic. I was referring to a 1969 Cutlass Supreme factory 4 speed convertible which I am also fortunate to own and in it's own way is more rare because only eighteen were built. I will post photographs next week.
Last edited by crystal59; May 23rd, 2012 at 07:29 PM.
#15
No 3 or 4 speed manual transmissions in the W-34's. W-32 package consisted of automatic transmission only with the 350 hp 4spd engine instead of the normal 325 hp engine teamed with the 442 automatic transmission. Also all W-32's had OIA and were not available with factory air cinditioning.
Henry
Henry
Last edited by crystal59; May 23rd, 2012 at 07:14 PM.
#16
All of the W32 convertibles have a 400 engine.
Of course all 69 442's had 400cid engines, but W32's had 350hp with auto trans while all other non W auto trans 442's were equipped with 325hp engines.
Factory air conditioning could have been ordered along with an am/fm radio which I wanted but the car was too far down the line so I added both later.
Of course all 69 442's had 400cid engines, but W32's had 350hp with auto trans while all other non W auto trans 442's were equipped with 325hp engines.
Factory air conditioning could have been ordered along with an am/fm radio which I wanted but the car was too far down the line so I added both later.
That's news to me! (I've owned a couple of 69 W32's) I've paid notice to these W32 cars for many years and never saw factory ac W32 even living in Tx. Also Olds dealer literature specs excludes AC with W32 package
Do you have any proof that factory air conditioning was available on the W32?
#17
That's news to me! (I've owned a couple of 69 W32's) I've paid notice to these W32 cars for many years and never saw factory ac W32 even living in Tx. Also Olds dealer literature specs excludes AC with W32 package
Do you have any proof that factory air conditioning was available on the W32?
Do you have any proof that factory air conditioning was available on the W32?
#18
That's news to me! (I've owned a couple of 69 W32's) I've paid notice to these W32 cars for many years and never saw factory ac W32 even living in Tx. Also Olds dealer literature specs excludes AC with W32 package
Do you have any proof that factory air conditioning was
available on the W32?
Do you have any proof that factory air conditioning was
available on the W32?
Last edited by crystal59; May 23rd, 2012 at 08:12 PM.
#19
4 remaining
Please explain how you know only 4 remain out of the 20 built.
Also does your four remaining include the car in Alberta Canada? It is white with red stripes & interior if that matters.
Great cars by the way & welcome to the site. Thanks for sharing.
Also does your four remaining include the car in Alberta Canada? It is white with red stripes & interior if that matters.
Great cars by the way & welcome to the site. Thanks for sharing.
#20
I should have added to the previous post one could get any option they wanted as long as they were prepared to pay for it. In those days you could have a GM car with a Ford colour if you were prepared to pay the price. As it relates to only four left, a couple of years ago I was watching Barrett Jackson when a 1969 442 W32 convertible came down the block owned by Lenny Kravitz and the auctioneer as well as
the brochure set out only three known to exist. I sent them an email setting out that they were wrong and that there were four and I had the green one and please tell Mr Kravitz his hood stripes were wrong. Bad idea as I keep getting emails to run it down the block and see what the bid is. Lenny Kravitz car went for 140K and maybe because it belonged to him but one never knows.
the brochure set out only three known to exist. I sent them an email setting out that they were wrong and that there were four and I had the green one and please tell Mr Kravitz his hood stripes were wrong. Bad idea as I keep getting emails to run it down the block and see what the bid is. Lenny Kravitz car went for 140K and maybe because it belonged to him but one never knows.
Last edited by crystal59; May 23rd, 2012 at 08:24 PM.
#24
How much of your car is still original? How many miles do you have on it,what other options did you get,what dealership did u get it from ? Do you have a picture of the car in 1969 ? That is a good looking car !
#26
Thank You. I did not know the production numbers other than the W32 convertible. The interesting thing is that although the W32 convertible gets all the attention, the 1969 Cutlass Supreme 4 speed convertible is more rare with only eighteen built but it does not have the flash of the W32 convertible. To make it feel better and look better I added ram air and trumpet tail pipes.
#27
That is the only sad part of the story. The W32 paid it's dues and was driven by my wife for many years without much attention. She told me there was a tick sound in the engine. I started the W32 up and there was a tick. I phoned my mechanic of the day and asked if I should have it towed or drive it to his shop. He suggested I drive it. The engine blew. The car was towed to the mechanic to fix and a few days later my wife said the car is ready and finally she did not have to drive such a powerful car. I asked what do you mean by that. She said our mechanic said the car would run better for her with a 350 in it. I was furious and got on the phone demanding my engine. He said it has been sold. All this within 24 hours and the 350 was in the car. He said he did not know the name of the person who paid cash for the engine and no way of finding the engine. I still think he has it and some day. Anyway I was so annoyed because the 350 did not work properly with the linkage etc. I dropped a 455 into the car and it works just fine. The options the car had was rim horn, trunk release, eight track, and I added air conditioning and am/fm radio.
Last edited by crystal59; May 24th, 2012 at 10:45 AM.
#28
Also, after the engine nonsense, the W32 came back into my care. There is approximately 20,000 miles on the 455 engine and everything else is original. I purchased the W32 from Westminster Olds Chevrolet. The person who originally ordered the W32 put down 2500 which was credited to the car I was told by the dealership. I traded in my completly restored 1956 Thunderbird and still owed 2300 for a car I had not seen. Nervous time until the W32 arrived and then I
found out only twenty five were built and I had the green one. That was a terrific day.
found out only twenty five were built and I had the green one. That was a terrific day.
Last edited by crystal59; May 24th, 2012 at 12:09 AM.
#32
For those not familiar with the 1969 W-32, here's a little more information. Prior to this option package being released, there were three drivetrains available in the 442 for 1969, all based on the G-block 400, the 325 HP version with the TH400, the 350 HP version with the 3 spd HD or 4 spd manual transmissions, or the W-30 with either the 4 spd manual or special OW code TH400. Of course the W-30 also had O.A.I. The primary difference between the three motors was the cam (yes, and the D heads on the W-30).
I'm guessing that the base TH400 was not considered robust enough to live behind the 350 HP motor, though obviously the OW version of the TH400 could take it. The W-32 motor is simply the manual trans version of the 400 and used the same cam as the MT motors. There is some uncertainty as to whether the W-32 used the OW version of the TH400 or the base version (I've seen documents that show both), though it would seem to make more sense that the OW was used. Unlike the W-30, the milder cam in the W-32 allowed power disk brakes to be offered.
And while A/C WAS offered on the manual trans versions, I too have seen factory documentation that A/C was NOT available with the W-32 package. I attribute this more to the problem with routing the O.A.I. hose around the compressor (look at an underhood photo of a 1968 H/O with air sometime) than with engine vacuum levels. The fact that a dealer claimed to be able to order A/C (and then failed to deliver) is unfortunately not proof that the option was available, only that the dealer thought it was.
I'm guessing that the base TH400 was not considered robust enough to live behind the 350 HP motor, though obviously the OW version of the TH400 could take it. The W-32 motor is simply the manual trans version of the 400 and used the same cam as the MT motors. There is some uncertainty as to whether the W-32 used the OW version of the TH400 or the base version (I've seen documents that show both), though it would seem to make more sense that the OW was used. Unlike the W-30, the milder cam in the W-32 allowed power disk brakes to be offered.
And while A/C WAS offered on the manual trans versions, I too have seen factory documentation that A/C was NOT available with the W-32 package. I attribute this more to the problem with routing the O.A.I. hose around the compressor (look at an underhood photo of a 1968 H/O with air sometime) than with engine vacuum levels. The fact that a dealer claimed to be able to order A/C (and then failed to deliver) is unfortunately not proof that the option was available, only that the dealer thought it was.
#33
I do not disagree with you. All I know is when the W32 arrived without AC or am/fm radio I was annoyed and said this is not the car I ordered. The response was it is a convertible and you do not need AC. I said tell that to the people in Texas during the summer. The end result was factory AC was added without problems or modifications that I am aware of and of course I had to pay for it. This was an established large dealership and I was not ordering from a sales person. I dealt directly with ownership and I
think that they would be aware of the options. It does not matter as I received what I ordered, and perhaps it was an add on but the W32 was an expensive car for it's day and I do not think if someone were prepared to order one but demanded AC because they lived in the desert or something, they would not be accommodated. No one would turn down such a sale. As I said in those days you could get whatever you wanted if you were prepared to pay the price. These were times of fierce competition between the car companies for the muscle car consumer business. I remember the Chrysler dealership trying to sell the cartoon muscles cars for under cost without success. The cost of my W32 was comparable to a Cadillac and there were a lot more potential Cadillac purchasers. The reason that only twenty five W32 convertibles were built is that that is all that was ordered. If more orders came in I have no doubt more W32 convertibles would have been built.
think that they would be aware of the options. It does not matter as I received what I ordered, and perhaps it was an add on but the W32 was an expensive car for it's day and I do not think if someone were prepared to order one but demanded AC because they lived in the desert or something, they would not be accommodated. No one would turn down such a sale. As I said in those days you could get whatever you wanted if you were prepared to pay the price. These were times of fierce competition between the car companies for the muscle car consumer business. I remember the Chrysler dealership trying to sell the cartoon muscles cars for under cost without success. The cost of my W32 was comparable to a Cadillac and there were a lot more potential Cadillac purchasers. The reason that only twenty five W32 convertibles were built is that that is all that was ordered. If more orders came in I have no doubt more W32 convertibles would have been built.
Last edited by crystal59; May 24th, 2012 at 06:56 PM.
#34
Nice cars! I had no idea a four speed 69 cutlass ragtop was that rare!
I had a 68 cutlass convert four speed I sold 20 some years ago. Would you know how many of those were built???
I sure miss that car. Today I touched base , thru classicOldsmobile , with the guy , Steve , who purchased my car all those years ago.
I had a 68 cutlass convert four speed I sold 20 some years ago. Would you know how many of those were built???
I sure miss that car. Today I touched base , thru classicOldsmobile , with the guy , Steve , who purchased my car all those years ago.
#35
Here is my compiled list of what was available on a 69 W32.
1. Built at any plant Ive seen this data several times. (Some data does point to the fact that this is false and it should be Lansing built only? Id like to see a non "M" W32 with legit paperwork)
2. 286*@ .472 lift cam
3. Could have power brakes(J50)
4. Regular RPO M40 TH400?
5. H.C. V8 performance engine (L78)
Manditory options:
1. G80 (limited slip) 391, 433, or 342s
2. V-01 or V-02 (HD radiator)
3. P-81 Fiberglass tires (another source says PK5 Good Year G70s)
4. Y-73 hood stripes( I have a mag article from 1994 that calls it the W42 hood stripe)
5. M40 Auto trans (calabrated differently with HD parts or standard issue TH400?) Most likely, you'd think its at least a 442 OG trans? Why wouldnt the factory put one there same as in a 325hp 442 from a warranty stand point.
Options not available:
1. P-door locks? (AU-3?)
2. Y-72 engine cooling?(HD cooling engine cooling)
3. A/C due to the rear gear options. Some say it also was due to the passenger OAI hose interference.
Of course as mentioned here from an original owner who ordered his car anything was possible in the 60s. Though it appears this was a dealer added option (the A/C).
crystal59 whats the tag say on your tranny? And post some pictures of how the hoses are routed. I'm just curious.
1. Built at any plant Ive seen this data several times. (Some data does point to the fact that this is false and it should be Lansing built only? Id like to see a non "M" W32 with legit paperwork)
2. 286*@ .472 lift cam
3. Could have power brakes(J50)
4. Regular RPO M40 TH400?
5. H.C. V8 performance engine (L78)
Manditory options:
1. G80 (limited slip) 391, 433, or 342s
2. V-01 or V-02 (HD radiator)
3. P-81 Fiberglass tires (another source says PK5 Good Year G70s)
4. Y-73 hood stripes( I have a mag article from 1994 that calls it the W42 hood stripe)
5. M40 Auto trans (calabrated differently with HD parts or standard issue TH400?) Most likely, you'd think its at least a 442 OG trans? Why wouldnt the factory put one there same as in a 325hp 442 from a warranty stand point.
Options not available:
1. P-door locks? (AU-3?)
2. Y-72 engine cooling?(HD cooling engine cooling)
3. A/C due to the rear gear options. Some say it also was due to the passenger OAI hose interference.
Of course as mentioned here from an original owner who ordered his car anything was possible in the 60s. Though it appears this was a dealer added option (the A/C).
crystal59 whats the tag say on your tranny? And post some pictures of how the hoses are routed. I'm just curious.
Last edited by droldsmorland; December 30th, 2016 at 09:54 AM. Reason: Correcting some mis-information, hopefully
#37
Nice W32. A friend of mine has one also. His is white with red stripes. Can be seen at www.oldsclub.ca, go to the Rocket Round Up 2010. Didn't know there were so few.
#39
Here is my compiled list of what was available on a 69 W32.
1. Built at any plant
2. 286*@ .472 lift cam
3.
1. G80 (limited slip)
2. V-01 or V-02 (HD radiator)
3. P-81 Fiberglass tiresAuto trans
Options not available:
1. P-door locks? (AU-3?)
2. Y-72 engine cooling?(HD cooling engine cooling)
Of course as mentioned here from an original owner who ordered his car anything was possible in the 60s.
1. Built at any plant
2. 286*@ .472 lift cam
3.
1. G80 (limited slip)
2. V-01 or V-02 (HD radiator)
3. P-81 Fiberglass tiresAuto trans
Options not available:
1. P-door locks? (AU-3?)
2. Y-72 engine cooling?(HD cooling engine cooling)
Of course as mentioned here from an original owner who ordered his car anything was possible in the 60s.
Last edited by crystal59; May 25th, 2012 at 11:17 AM.
#40
Nice cars! I had no idea a four speed 69 cutlass ragtop was that rare!
I had a 68 cutlass convert four speed I sold 20 some years ago. Would you know how many of those were built???
I sure miss that car. Today I touched base , thru classicOldsmobile , with the guy , Steve , who purchased my car all those years ago.
I had a 68 cutlass convert four speed I sold 20 some years ago. Would you know how many of those were built???
I sure miss that car. Today I touched base , thru classicOldsmobile , with the guy , Steve , who purchased my car all those years ago.
Last edited by crystal59; May 25th, 2012 at 10:58 AM.