Hi everyone, I really need help in my 1st Olds. I have paperwork going back to 2008 when it was in Canada but it’s Greek to me. Vin 344671M1441165. It’s a convertible 442 4 speed that has an older restoration on the outside but needs interior. So after I get help with this I noticed Texas 442 is in Austin Texas, My hometown, hopefully he can reach out to me and hook me up with some quality interior guys to to this car Justice. Thanks,

 

Welcome from Marble Falls MJ. Just up the road a piece from you. Patton and Ali and a few more fellas in Austin as well.

 

Thanks Tru Blu! For the nice welcome and you are just 30 min north of me! If you know of a really good interior restoration guy in Austin please give me a heads up. I also forgot to mention my new project seems to be a W 30. It has most of the trademark items, red fenders, H-heads, Posi read end with as tag numbered carb and distributor. The paperwork from the auction stares W30 as well as bill of laden although those can be doctored. I’m hoping I have more positive verification from anything I find under the seats or tank. Thanks again and please, any help with the decoding will be really valuable. All the best. Mj

 

Very cool. Post a few pics of your 71. The cowl tag and vin will help some but all W-30's produced were
only built in Lansing MI and only those sent to Canada can be documented with factory docs I believe.

There is an inside chance that you may find a broadcast card but a build sheet for them was probably tossed
in the trash as per their rules. Looking forward to some pics and congrats on such a cool car.

As far as interior guys, the only fellows local that I know that do great work is Ed's Classic Upholstery here in town.
https://www.facebook.com/EdsClassic

 

TruBlu. I was told the M in the VIN stands for Lansing Michigan. Let’s see If that is one more thing to help in the verification. Thanks!

 

Welcome to the site ! and congrats on having a kick *** and very rare car.

So far she checks out to being a real W30 and yours is apparently 1 of only 110.


First running your vin trough a decoder. https://www.v8cars.hu/oldsvin/decode.php

Year:1971

Division:Oldsmobile

Series:442

Body:2dr Convertible

Plant:Lansing, Michigan

Serial Number:144116


Then authentication via https://oldsjunction.classicoldsmobi....htm#WM%20W-30

• The inner fenderwells would be RED.
• The intake manifold shuld be ALUMINUM casting # 407570, with "OLDS W-455" cast into it.
• The heads would have ID/code "H".
• Letter "M" in the VIN (for lansing, MI).
• Manual transmission is a M-22 4-speed.
• Auto transmission is code "OW".
• The correct distributor for an auto would be 1112034.
• The correct distributor for a stick would be 1112036.
• The 1971 W-30 used carb number 7041257 for automatics, 704256 for manuals.
• 442 on the glove box door.
• There is a special fuel filter going to the engine between the carb and fuel pump.

This info is contributed to by our very own Joe Padavano. Probably one of the most knowledgeable Oldsmobile guys on earth. (he knows his sh*t)

Oldsjunction has even more detailed info.

 

Hi Joe and everyone one else helping this rookie. Thanks for the reply and the use of your vast knowledge! If it’s not a real W30. It’s gotta be one of about 1000 and if ir is it is one of 100. Being a 4 speed even less I guess? I’m going to post a bunch of pictures real quick since I just took them. Obviously I'm hoping it is but Joe, it’s lookin g more and more that it’s the real deal! Here is more I found out in lookin close. The intake manifold has in caps... OLDS. W-455. And exhaust manifold has a W on one side and Z on the other the fuel pump has the description stated by Joe and the alternator is open face. I’ll send pix as soon as I figure out how. Might take a few minutes! Thanks everyone, you’ve been so helpful so all the best!! Mark

 

 

Hey everyone. Posted the pix on my album. Thanks for any and all input. Mark

 

 

Congratulations! That is a sweet car! Keeping my fingers crossed for you regarding the provenance.

 

I have to say that the photos you had posted earlier of the body data plate dont look correct for the car. Its a very nice looking vehicle, hopefully you can find more evidence of it being a true W30, and not a well faked version.

 

Thanks for the input. I didn’t post a picture of a body data plate but wher should it be so I can take a shot of it.

 

Nice car MJ and just to clarify i'm phil, but the information i posted from Oldsjuction was contributed to by Joe Padavano.

Here are more tidbits.

One other little spotter tip for the 71-72 W-30s is the fuel filter. These cars used a unique external filter on the output side of the pump. The filter is a metal canister, about 2" in diameter and about 3" long. Unlike all prior W-30s and 442s, which had two output lines from the fuel pump - one to the carb and one a fuel return to the tank - the 71-72 W-cars had only a single fuel pump output line which went into this filter. The filter then had two output lines from it, one to the carb and one the fuel return. The filter itself was mounted just above the fuel pump. Now, there's a good chance that the replacement engine does not have the original pump and filter, but if it does, and the metal fuel lines look original (instead of being brand new repros), this would likely support the fact that the car is a true W-30.

The W-25 OAI fiberglass hood was standard.

There were 920 W-30s made in 1971, of which 110 were ragtops.

https://oldsjunction.classicoldsmobi....htm#WM%20W-30

PS too bad 1971 didn't have a letter code in the vin number like the 1972 W30s did. That would help eliminate so much doubt.

 

Thanks Phil for all your help and the clarification. It seems I’ll never know 100% unless I find a card in the interior or under the gas tank, so the search continues. All the best. Mark

 

How many were 4 speeds if you know. Thanks for all your help!,, Mark

 

You say that you have paperwork from when the car came from Canada. If it was sold new in Canada then the W30 status can be verified. GM did not keep those records but Canada did. I’m sure somebody will chime in on where you could go for that info.



As far as the interior goes your best bet would to buy an interior kit from Legendary Automotive. The seat covers are the correct material and colors and come pre-sewn. You can have somebody local install the covers or attempt the project yourself. They usually have a big sale around the end of the year so it should be coming up soon.



The body or data tag is on the driver side cowl under the hood near the windshield. It will have paint and interior codes as well as a little more information.

 

Boy 4speed 455. That’s great information! I actually contacted them and ordered the interior today and I’m ecstatic it the right place to get that interior. I’ll take a picture of the body tag in the morning and post tomorrow, so thanks so much. I’ll say everybody here has been a great help and I’m in everybody’s debt. Hopefully I’ll get better at this and one day have enough knowledge to help other rookies. As for the paperwork, it’s a bill of laden not a bill of sale or sticker so at the least it has a little weight. All the best. Mark.