Hello from middle America. I signed on a couple of weeks ago but have been busy at work and unable to submit the first post. We have had a few Oldsmobiles during the last 40 years we have been together (daily driver is a '02 Bravada which we really enjoy). Our '70 442 W-30 found us about 8 years ago. I was working at the local high school as a School Resource Officer and had gotten to know some of the staff. The secretary in the office approached me one day and, knowing I was a motorhead, asked if I would be interested in an "old gray car that was sitting in their llama pen". I told her "probably not" as I was just finishing a '56 Chev Wagon and had a '55 Chev 2 dr on the back burner.

As we all know, the car you don't follow up on is the one that gets away. The farm was 50 miles from here and I asked if she could just write down any names she sees on the car. The next week she hands me a note that simply says: 442 W-30. I accused her of making this up or having someone put her up to it as a joke. She got mad and said if I was not interested in the car, they intended on digging a pit in the pasture and pushing the car in . It turned out the car belonged to a relative who had worn out his welcome, moved out of the farmhouse some years before and left the car there.

Long story shortened. Saw the car, a rough... but complete and original, '70 W-30 post car and rescued it from the Llamas after 6 months of telephone calls to the estranged nephew. It's been stored inside since we towed it home and is awaiting restoration. The Olds was driven into the pen in 1981 and left to rot. Nephew was the second owner and said it was the third fastest car in Salina. KS in it's day...he just couldn't keep up with the Hemi cars (nice to know I bought a gently treated used car).

The information I have already seen on this site in incredible and the members knowlege is truly impressive. Thanks for the opportunity to participate! MAX 442

 

Welcome aboard

Glad you decided to join us.

 

This is a great place for information and help. Pictures are required from all new members

 

Welcome to our site !! Glad you saved her! Can't wait to see pics.

 

Ohhh can't wait to see these pics. Hope you took pics of it in the Llama pen.

 

What an interesting story. It sure sounds like you got the one that 'didn't get away'. Welcome to CO

 

Welcome, fellow Kansan!

 

Greetings from another Kansan. Love those '70 Cutlasses, I'm slowly working on mine. There's a guy here in Wichita that has a restored '70 442 W-30 convertible - it's beautiful.

 

The only surviving photos we have of the Llama pen 1970 442 W-30. I think 'Frosty the Llama' was upset when her scratching post was removed.

MAX 442




Llama pen 442 W-30.jpg

 

Thats awesome.

 

That story deserves to be in a magazine of some sort, along with pictures, of course! Welcome to CO! Much help abounds here, not necessairly from me!!!

 

Those pictures are awesome. What a find!

 

Oh, the poor old girl, lol!!

 

Lucky you, There are a few Llama pens around here, I think I'll cruise by and check them for W-30"s. Cool deal, keep us tuned in for the "rest of the story" Welcome aboard, your going to love it here! Lots of info and help. Keep the pictures coming. Dan

 

Welcome to CO fellow Kansan

 

Welcome.

Oz?...ever see any of them there flying monkeys?

 

10 years ago I submitted the info and photos of the 'llama pen' 442 W 30 post and promptly dropped off this site never to be heard from again....almost. The LP 442 is still residing in the garage...sheltered from the elements. Life in general, including medical issues, career, family and finally... retirement... all seemed to interfere with my making any progress on the old girl or the '55 Chevy sharing the next door stall. Today, while visiting with my son in Oklahoma, he told me he had recently met a neighbor who is restoring an 80s Cutlass and during their talk, he relayed the llama pen story. I doubt that time will allow me to finish...or even start on... the 442, but it was nice to see the photos of her rescue from Frosty the llama again. I guess I might be the oldest inactive 'newbie' in the history of this site!

 

Welcome back so no progress has been made? You know what they say , no time like the present !!!

 

Max, welcome back. I'm glad you saved your Olds from the llama pen.

 

WoW!! I never saw this before. What a story. I hope you can get to it soon or move it on to someone who can. Not trying to be negative or critical but there would be no shame in letting it go if you realize you will never get to it....

 

I totally agree with maybe passing it on sometime in the near future but I know that if I do, the chances of ever buying and driving a muscle car will probably be gone. Some friends have suggested parting it out but there is no way I would since she has survived mostly intact....even with the abusive llama herd surrounding her!

 

Have you thought about just going through it mechanically so it is safe and getting on the road as is? I think it would be an awesome driver just the way it is especially if it is mostly intact and original. If you were closer to me I would come help you myself just to get an original W30 back on the road but I am in PA so that is not really an option. There may be others closer to you that would be willing to make the same offer. Definitely DO NOT part it out!

 

Hey, thanks for that offer! Parting her out was the suggestion of several friends but will never be an option as long as I have ownership. She looks much better in the old grainy photos than she actually is. the seller may have been only the second owner during the 11 years she was on the road but from what I see he was a rough driver. Her time abandoned in the farmyard took its toll rust wise as she sat from 1981 to 2002 under trees (our long needle pine trees seemed to have been unusually hard on the roof panel).. I've never even tried to see if the engine will turn and I suppose almost 40 years of inactivity might be rough on the inside of a 455.

 

Good Luck on that project. You have a very desirable year for the W machine.
tc

 

Inactivity will never put that car on the road.

 

You might be surprised about the motor. I bought a 68 nighty eight in 2018 that had been sitting in Philly since 1985. The car looked very rough on the outside and interior, but when I opened up the 455 I realized that the 20K miles on the odometer was actual mileage and the engine was absolutely beautiful inside. I made a thread about what I found: https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...inside-148380/. Can you post some pics of the outside, inside and under the hood? I am sure everyone here would love to see what the car currently looks like.

 

Linking to the continuing story of Frosty the llama: New to Oldsmobile and hit the Jackpot