Hi All,

I'm a new member/owner and there seems to be a lot of wisdom in this Forum...just what I'm going to need during my upcoming winter restoration of my 442.

The odometer reads 88,324 miles, and the car is as stock as it gets, including worn original interior, matching #s VIN on the block pad and correct E heads (403686).

It seems to have an original W-25 hood....appears to have some original paint color left on it and its not a reproduction, but a previous owner put on an Edelbrock Torker intake and carb.

I want to do a stock rebuild, so fortunately, I was able to track down a stock intake correct casting (404521?) in Long Island and number-matching Quadrajet carb (7040257?) ....I haven't found the build sheet yet, so I'm going to guess that it had the Outside Air induction Air Cleaner Assembly at one point (I'm thinking I should put that back on too), but was removed when the new intake and carb went on...maybe a height issue??

It has a Dual Gate Shifter, power windows, and factory A/C but the system is fairly incomplete.

It has the "special order" Rallye Red, but a bit of a weird color combo, with a black convertible roof and strips, with the pearl interior....doesn't the roof usually match the interior on most cars?? This is how it decodes below, I believe....

I'm debating whether to keep the roof color stock black with black stripes, or go to matching white roof and stripes...I welcome opinions on this!

Drop me a note if you want to chat, and I'm interested in hearing from you about your car and restoration challenges, especially if I can learn a thing or two from your project.

Regards,
Jeff

Here is the decoding info, as best as I can determine:

ST 70 34467 E 434 BDY
TR 977 WA 4007 B PNT
11C A 31

* 70 = model year
* 34467 = Olds (3) 4-4-2 (44) convertible (67)
* E = An "E" in the VIN would mean the car was assembled at the Linden, NJ plant.
* 434= I believe this is the body number. 434 would mean this was the 434th convertible "A" body assembled at the Linden plant for model year 1970.
* 977 = interior color and seating arrangement parchment (pearl white) bucket seats
* WA is the Dupont code for one of the 4 special order colors. Rallye Red though was WA 4007. Others were Sebring Yellow, Nugget Gold, Agean Aqua.
*Convertible top color which is B is black top.
* 11 c= time build code. 11 is November and c is the thirdweek in that month.
* A31 = option code for power windows.

 

Nice car! The colour combination is interesting. My car, a 1970 W31, Ralley Red, Black stripes, and interior, has a very different impression than a friend of mine's car when they are parked beside on another. His is a 1971 W30 with factory ordered carry over Ralley Red, white stripes, and interior. IMO my car looks more muscular and his looks more of a summer cruiser. The two cars definelty appear different, even though the colour is the same on the car (The "red" looks darker against the black than against the white.) Your car being a convertible, may be better suited to white stripes and top for that summer cruiser "feel". Personal taste. In any case, you have a very nice car that looks great!

 

Nice car, looks like an easier resto!!

 

Thanks for the welcome...I do agree with tomsw31, the black does add that extra muscle look and feel......

In terms of restoration, it has the original quarterpanels, and will need a patch and maybe a full panel on one side, we'll see once it's stripped. The frame and floors look fine, so it's just dealing with a number of panel weak spots and surface rust...my body guy says its not necessary or desirable to spend the money to have it media blasted to bare metal....that's still a discussion to be had. He's going to hand sand the undercarriage...he figures 2-3 days on that...

From the extra pics just posted, you will see that the A/C will need a total redo with parts.... I'm going to keep the engine and transmission stock.....but welcome any minor tweeking ideas for the cam etc....to maximize the output..

 

Jeff
I live in Brampton and have almost the same as you but black interior and no A/C
joepenoso

 

Nice ride. I like the color combo

 

nice car, the original owner probably went with white interior because it does definitely keep you cooler in the summer with the top down. yes you normally see the top match the seats but with the the top up and the black stripes it looks nice, I'd keep the colors the way they are.

 

Rallye red w/ black stripes is hands down my favorite color combo, nice car! Like Steven said the white interior is great for a 'vert, I would also stick with the origional combo if it were me, just my 2 pennies

 

Nice car, welcome to CO.

 

Hi Jeff,

Glad you made it on the site your going love it here.
It was great talking to you on Saturday at Auto Fest.
Good luck with the car and if there is any help I can give you just ask, but the knowledge on this site is probably all you need.

Roger

PS I have re thought what I told you about your color combo and I have changed my mind - I think your going to be happiest if you keep it original.

 

Hi Jeff, welcome to CO

You gotta love Rallye Red on a '70

 

Welcome to our site!

 

Welcome Jeff! That's a beauty. Good luck on the resto and please keep us 'up' on your progress. I'm all for keeping the White interior/Black top if that's how it was born. Anything unique makes it that much more special IMO.

 

Welcome, nice looking Olds ya got there. The stripe/interior colors usually are the same, but it is not a hard and fast rule, just depended on how it was ordered.

 

Oh Yeah beautiful car
joepenoso

 

Very nice car!!!! I dont think thats original interior due to the CS emblems on the door panels it has the rocket emblems.

 

Welcome to CO, I like the white interior.

 

Good catch, Cutlass S and 442 also have smaller woodgrain on the door panel.
__________________

 

Thanks all for your helpful comments, including your opinions on whether to keep the black roof/stripes as decoded from the factory vs. changing the car to a white roof and stripes.....keeping it original black is kinda my gut feel too!

Regarding the C/S emblem on the door panels, yes, that worried me when I was considering the car...why did it have this emblem? The numbers show it to be a true 442.

However, I noted with interest that there was a bid of $75,000 on Lot F237 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-25 Convertible 455/345 HP, Automatic, "Select Cars from the William Ockerlund Collection" at Mecum's Indianapolis auction last year....check out the C/S emblem on the door panel, exactly like my car...its also a Rallye Red car and almost a twin of my car, except for the white roof.....is it possible some factory cars out of Linden, NJ came this way....ie...with a C/S emblem on the door...or is it the same mix-up on a restoration...?? I'm curious! I posted some pics of the Mecum car!

 

See the Mecum car like mine...

 

I might try to investigate the door panels a little further; don't rule out they are a "mistake". I've been employed by a very large dealership for a looooong time (that at one time was the third largest Olds dealer in the U.S.A.) and have seen some weird stuff installed on brand spankin' new cars. "Keep the line movin'" was the order of business even if meant building them "wrong". I dig the color combo. and I am a real "FREAK" for white interior!!!!! Nothing beats a finely detailed white Oldsmobile interior---far superior to others (IMHO). VERY COOL car and a GREAT find. If the data plate deciphers those colors, by all means "make it new" the way it came. Until next time..... Dave.

 

My car did come out of the linden plant and it came with the rocket symbols on the door panels and my car was restored in 1993 with nos parts. Also my wood grain is smaller pattern as well.

 

this topic comes up from time to time...you see lots of original 442 convertibles with C/S panels. That's factory correct.

442 convertibles have quarter panels and trunk lids same as Supreme hardtops and it seems that on the assembly line other C/S parts were called for when putting the cars together.

Only C/S pieces NOT same as 442 convertible pieces to my knowledge are the tail light lenses (442 didn't have silver stripes around the lenses) and the glove box emblem, except the 442 emblems on the fenders and trunk of course.

same as in 71 and 72

 

Yes they have C/S panels but the emblem is supposed to be the rocket design. The convertible trunk lids are different as well.

 

nice car! welcome!

 

the trunk lid on a Supreme hardtop is different than a lid for a convertible ?

 

Welcome!!!!!! Nice car!!!!

 

But they are the same for a convertible as on a 4 door