Well I'm new to the site and the muscle car world so I thought I'd make a post and introduce myself. I'm currently serving in the Army and am stationed in Fort Wainwright, AK. I Recently found and purchased a rust free 72 Cutlass 442 with 455 that was in decent condition. I plan on doing somewhat of a restomod on the car since there have been a lot of modifications done to the car. I look forward to meeting people and getting a lot of advice and ideas to do with my car!!

 

Welcome to the site, thank you for your service. Congrats on your purchase, post some pictures of your new project.

 

Thanks, will do I posted a few pictures on my profile and will continue to do so as work continues!

 

Welcome to the CO site.

Beautiful car, but externally that appears to be 100% a 1970 442, not a 1972. Or are those the modifications that you were referring to?

Terry

 

I checked the VIN, it's a 72 but someone put a 70 front end on it... would like to look into possibly putting a 72 front back on at some point.

 

You need to get together with this guy and do some swapping:

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...front-end.html

 

So the VIN starts out 3G87U2(*)or possibly 3F987U2(*)? (*) will be letter that describe the Production factory. Or does it start out 344870???

There's no way to authenticate a 72 442 by the VIN unless you have an X code (442 W30) or documentation.

I looked at your album and that car appears to REALLY look like a 1970 model. The front clip (that includes the hood, bumper, grills, rad support) are 1970, the sport mirrors are 1970 (one year only BTW), and the rear bumper is 1970.


You really got me curious about what has been done to the car and what the actual VIN or cowl tag says. Any chance you can post a pic of them? If someone has modified a 72 to look like a 70, they've done a heck of a nice job with it. For 1972 that PNT code (cowl tag) should be 81 B. If it's a 1970 it will be 50 B.

All things aside, it's a very nice looking car. Maybe add some interior shots to your album?

Thank you for your service. AK doesn't sound like a fun place to be unless you get time to go hunting.

 

The VIN is 3G87M2Z11727 which I believe is a 72 I could very well be wrong, I'll have to check the cowl tag. I'll see if I can snap a couple pictures today. Alaska is definitely an interesting place that's for sure, too much snow here for me!

 

Yes sir, that VIN is definitely a 72.
3 - Oldsmobile
G - Model; Cutlass S
87 - Body style: Hardtop coupe (aka Holiday Coupe)
M - 350 4bbl engine with factory dual exhaust (that's the N10 option for this year)
2 - 1972 model year check digit
Z - Freemont California Production
11727? - I think you're missing a number here. There should be 6 digits. Production on A body lines started at 100001 on each line. Maybe 111727??

Interestingly enough a 1972 442 could be ordered with any of the available engines ranging from 350 2bbl to the 455 U,X and V codes.

Someone did a heck of a lot of work to make this look like a 1970. Why bother going through all the work to change it when you have a stunning looking car?

 

Welcome, nice ride.

 

I'm beginning to agree with you Allan, Now that I know everything matches up on the outside I think I'll keep as is

 

Very nice car.
Just keep the 70 front end.

 

Well I got a couple pictures of the VIN and cowl tag so still looks like it is a 72, its in the shop in the process of getting an efi system put on. Forgot to snap some interior pics...

 

 

Ok, the VIN is what I thought - you were missing the last digit. It's the 17,272nd car that rolled off the Freemont production line.

Your cowl tag provides the following extra information:

BDY 04282 - Body number assigned by Freemont Fisher Body Works. Not related to VIN. Took FBW about 4 days to build the shell and fit the interior before sending it to the assembly line for final assembly and installation of driveline.
PNT 81 B - Lower Paint Bamboo, upper Black vinyl roof. Very close to the same as the 70 color codes I gave you earlier.
TR 940 - Black naugahyde interior. Feels like leather but it's not.
A51 - Strato Bucket seats. Likely you also have the D55 center console.
03B - Time build date at FBW Freemont, Second week (B) of March (03) 1972.
130158, 390111 - Fisher body references to the Freemont Build sheet. I've only seen this on Special Order 1972 cars. I suspect that this was SO because of the engine choice. If you ever find the build sheet it will have these reference numbers on it top left and top right. The 'standard' engine for the 72 Cutlass S was the 350 2bbl engine, extra cost engines would have to be special ordered.

 

Thanks a ton Allan, you've been extremely helpful!!!!!