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New Member buying 442 (Help With Decoding the Dataplate)

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Old June 23rd, 2016 | 05:21 PM
  #1  
TucsonDon442's Avatar
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New Member buying 442 (Help With Decoding the Dataplate)

Hello Oldsmobile Lovers!

I am brand new to the forum and looking to buy my second 442.

My first was a 1970 W30 in high school which I sold and of course have regretted since.

I have a line on a restoration project and need help verifying authenticity and original equipment.

The VIN is 344770Z and then i beleive 130434

the Data plate that is giving me trouble figuring out is:

ST 70-34477 BF 00196 BDY
TR 940 B80 B90 4848 PN
05A 446531 640184



If anyone can help me on this I would greatly appreciate it!!

Thank you!!

Don
Old June 23rd, 2016 | 06:00 PM
  #2  
rcorrigan5's Avatar
Randy C.
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,268
From: Albany, OR
ST 70 = style/model year = 1970


34477: 3 = GM division = Oldsmobile; 44 = model series = 4-4-2; 77 = body type = sports coupe (Oldsmobile's term for a 2-door post car)


00196 BDY = Fisher body number (has no relationship with the VIN of your car)


TR 940 = interior color and front seat type = black interior with a bench seat


B90 = option code = chrome door window frames


48 48 PNT = lower and upper body colors = Sherwood Green for both


05A = time build code = May (05), first week of that month (A), 1970


The rest of the numbers are unique to the Fremont assembly plant and, to my knowledge, no one knows what they mean!

Randy C.
Old June 23rd, 2016 | 06:15 PM
  #3  
TucsonDon442's Avatar
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1970 442 vin

Thank you Randy! So cool to learn about this vehicle.

No way to find out if it was manual transmission car or not? I have not seen to many interior pics of the vehicle yet but the original 455 and tranny are gone and replaced with a 350 and TH 350. However he said the opening for a manual transmission as well as the clutch pedal assembly are still there??

Thanks again!

Don
Old June 23rd, 2016 | 07:01 PM
  #4  
Diego's Avatar
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Don, you know it's not a W-30, right?
Old June 23rd, 2016 | 09:15 PM
  #5  
TucsonDon442's Avatar
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That is correct, it is not a W30 judging by the VIN.
Old June 23rd, 2016 | 10:36 PM
  #6  
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Old June 24th, 2016 | 11:40 AM
  #7  
joe_padavano's Avatar
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Northern VA
Originally Posted by TucsonDon442
That is correct, it is not a W30 judging by the VIN.
In 1970, nothing in the VIN will tell you if it's a W-30 or not, however the fact that it was built in Fremont proves that it cannot be a W-30, since those only came from the Lansing plant. Also, there is nothing in the VIN or on the cowl tag that tells you anything about the trans. Good luck with it.
Old June 24th, 2016 | 01:31 PM
  #8  
Allan R's Avatar
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 24,525
From: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Originally Posted by TucsonDon442
the Data plate that is giving me trouble figuring out is:

ST 70-34477 BF 00196 BDY
TR 940 B80 B90 4848 PN
05A 446531 640184


Don, I've seen those numbers (next to the 05A) listed as components of the actual build sheet (boxes 1 and 10). Since you have a Freemont car, it's likely the build sheet was stuffed up on top of the gas tank and left there. If you're motivated to lower it and check, you might just find all the information you're looking for on that sheet, including the numbers everyone considers a mystery.

I believe the 2 stamped next to the BDY number was the shift that produced the car.
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