I have a 1970 Sebring Yellow W30 with the broadcast sheets (2) that show a blank paint code. While Sebring Yellow (51) was an optional color and fewer than 20 were made in that color, I was told that a blank paint code also indicated it was the special-order Sebring Yellow. Is there anyone here who can confirm that is the case? The car was entered in an AACA show and took First Junior, so I'm hoping that might also be a verification.

 

Does it have brown stripes and interior and top? A guy in Miami had a factory yellow W-30 convertible many years ago and I've never seen another sebring yellow one since.

Anyway, the color, IMO, wasn't all that unique because it was available at the factory like any other paint in 1970, like on the Rallye 350. It just wasn't listed as a normal run of the mill A-body color but if the code was put down on the order sheet, then yellow it came with a dash for a color code on the body plate.

It's not too unusual for a GM car to get an available color from another body line or make. They did it with the '68 Hurst/Olds silver, and the 1984 "Special Edition" Cutlass Supremes. They used Toronado colors on a Cutlass in those 2 examples. Not a huge leap. Regardless, a dash for the color only signified that the car was painted with a color not on the "standard" paint palette but with an allowable variant.

With a blank broadcast code, it's likely to be Sebring Yellow, but not guaranteed. If it's proven to be an original paint car, no problem. But unless you can get a paint code 51 on a window sticker or some other paperwork, it's only plausible. Someone at Fisher had to know what color to paint the car. Since it was built in Lansing, it's tough to say any build sheet paperwork wouldn't be suspect, since build sheets from Lansing is very rare itself.

IIRC, that yellow was first used in 1969 on Chevy and Pontiacs, and returning to Oldsmobiles in the mid-70s. They just called it different names, like Daytona Yellow on Camaros/Corvettes.

 

Where did you get the "less than 20 built" number? My 70 W30 Holiday Coupe is Sebring Yellow and my cowl tag is "- -".

 

Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Here are some details behind what 69HO43 posted...

For a 1970 Cutlass, "- -" appeared on the cowl tag (and a blank on a broadcast sheet) when you ordered option Y62, Special Paint - Colors.

The order sheet listed four colors for Y62:
Aegean Aqua (paint code 38)
Sebring Yellow (paint code 51)
Nugget Gold (paint code 53)
Rally Red (paint code 73)

Other colors could have been specially-ordered and would have also resulted in the "- -" and blank paint indicators.

 

I did a search for "how many 1970 Oldsmobile W30s were painted Sebring Yellow". I was told the -- paint code indicated the special-order Sebring Yellow color.

 

Thank you for all of the info regarding the -- paint code and applicable possibilities. Just for reference where is that information found? The restoration was done by a highly respected restoration specialist who stated that the car was completely stripped and redone in its original Sebring Yellow paint. Now I know that -- could indicate one of four colors, but I feel confident it was an original Sebring Yellow car from the factory.

Thanks to all!

 

Searched where? On the interwebs? Because everything there is true? I have no idea if the "less than 20" claim is valid or not, but throwing that out without a specific reference doesn't really lend credibility. I've probably personally seen more than 20 W30s in Sebring Yellow.

 

Yes, on the internet, and yes, everything there is not necessarily true. But talking about throwing it out without a specific reference - I'm sure that for all those W30s you've seen in Sebring Yellow you actually verified all the build sheets to make sure they were that color from the factory. Similar point - just because they were all yellow doesn't mean they were all that color from the factory. If anyone has verifiable data on the number of W30s that were actually built in Sebring Yellow could you direct me to the data? Thanks

 

The information I posted came from an Oldsmobile Wholesale Car Order form, print date of Jan. '70.

 

Paint code and availability info is in Section 0 of the Product Information Manual

 

Info on the RPO codes for special order paint (including non-Oldsmobile colors) is found in the Dealer Optional Equipment and Accessories list. Note RPO Y62, Y66, and Y76.

 

My 1970 W-30 was originally Sebring Yellow with Black stripes. It still had the original paint on it when I bought it. Paint code on the cowl tag is - -

 

From a strict common sense approach to this question there were 4 special order colors. Everyone of those would have the two dashes on the cowl tag. How you possibly concluded that 2 dashes must be sebring yellow is really not in anyway correct or even makes sense. Most certainly if you pull door panels, weather stripping there will be remnants of the original color somewhere. Usually the rear quarter windows panels underneath will show overspray of the original paint. Whoever told you 20 units on Sebring yellow doubtfully has fact based info to prove that statement. Is your goal to be right or find out the true factory color?

 

Like what Andy and Joe said, additional documentation or proof needs to be found. The double dash means one of the 4 colors. It could mean something wildly different, like Mary Kay pink, but extraordinary proof would be needed for an extraordinary claim like that.