1of1442

There has been some light discussion in this category and others on the subject of (1 earliest production 1970 442's and (2 Fisher body production numbers, but no clear answers. It has been stated confidently by one well informed member that no 442's were built before 10/69 yet my post coupe shows 3rd week of July 1969 on the body tag. Also another member has stated that Freemont may have"reset" production numbers every month but others (including me) have questioned that practice.
I know there will be someone here that can clear up the subject once and for all.

At the time my car was built I was very near my 4th birthday and I don't remember much from back then. 🤔

Allan R

No 442's built before 10/69??? Wait while I give my head a shake....ok. WTH?? I have a hard time believing that because the factories would gear up production for the new model year in late July and go gangbusters to create inventory for dealers everywhere. To NOT produce a 442 in that time span would be highly highly unlikely given that 442 was a popular car then and even with insurance companies starting to crack down on muscle cars, I seriously doubt that would stem the flow of orders for 442. I'm with you - bogus.

As far as Freemont resetting production numbers? No way that will happen. Just look to the CSM and you'll see the Freemont starting number was 100001 in 1970, just like every other year. Resetting production numbers would also directly affect VIN issue and that's a legal requirement to have specific identifier for each car. Like a birth certificate for cars needed to register them. It IS possible to have the same VIN sequence from other factories that produced the same model, but they would also have the factory identifier in the VIN picture. If this was Mythbusters show - I say Busted.

jaunty75

All it says on the body tag is 07C, right? The tag doesn't give the year. That's 3rd week of July 1970, not 1969, that it was built.

hurst68olds

the 10/69 date is in reference to W30 442s

hurst68olds

I agree

08A (August 1969 week 1) earliest 1970 production
07E (July 1970 week 5) latest possible 1970 production

Allan R

I disagree. A car produced in 3rd week of July would have been a 1971 model. Review your factory production information. Btw, the cowl tag does state the production model year. In this case ST 70 would refer to cars produced from late July 69 to mid June of 1970.

Idk about when the first W-30 was built for the 1970 model year, but IMO October doesn't seem likely. You'd need stats from Lansing to corroborate that claim, and I don't believe they exist anymore?

Allan R

I think you've failed to account for the factory shutdown to retool for the next model year production. That typically took 5-6 weeks and no production during that time. Dealers inventory stockpile just made it look like there was still production going on. Everyone knew the new models would start hitting the lots in August, and promo material was displayed accordingly, usually in late August/early September

1of1442

I apologize, the reference stated 08/69 as the earliest build 442 and 10/69 was for the W30.Thanks hurst68olds for calling me out . I wil try to be more diligent when quoting references. That being said , I can get a pic of my body tag to verify the claimed build date, 1) did it take two weeks to complete the car, making it an August build? 2) What is the "CSM" that show sequence start of 100001 and does that include all models or just 442's?

hurst68olds

there is NO 5-6 week shutdown to retool for the next model year's production

August 1969 (1970 model year) production of Olds a-bodies (F-85 series) at all plants = ~9,253 units

July 1970 (1970 model year) production of Olds a-bodies (F-85 series) at all plants = ~16,875 units

hurst68olds

& the 1970 Oldsmobiles didn't officially go on public sale until 9/18/69

ronskal

My 70 442 was an early Linden, NJ build. Fisher Body #E15 and VIN 344870E100386.
The build sheet has on the upper LH part a Sched No Date of 08 08-04. Any ideas? My uneducated guess is it was built on 8-04-1969 which was a Monday.
The cowl tag does not have a date code as far as I can tell?

hurst68olds

that would be my understanding as well

per the sheet: JOB# 08 for Monday 08-04 1969
per the tag: 15th 34487 (442 hardtop) body built at Fisher Body (New Jersey)
per the VIN tag: assigned VIN #386

1of1442