When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
This has been mystery for the olds crowd here. Hopefully some day some one will figure it out.
It appears that most people agree that its interior or trim related. Some info relates it to being Canadian in origin, but that appears debunked. Someone just last week asked this question in the newbie forum. I can at least lead you to a couple of discussions on this here on CO. Look for other links within the second one to lead you to at least two others. Post #2 and #53.
Understood, I did post a question a while back regarding a Z also on the broadcast card for same car. Maybe they are related? Thanks just the same guys.
maybe for a "not recommended" interior color. Isn't 933 blue buckets? 25 is for Astro blue so those would be a recommended color combo - so that's not it either. Oh well.
Could the Z be for console brackets? Neither of my W-31’s have the Z, and neither of them are factory console cars.
As all the other threads, this has all been said. I had a Z and a non Z car with a console. At one time I was told by a guy from Oldsmobile one thing but that has even been debunked. It almost has to be an internal code used by the plant for something other than options. Shift change, or a marker for special random inspections, or who knows what.... Maybe the guy that made the tags with a Z wanted his marking on them to spot them in the field and know he made the tag. I do not believe we will ever know this one.
As all the other threads, this has all been said. I had a Z and a non Z car with a console. At one time I was told by a guy from Oldsmobile one thing but that has even been debunked. It almost has to be an internal code used by the plant for something other than options. Shift change, or a marker for special random inspections, or who knows what.... Maybe the guy that made the tags with a Z wanted his marking on them to spot them in the field and know he made the tag. I do not believe we will ever know this one.
"Z" on a tag & "Z" on a card would indicate something purposeful - not one individual's whim
As prev discussed, as the "Z" is on the trim tag and on the Sheet the code is fisher Body related, in my opinion and stated before possible "customer order".
I like the idea Paulolds has. Some traction there. I love a good mystery. If we keep at it, maybe someone new has some light to share on this.
I found another post here on Co...just a couple of years old now, not sure if anyone else remembers it. At least I think this is new (old) link we haven't covered, yet again.
Well, I finally ran it to the guy that did some of the stamping of cowl tags at Fisher in Lansing. He said we just followed the IBM card. He had no knowledge of Z meaning!
Again, pure speculation theory of Bob Reeve which I am starting to like, is a special check by inspectors. It could be something like Oldsmobile Vanguard program?
As prev discussed, as the "Z" is on the trim tag and on the Sheet the code is fisher Body related, in my opinion and stated before possible "customer order".
The 70 W-30 I sold was not a Z code car and I know it was ordered specific with A/C and no stripes by the original owners grandmother.
Eric can you post pictures of that yellow with blue stripe car?
It was red when we had it but the original color was yellow. My dad seen it at the dealer when it was new and we had the order form. I still want to track that car down. It was a very high optioned W-30. A/C, power windows, locks, trunk, seat, dualgate, spoiler, and all of it was ordered, not added. Even had the Lansing build sheet and broadcast card. I have been trying very hard to track this car down. I believe it is still owned by the people we sold it to but I can not locate them.
my 70 c/s has a Z on the trim tag,strato buckets dark saddle interior. i remember reading some where that the Z was for export cars, just putting it out here because i'm stumped also. my car was lansing built but sold new in ontario
As prev discussed, as the "Z" is on the trim tag and on the Sheet the code is fisher Body related, in my opinion and stated before possible "customer order".
I'm still leaning towards Paul's guess. Haven't heard any comments that would expel it.
If a customer ordered the car specific to their wants and needs the factory must have a way of informing the lines crews that this car needs extra attention.
This would explain the "Z" in the "spcl" box of the broadcast cards too.
Factories don't think that way. The idea behind a mass production system is you just follow the instructions, whether it's for Joe Montana or Joe Sixpack. Dude on the line could not know the codes other than remembering this called for this.
The code is attached to the trim code, so it is something independent of all options, and independent of the trim color scheme, yet somehow related to it. Some sort of modifier. Was there any sort of interior trim option on the interior panels, or any sort of upgrade? That, or extra carpet insulation would be my current thinking.
The extra padding or deluxe carpeting is not it. Bob Reeve (carshine bob) whom I have asked about anything that he has noticed over the last 3 decades of restoring vehicles as a business, mainly Oldsmobile A bodies. He said "nothing as far as brackets, extra padding or any other anomaly between Z trim code and non Z"
The extra padding or deluxe carpeting is not it. Bob Reeve (carshine bob) whom I have asked about anything that he has noticed over the last 3 decades of restoring vehicles as a business, mainly Oldsmobile A bodies. He said "nothing as far as brackets, extra padding or any other anomaly between Z trim code and non Z"
Since I'm mentioned in this thread I'll Chime in too. Out of the hundreds of cars I've parted out and the many I've restored, I've never found what the Z was for. My best guess is assembly line related (an inspection, check or audit) not related to the build of the body. ~BOB
I spent some time going through the Inspectors guide for 1971 and looked at the page where all the punch codes were. In particular I was looking for codes for dealer ordering and found the following:
Column 3
A: GM Employee
B: Olds Fisher Employee
C: allied Division
D: Dealer Demo
E: Driver Education
F: Fleet Order
R: Factory Driveout
S: Sold Order
T: Terminated Dealer
W: Fleet replacement
X: Export order.
Since S is desiganted as a sold orer ,my previous throry of "Z" being a code for that does not hold water
Noting that Y and Z are not used in that column and the "Z" in question applies to trim, let look at what trim idiosyncracies may apply to the cars that are identified here.
Since the trim code designates the front seat type by body style then the code might reflect some abnormality reflecting the combination of seat, console,how the floor was punched (console or manual) wiring (neutral safety,concole lights(none in 4 speed). Console modification for Husrt Dual Gate (?).
For example
I am looking at a 1970 W31 Cutlass S with Black buckets and Hurst Dual gate, It has the Z on the trim tag.
How does this compare with other findings, are there Z codes on 4 door cars, i think there are. What other seat ,console,shifter combos have Z codes.
Since the trim code designates the front seat type by body style then the code might reflect some abnormality reflecting the combination of seat, console,how the floor was punched (console or manual) wiring (neutral safety,concole lights(none in 4 speed). Console modification for Husrt Dual Gate (?).
For example
I am looking at a 1970 W31 Cutlass S with Black buckets and Hurst Dual gate, It has the Z on the trim tag.
How does this compare with other findings, are there Z codes on 4 door cars, i think there are. What other seat ,console,shifter combos have Z codes.
Paul
Following your example above my 1970 W31 Cutlass S with Black buckets and regular console shift has the Z on the cowl tag & the trim tag. Same combination with the only difference being the nature of the shifter.
Dave
Last edited by oldsmobiledave; Dec 12, 2017 at 09:32 PM.
You know what's funny, my first 70 4 door has the Z and is as standard as they come. Bench seat column automatic, it's a weird color combo, Reef Turquoise with a black roof and Sherwood green interior. Now, my second 70 4 door is almost a duplicate, but is Aspen Green with a white top and Sherwood interior and it doesn't have the Z. About the only difference is the first car has the rear defrost and the second one doesn't.
