Vehicle Description
1971 Oldsmobile 442 W30
Although Oldsmobile didn't field as many muscular models as its GM
siblings Pontiac and Chevrolet, or competing automakers Ford and
Chrysler, the division certainly made the most of what it did have.
For example, in 1969, there was the Hurst/Olds, the 4-4-2, the
4-4-2 with W-30, the 4-4-2 with W-32 and the Cutlass S or F-85 with
W-31. The Dr. Oldsmobile campaign, with its classic horror movie
vibe of a mad scientist creating a monster for the street, was so
visually arresting that it remained powerful in black and white,
which also stayed true to the Hollywood era it was depicting.
Submitted beneath the exaggerated characters, smoke and vintage
laboratory props were detailed specifications regarding
Oldsmobile''s W-Machines. (Thx to Hemmings)
For consignment, an Oldsmobile 442 right from the doctor's lab in
1971. A 442 equipped with the high-performance W-30 package and
verified on the car's build sheet. This Oldsmobile is equipped with
all the right performance options along with some harder to find
luxury items that one does not normally see on an all-out muscle
car. Who says muscle cars can't have creature comforts like air
conditioning and an AM/FM/8 Track player. A consignor stated
estimated 1 of 37 built and 1 of 9 left in existance, (what we know
for a fact is that of the 810 W30 hardtop cars built in 1971 563
were automatics and 247 had the manual transmission), and showing
brightly from is 2020-2021 restoration. The original owner knew how
to option a car and the culmination of his/her desires is now
presented before you in our Hallowed Halls with a mere title
verified 88,941 original miles.
Exterior
A respray in the original Bittersweet, a wonderful burnt orange
hue, covers the body and twin scooped W-25 ram air hood along with
black painted stripes. This original fiberglass hood is flanked by
coke bottle-esque fenders which flow into the rest of the
undulating body. The gaps are well minded and the paint presents
nicely with minor inclusions and some rust bubbling evident on the
lower panels, as well as the cove at the back of the passengers
rear window. We also note some cracking of the underlying finish,
particularly on the passenger's fender and door. Shiny trimmings
grace the wheel openings and a black stripe on the midsection of
this hardtopadds a nice highlight to the curved early coke bottle
design. Pointy bullet-like curves for the front and rear of this
car with integrated chromed bumpers finishing off the look on front
and rear. Red fender liner highlighted Bittersweet Oldsmobile Super
Stock II wheels are on all 4 corners and are wrapped in like new
14-inch BF Goodrich raised white letter radials.
Interior
A swing of the door and we are in 1970's black vinyl original
interior heaven. It is everywhere and save for some light wear, all
is looking just as good as it did when new. The door panels have
horizontally ribbed vinyl pattern with tuck and roll stitching,
some textured vinyl buttoned trimmings, wood burl accenting and
carpeting down below. All the trimmings are delineated by clean
chrome trim spears and give an elegant classy look. Twin bucket
seats are on board and show up in black as well with smooth tuck
and roll stitching and textured vinyl in a buttoned tuck and roll
horizontal pattern. These seats show in overall good condition,
bordering on showroom new. Also, these buckets are equipped with a
low headrest and for the rear, a full bench sprawls across from
side to side and emulates the buckets in color and design. The
original molded vinyl dash has a trio of inset large circular
gauges within a clean wood applique covered cluster. One gauge of
note is the Tic-Toc-Tach in its factory location. Control buttons
and sliders for the A/C, heat, and wipers are mounted in another
wood applique strip just below these gauges and are housed in their
own brushed aluminum panels, and all is well within ergonomic reach
of the driver. In the center of the dash is the factory AM/FM radio
and just below is the factory installed 8 track player. Lest we
forget the black plastic console racing between the front buckets.
This console has a nicely padded storage compartment topper and
within the driver's reach, a Hurst automatic shifter rises from
another wood applique panel. All of this floats in a sea of clean
black carpeting and above is a new and tight black headliner.
Drivetrain
A turquoise blue painted block and valve covers show off this 455ci
V8 in numbers matching form sitting between the correct red W-30
inner fender liners. It is topped with correct 409160 casting
number cylinder heads and the correct aluminum intake manifold. A
correct Rocherster 4-barrel carburetor feeds air and fossils to the
mill to produce a mind blowing 350hp. Bolted to the back of this
monster mill is a numbers matching TH400 3-speed automatic
transmission and retaining its OW stamped Hydramatic tag. A 12-bolt
axle brings up the rear and is fully correct with its W-27 aluminum
cover and within lies a 3.23 Anti-Spin gear set.
Undercarriage
Flawlessly restored with no evidence of repairs is how this
undercarriage presents. Just a mix of factory steel, some minor
road dirt and patina, but there is no rust to be seen. The frame,
strong and solid, provides the backbone for the rust free floors
and rocker panels. Independent coil springs for the front, and a 4
link with coil springs for the rear suspension help put the power
to the ground and power disc brakes for the front and power drums
for the rear give ample stopping power. A dual exhaust system
snakes its way to the rear of the car and uses factory stock style
mufflers to create the deep healthy exhaust note.
Drive-Ability
She fired right up and after sufficient warm up the engine settled
into a nice lopey idle. A slip of the Hurst shifter to drive and
off to the test track I went where it performed well. Lightning
fast acceleration, smooth shifting, and bias free braking on the
panic stop. I noticed the clock was inoperable and I would have to
usemy foot to pull up on the brake pedal or the brake lights would
stay on. Otherwise, it was a great drive with lots of thumbs up for
this gentleman's muscle car.
A wonderfully restored example that is not perfect, but retaining
its original nice lines and trimmings with a fully numbers matching
drivetrain it doesn't get much better than this. Huge horsepower
and torque, a luxurious interior not often seen in a muscle car and
options galore make this one for the record books and your
garage.
344871M142146
3-Oldsmobile
44-442
87-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
1-1971
M-Lansing, MI Assy Plant
142146-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
ST 71 34487-1971 442 2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
BDY LAN274763-Lansing Body #
TR 930-Black Vinyl Buckets
PNT 62 62-Bittersweet
01D-4th Week January
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.