Vehicle Description
1969 Oldsmobile 442 W30 Convertible
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)
"I was working in the lab, late one night when my eyes beheld an
eerie sight...", that's right folks, now gracing our Hallowed Halls
and fresh on consignment and for your consideration is this
Oldsmobile 442 right from the doctor's lab in 1969. Make no
mistake, this car is EXACTLY what the doctor ordered, as it is a
442 equipped with the high performance W-30 package on the cars
shipping order. The doctor surely guided the original owner, who
purportedly worked for Holley carburetors and knew what he was
doing when he put the pieces of this monster together to makes this
car 1 of 121 convertible W-30 cars built, but that's not all. It
is1 of 30 built with an automatic transmission and is 1 of 6 of
those automatic cars known to exist and the only one with a
papertrail to back up its pedigree. To sweeten the pot this car is
presumed to be the only car with a bench seat and column shift,
how's that for a dose of rarity in a monster? This Oldsmobile is
equipped with all the right performance options along with its
Protect-O-Plate, Certificate Of Authenticity, broadcast card and a
forthcoming Rocket Report. Our example has been expertly restored,
has a recently rebuilt service replacementengine, the numbers
matching transmission and the correct TO coded rear axle. So let's
delve into this 7,759 title verified mile fully restored underrated
gentleman's muscle car that won a top award at the Year One
Experience in Atlanta, GA in 2007.
Exterior
A 30 plus year old respray in the correct Saffron covers the twin
bulged hood that is complementedwith twin black stripes racing
rearward to the windshield. This hood is flanked by coke
bottle-esque fenders with black W-30 decal callouts which flow into
the rest of the undulating body, but the star of the show is the
split blacked out grille and hood tooth that drops down to meet the
larger than life integrated front bumper in super shiny chrome.
While the 442 callout on the tooth gives the general public an idea
of what lurks under the hood, very few challengers will spot the
twin ram air scoops below the bumper that are ready to force feed
the engine copious amounts of air. The gaps are well minded and the
paint presents as show worthy with minor orange peel in one section
and some very minor rust bubbling evident on the bottom of the
passenger's door, but one must get on their knees or have the car
on a lift to find these flaws. Shiny trimmings grace the wheel
openings, windshield frame and body beltline trimmings to add a
nice highlight to the curved early coke bottle design. A showroom
fresh black canvas convertible roof with a glass rear window covers
the passenger compartment and is highlighted by polished stainless
trimmings around the rear base. Pointy bullet-like curves for the
front and rear of this car and the rocket dressed rear side marker
lights with another integrated chrome bumper finish off the look at
the rear and is perfected by the fluted exhaust tips and inset
cathedral style tail lights. Charcoal gray and chrome 14-inch
Oldsmobile Super Stock II wheels are on all 4 corners and are
wrapped in like new red stripe F70 rubber keeping the car
grounded.
Interior
A swing of the door and we are in black vinylinterior heaven. The
door panels have a vertical stitched vinyl pattern that cascades
downward from the top of the door to a polished delineation spear
before smooth black vinyl takes over. All of this, along with the
small rocket emblem give an elegant classy look. A rarely seen
split back front bench seat races between the door panels and is
equipped with a low headrest, and for the rear, a full bench
sprawls across from side to side with all dressed in factory fresh
stitched vinyl that emulates the door panels perfectly. The
original molded vinyl dash has a trio of deeply inset large
circular gauges, with monitoring gauges to the left of the center
speedo and the Tic-Toc-Tach to the right,also known as the Rally
Pack. Control knobs and sliders for the heat, lights and wipers are
mounted in a wood applique strip just below, all well within
ergonomic reach of the driver. In the center of the dash is the
factory AM radio with the chrome toggle for the power top just
above. Lest we forget the like new black and burl applique 3 spoke
steering wheel mounted atop the fixed position column with the
transmissionselect lever to the right. All of this floats in a sea
of clean low pile black carpeting that is protected by Oldsmobile
badged black rubber mats. A shout out to the trunk with its gray
mat, speckle finish paint and full size matchy matchy Super Stock
II spare wheel with red stripe tire.
Drivetrain
A bronze painted block, intake and valve covers show off this
recently rebuilt dealership service replacement 400ci V8 sitting
between the correct red W-30 inner fender liners. It is topped with
correct D-code 400 370 casting cylinder heads and is fed by a date
and part number correct 4-barrel Rochester Quadrajet carburetor for
proper air and fossil delivery to the mill to produce a mind
blowing 360hp. Bolted to the back of this monster mill is a numbers
matching TH400 3-speed automatic transmission that isretaining its
OW stamped Hydramatic tag. A TO stamped 12 bolt rear axle takes the
power handoff and turns the rear tires via a 3.91 AntiSpin gear
set. The engine bay is spotless and presents with the correct "HD"
water pump, correct "KA" water pump pulley, NOS fuel pump and NOS
oil sending unit. We also see the correct W-30 distributor, and
correct W-30 date coded alternator. Power brakes have been added to
the car on the correct and restored master cylinder and as per the
doctor's orders drum brakes are equipped on all 4 corners.
Undercarriage
I could sum up the undercarriage in one word, wow. This ranks as
one of the cleanest undersides we've had the honor to review and
photograph and frankly mirrors should be added at any show to
display the beauty underneath. There's simply no evidence that this
car's been driven and it looks fresh off the assembly line. Dual
exhaust travels from the engine, meets up with stock style
mufflers, and then exits via characteristic fluted exhaust tips.
FE2 independent suspension with coil springs is in the front and a
4 link with coil springs is out back.
Drive-Ability
It's not often we get a muscle car of this caliber through our
doors, so when it was time for the drive, employees were drawing
straws and climbing the walls to get some seat time. Even our
detailer managed to hop in the back seat for the drive, which is a
rarity to get him away from his wax and buffer, but I digress. A
twist of the key brought this monster Olds to life and within a few
seconds the engine fell into a throaty burbling idle. Harmonious
exhaust notes echoed through our picturesque valley with the push
of the throttle and the power drum brakes brought the car to a
straigh...for more information please contact the seller.
