1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W-30 documented W-30 car with 455ci V8,
TH400, and black-on-black bucket seat interior Why This Car Is
Special The 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W-30 sits at a specific
crossroads in American muscle car history that no other car
occupies. This was the last year the 4-4-2 existed as its own
standalone model. Starting in 1972, Oldsmobile demoted the 4-4-2 to
an appearance package on the Cutlass Supreme a trim level, not a
separate model. That decision makes every legitimate 1971
Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 a documented endpoint, and makes a W-30 car
from that year something considerably rarer. To understand what the
W-30 package meant, you have to go back to how Oldsmobile built it.
The W-30 was not simply a cold-air induction add-on. It was a
factory performance package centered on a blueprinted 455 cubic
inch V8 with a special high-lift camshaft, an aluminum intake
manifold, ram-air induction through an open-element air cleaner,
and a low-restriction dual exhaust system. Oldsmobile rated the
W-30 455 at 350 gross horsepower with approximately 460 lb-ft of
torque. Those figures understate what the engine actually produced
on the dyno a common factory practice in the early 1970s as
insurance companies began using horsepower ratings to set premiums.
The torque number is the honest figure. This engine pulled hard
from low rpm, which is exactly what made big-block Oldsmobiles so
effective on the street. The production numbers confirm how rare
this car is. Oldsmobile built 7,589 total 4-4-2s for 1971. Of
those, only 920 were equipped with the W-30 package. That is
roughly 12 percent of an already limited production run, in the
final year the model existed as a standalone nameplate. Numbers
like that are why serious collectors pay attention to 1971
Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W-30 cars. The Body by Fisher door jamb tag
present on this car confirms the 1971 model year, the body style
code 34487 identifying it as a 2-door hardtop coupe, and the TR 930
interior trim code for the black vinyl bucket seat interior. The
April 1971 build date is also confirmed. This car was originally
built as a blue car and has since been refinished in black. The
engine in the car is a period-correct 455 and carries all the
correct W-30 presentation details it may not be the
numbers-matching original, but it is accurately presented and
period correct for what a W-30 car looked like when it left
Lansing. Features List - W-30 455ci V8 with ram-air induction,
aluminum intake, special camshaft, and low-restriction dual exhaust
- TH400 3-speed automatic transmission with floor-mounted console
shifter - Red-painted engine block and valve covers correct W-30
factory presentation - Open-element W-30 style air cleaner with
Oldsmobile-branded lid and gold lettering - Chrome valve cover
accents with Moroso valve cover breather - GM emission control
decal present and legible - Power brakes with vacuum booster -
Power steering pump and reservoir - Dual exhaust with twin tips
exiting below the rear bumper - Black vinyl bucket seats front and
rear with headrests, in excellent condition - Oldsmobile Rally
Sport steering wheel with chrome spokes and Rocket emblem center
cap - 442-badged dashboard with woodgrain trim - Full gauge cluster
including tachometer, speedometer, fuel, temperature, and oil -
Manifold vacuum gauge on center console - AM/FM Blaupunkt stereo
radio - Power windows - Chrome interior door handles and trim -
Day/night rearview mirror - Rear window defrost vent - Original
seat belts present front and rear - Freshly coated floorpans and
frame rails no visible rust or rot - Coated undercarriage with no
visible leaks or corrosion - Rear sway bar present - New rear shock
absorbers - GR70-14 radial tires on rear period correct sizing for
a 442 - Solid coil spring rear suspension, intact and unmodified -
Chrome rear bumper in excellent condition - Body by Fisher door
jamb tag present confirming 1971 model year, WeBe Autos Specializes
in Marketing and Advertising Muscle, Classic, Vintage and Specialty
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Please visit our website for more details. Keep in Touch, Michael
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Island, NY 11780 [email protected] www.WeBeAutos.com
(O)631-339-0399 (C)516-729-2003 Skype webeautos (F)631-389-2605 - -
- Contact Michael Runnalls at 631-339-0399 or [email protected]
for more information. -
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