1971 Oldsmobile 442

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1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Convertible:

1 of just 110 W-30 Convertibles produced in 1971, this example is one of 74 fitted with the special W-30 M40 Turbo Hydramatic 400 transmission and one of less than ten such examples fitted with factory air conditioning.

The W-30 was Oldsmobiles answer to the 426 Hemi from Chrysler, and even its corporate cousins including LS6 454 Chevelles, Ram Air IV Pontiacs, and Stage 1 Buicks. All W-30 engines were hand-assembled fully balanced and blueprinted engines from the factory, or as Oldsmobile called them Select Fit. Much more than a simple appearance package, the W-30 had special cylinder heads, a special high lift camshaft, aluminum intake manifold with special Rochester carburetor, high-flow cast exhaust manifolds, a recurved application specific distributor, free flow exhaust, and functional Ram Air induction which included the fiberglass W-25 dual scoop hood. W-30s also benefited from special suspension and brake upgrades as well.

On the appearance side, it was easy to spot a W-30 with its unique red plastic front inner fenders, special W-30 painted stripes, and W-30 front fender emblems.

This particular car was purchased nearly new in early 1974 by a school teacher from rural Iowa. Unlike the little old lady from Pasedena, this school teacher did not spend her nights drag racing, she simply used her W-30 as daily transportation for the over 30 years before she parked it. Thanks to the care and gentle use from its prior owner, unlike most W-30s this one survived intact with all of its original components and full numbers matching drivetrain. In 2005 I purchased the car and had a concours level, 1400+ hour no-expense spared restoration done by Midwest Musclecar Restorations. Every nut, bolt, and component is factory original. 100% GUARANTEED in writing original factory installed matching numbers engine, transmission, rear, carb,and distributor PERIOD. Better still, the thoughtful school teacher saved every slip of paperwork from new, including the original window sticker and even the cancelled check from when she bought the car. No less than 3 original build sheets were discovered in the car during restoration. Thanks to the virtually untouched and incredible original condition this car was in prior to restoration (it still had its original convertible top!), not only is EVERY component original to the car and numbers matching, but also every nut, screw, washer, bolt, hardware, etc. is original to the car - even the trunk mat and floor mats are original. I have never seen a more correct or better documented W30 Convertible in my 20+ years of following these cars. As more and more fraudulent W30's surface with reproduction W30 components and fraudulent paperwork the handful that have survived like this one with verifiable history and previous owners that are available to speak to will become even more valuable while the impostures become virtually worthless.

Much like LS6 Chevelle's, W30 Olds cars are impossible to verify without REAL paperwork and owner history. This fact has led to far more fakes and UFO's than GM ever built. This W30 convert has an absolutely staggering amount of real factory paperwork including its original window sticker, multiple build sheets, real POP, original books, etc, etc... just unbelievable docs and 2 owner history.

I consider this car to be one of the best W30 convertibles in existence, and the paperwork and history is second to none. This is not one of the ever-prevalent "lipstick on a pig" hastily (and cheaply) restored, super-glossy, "auction specials" routinely seen on offer with bogus (or no) paperwork. This is a diamond in a sea of cubic zirconias!

Since the resto I have painstakingly sorted, tuned, and perfected the car to my ridiculously high standards. It is the best running and driving W Machine you will ever find. The air blows ice cold and every component functions as new or better. Drive it anywhere with 100% confidence, heck, drive it to any show, collect your trophy, and drive it home with the A/C on and the factory FM radio playing or vintage tunes blasting from one of those old 8 Track tapes you've been saving since the night disco died...

Dont let Oldsmobile's reputation for building boring cars fool you; some real factory muscle did roll out of Lansing during the heyday of the horsepower wars. 442 W30's are living proof of this!

$225,000