If someone owned a 1970 4-4-2 W-30 and it was rotted to the core, but it was one of 96 4-4-2 four-speed convertibles built, less scrupulous souls might remove the VIN and cowl tag and install them onto a Cutlass convertible body. would any one by chance have a pic of the ballancers they used or diameter, I havent checked cam but its got flat tops and the right size valves,currently have the#6 heads all re built and on my 72 cutlass 355. what do you think is this a w-31 ballancer ? That was the thinking behind Oldsmobile's 1970 W45 Rallye 350 package. Congratulations! I question even a lot of pristine cars on Ebay the same way. It's vital that you take a look at the firewall to see that it hasn't been fooled with. Celebrating the 100,000th Bring a Trailer Auction! This car has seen some rough riding. In 1968, a full 52 percent of America's population was under the age of 25. Rated to produce 325 horsepower when new, the 350ci V8 featured an exclusive camshaft and connecting rods in W-31 trim as well as a Rochester Quadrajet carburetor, an aluminum intake manifold, and a low-restriction air cleaner assembly. The Oldsmobile Cutlass first came on the scene as a 1961 1/2 model. The seller acquired the car in April 2021, and subsequent work is said to have included installation of a Bluetooth-capable stereo, performing an alignment, servicing of the power steering system, and replacement of the shocks and tires. Porsche offers the 911 in six trim levels: Carrera, Carrera S, Lamborghini dealerships own the vehicles seen in showrooms and if you want one be prepared to wait six to 12 months. Due to the low-vacuum at idle, air conditioning was not available, and power brakes were only available with an automatic transmission. It seems that many 442s from the era have automatic transmissions, not sure of the breakdown with the W-31. Today's cars are more reliable than ever, according to the J.D. An N.O.S. Up to that point I didn't know the difference, so I went and inspected the car. When John sold the house to Andy, the Oldsmobile went with the deal. The cars with A/C got the QS version of the 400 cid engine. VIEW PRICES. Certain things get painted over. Lot #65,720. I always wonder why they stopped making this model. You look at the head castings because there are a lot of forgeries out there these days, especially with Oldsmobiles. . The following year the car was changed to the W-31. Item specifics. What makes the W-31 the car it is, is Oldsmobile 325 HP, 350 CI, V8 engine. You see, unlike today's completely insane muscle car marketplacewhere typical buyers of these 550 to 840 horsepower road kings age between 40 and 140, always pay their insurance bills on time, and seldom do crazy things on public roadsthe muscle car move of the 1960s was a first-time-around deal. There is evidence of lower rust in the passenger-side rocker panel and perhaps over the passenger-side rear wheel but the included images are not too revealing. All W-31 engines were select fit, simply meaning that they were blueprinted from the factory. I wanted to see how things were put together. Put a powerful V-8 engine in a two door sport coupe and you have the makings of a classic American muscle car. A decent quality paint job without body work can easily cost $10k and up by itself. The youth market was red hot. There are dead giveaways, like the wrong [mounting] hardware has been used. Why no drivers side pics? The tach in the dash currently isnt the original OEM tic-toc-tach. On the positive side, All that lightweighting paired with the zestiest powertrain results in a. Not worth 8-9 K, It is strange all the cars on here that have such low mileage. That really helps when you're putting one of these cars back together. Additional factory equipment includes a six-blade fan and a N10 dual-exhaust system. Oldsmobile people would actually go just to look for me. I would go to people I had sold parts to and ask, 'You own a 1970 4-4-2 don't you? These Oldsmobile press photos of the then-new 1968 4-4-2 were taken in April 1967 by Petersen Publishing's Bob D'Olivo. Jimmy, already a W-31 owner, informed Andy that his 1970 Oldsmobile was a W-31. (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Click to reveal If so please use the bidding box above. Looks to be mostly complete and restorable but agree with the others about the mileage. The base gear box for the Olds W-Machines is a fully synchronized, floor-shifted, heavy-duty three-speed manual. Find out where they were built. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Visible through the windshield. Oldsmobile Decoding Oldsmobile Engine Color Cutlass Production Numbers Mopar Decoding Mopar Engine Colors Mopar Fender Tag Decoding 4-Speed Transmission Decoding Engine Decoding Mopar VIN Decoding VIN 1964 & 1965 VIN 1966 & 1967 VIN 1968 & 1974 Cutlass Production Numbers Subscribe to our mailing list The W31 package actually existed in 1968 but it was known as the Ram-Rod and it was essentially the same car, it just used the Ram-Rod badge for identification as opposed to the W-31 moniker. Total 1970 Oldsmobile production was 633,980 vehicles. inch block. Keep me in the conversation via email. Enter the junior super car. Reconnected! Chevrolet, Pontiac and Buick had been doing this and Olds joined the movement. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Sitting in the passenger seat, peering out over that ram-air hood, I was totally corrupted and have been ever since.". I liked the under bumper hood scoops on the 68-69, just like the bad W/30. I know where there are a number of excellent condition, unrestored 4-4-2 W-30 cars that I can refer to when the occasion arises, which is an excellent source to have. The 1970 W-30 featured a 455 cubic inch 370 HP engine. That's part of how they advertised it.". At its introduction, the Cutlass was Oldsmobile's entry-level model; it began as a unibody compact car, but saw its greatest success as a body-on-frame intermediate.The Cutlass was named after the type of sword, which was common during the Age of Sail. I really dont know which is more effective at forced air although I heard the early ones were good at inhaling lots of dirt, gravel as well. . Cars are made in every corner of the globe, but when it comes to Porsche, home is definitely where the heart is. 1970 Oldsmobile vehicle identification number (vin) decoder. Factory Tach doesnt appear to be missing, where would it go? Other notable components included a lightweight aluminum intake manifold, the W25 fiberglass ram-air hood, anti-spin differential with 3.42:1 gears (3.73:1 available), and heavy duty cooling. . What are the production numbers for a f85 W31? If the passenger side is rusted (front fender, rocker, quarter) you can be pretty certain the drivers side is just as bad. The interior is all available!! You don't find the right color or plated bolts in the right places anymore. Of the above production, these models were equipped with the W-30 4-bbl engine. "See these hands, son? The W-31 package began with Oldsmobile's version of the 350-cu.in. But even between Porsche and BMW, the comparison is somewhat skewed. June 17, 2010 in Technical, I am trying to determine if my 1970 350 is a w31 engine, It has #6 heads with 1.62 exhaust valves and it has a large harmonic ballancer,can some one tell me how to know for sure. Something well never know. Major difference was the AC cars had C heads, Non AC cars had D heads. While W-31 is down on engine displacement, the power is no different than a 68 Oldsmobile 442 with an automatic transmission so whether this serves as a high insurance premium salve or not, it is hard to say. 1969 Oldsmobile 442s, except for the Hurst had the 400 cubic inch engine, not the 455. Do you want to have hands like this when you get to be my age? First, I need to have my travel, motel, and any ancillary expenses paid for regardless whether I have to fly or drive. All this said, if I was in the market for a 70 W-31, I would have this one inspected and make a offer on it. I helped a friend swap out the one in his 67 442 using a curb in a suburban neighborhood, serving as a ramp, for under-car access. LOL Seriously, though, having driven my girlfriends 2003 loaded Camry all over the country I can say without a doubt they routinely get you from point A to B without issue. Menu Search (866) 383-1416; Inventory. It boils down to the fact Oldsmobile product planners toed the corporate line restricting engine displacement to 330 cubic inches. Post in the forum instead. Posts: 13 Thanks: 0. Or subscribe without commenting. Based on whats photographically revealed, the interior is certainly salvageable and probably not at great expense or effort. See prices, photos, and find dealers near you. If you win the auction, your card will be charged for the service fee and you pay the seller directly for the vehicle. The two kept in contact, and in January 2018, Jimmy made an appointment to look at the Oldsmobile. These models were equipped with the Pace Car package. It was both BMW's first and only production V10 engine, and the first petrol V10 engine to be available in a production sedan (saloon). We have 21 locations and have Sold 201, ranging from $6995 to $92000. The Ramrod 350 Cutlass appeared in 1968 and became the W31 in 1969. Depending on the quality of the work the car may not even be worth it. The inline six alternative had a very limited following. It's kind of hard to explain, but it's easy to tell if one of these cars ever got into an accident. Steve's 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass retains it's stock W31 engine, the period-correct block, with #6 W-31 large valve heads, and a special W-31 only harmonic balancer. The interior is a mix. How hard would it be to change out the clutch or even rebuild the tranny for that $22k ask? This W-31 is equipped with a four-speed manual transmission, definitely a nice find. Features include 14 Super Stock II wheels, front disc brakes, dual hood scoops, and a push-button radio. Hopefully a prospective buyer can negotiate a somewhat lower price. Im willing to bet the lower fender, rockers, and rear wheel lips are shot as well. You've really got to know what you're looking at. I can only do one car at a time, but the job gets done right.". FASTEST TOP SPEED OF ANY PRODUCTION MUSCLE CAR( Disclosure4), 3) Porsche 911 3.0 Carrera RS 109 built. The highlight, of course, is the numbers matching, factory . Specs datasheet with technical data and performance data plus an analysis of the direct market competition of Oldsmobile Cutlass S Holiday Coupe W-31 4-speed wide ratio in 1970 the model with 2-door hardtop coupe body and V-8 5737 cm3 / 350.1 cui, 242.5 kW / 330 PS / 325 hp (SAE gross) offered since September 1969 for North America . ". Among those other pursuits is Minore's complete and total infatuation with Oldsmobile's W-Machines, specifically the 1968-1972 models. No power brakes on these due to the wild cam profile,,, the minuete I read that as a teenager back in 82 I had to have one, never found one, seen so so few. "History really makes these cars become that much more interesting," Jimmy says. MCR: What are the areas you look at when authenticating a car? Stephen's first "real" car was a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, purchased from a customer of his father's who had bought the car new. The car was ordered with the W-31 package and is powered by a numbers-matching 350ci V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. The one major detraction from the car was a missing carburetor that Jimmy says is "probably the hardest W-31 part to find." Your IP: What is the Greatest Automobile to Restore? In 1970, Oldsmobile Division stamped out only one style of fender. The engine balancer is big and as rare as hen's teeth. 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass W-31 Collector Values. The all-new Turbo GT model is at the top of the model range. California Notice at Collection The automaker itself might have actually contributed to this with their late 1980s promotion of not your fathers Oldsmobile. The biggest thing on any 1968 to 1970 W-31 and a dead giveaway to the car's pedigree is a dual fuel line just like a regular Cutlass equipped with air conditioning. While very cool, and desirable, the seller is just a little proud on this one. Of the above 442 production, these models were equipped with the W-32 4-bbl engine. The muscle car movement was quite strong during the latter 1960s but automakers did see a need to offer lower cost performance cars. At first Andy considered selling. You've always got to be on the lookout for things like that, especially when you're looking at these high end cars. Not only does Minore authenticate classic Oldsmobile muscle cars, but he also works on them, seen here with a 1967 W-30. Also, I would imagine that this W-31s road manners are pretty enjoyable, owing to a smaller displacement engine, with a stout horse-power rating and running through a manual transmission. I ended up buying that car, and that's what got the ball rolling with my research on the W-31s. These Cutlass models were equipped with the Rallye 350 package. This is the VIN stamp on a W-30 engine block. The transmission VINs need to be correct, and the factory tag needs to be on the right side of the transmission. Terms of Use, Your Privacy Choices The Julian code on the rearend has to be correct, and the code will tell you what the rearend ratio is. You CAN get a good indication if the motor appears to be original and unmolested, and if all the correct W-31 equipment is in place. (Article and photos copyright Auto Museum Online), Your email address will not be published. It was designed as a sportier high end F-85. If he is authenticating a 1970 model and the fender doesn't look like this, that means it has been replaced for some reason, and an owner's claim of "all original sheetmetal" goes out the window. Oldsmobile Division only made 500 of those cars, and all of them were four-speeds. DAA Industry Opt Out Porsche Panamera vs. BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe. Let Us Sell Your Oldsmobile Coupe. i owned a 1970 olds w31, had the marked w31 engine/w hurst 3spd auto with dual gate, bought from Lyle Rudolf in Mad city, Wisc, all paperwork incl, absolute mint condition, no rust, perfect interior, pd 12k, sold a few yrs later for 16k, last time i saw it , it was on the front page of the Wisconsin state Journal with a school bus buried in its azz end all the way up to the rear seat, should have never sold that damn car, regret it ever since, for resto purposes, i would give possibly 8-9k for that 31, i think that would be fair, by the time you put it back to mint,it will be worth its true value. Copyright 2023 FortranFAQ.Com All rights reserved, The worldwide production will be limited to. Good luck! Oldsmobile built the W-31 as "somewhat of an insurance-beater," or a "junior supercar" with engine parts "hand-picked" for a "blueprinted" build, he says. It was in a pile of paperwork that included the original title, Protect-O-Plate, broadcast card, dealer invoice, and receipts from the 1970s when the motor was rebuilt. A recent study looked at the most reliable and least reliable car manufacturers, and Peugeot came out on top. Copyright 2011 YearOne, Inc. - All Rights Reserved. The last set I found went for crazy money, $700 per pair! Many Oldsmobile enthusiasts say that the declining sales were in fact caused by the this is not your fathers Oldsmobile campaign. A number of Honda Accords have experienced excessive oil consumption. 1970 oldsmobile w31 production numbers Where is the Lexus NX 2022 built, What car brands are under GMC, How much does a 79 Buick Regal weigh, Is the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ limited edition, Is the Lotus Elise fast, ford recall check by. The 1970 Oldsmobile W-Machines (W-30, W-31), all manufactured in Lansing, Michigan are considered to be the ultimate Oldsmobile Super Cars. That is the color most chosen by Camry buyers during its entire production run, rumor has it. No, they're not too common. If you want the purist 911 experience for the least amount of money, The GT3 RS, which joins the lineup this year, gets tuned up to, Price: 2022 Porsche 911 pricing starts at $101,200 and can reach. Minore points out the flat ridge found only on the fenders of 1970 Oldsmobiles. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Greenlight Barrett-Jackson Auction Block 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass W31 Holiday Cpe at the best online prices at eBay! You never know what's going to turn up in the junkyard. He is standing next to Stefano Bimbi's 1970 W-30 four-speed convertible, which was featured on the cover of the Nov. '15 issue. Andy's father, John, bought this W-31 brand new, then parked it in his housethis housein 1984. Steve Magnante states that only 1,029 W-31s were built on the F-85 & Cutlass platform. Research indicates that there were about 1,300 W-31s assembled in 1970 across all body styles. According to a recent 2021 study from Consumer Reports, out of twenty-eight automakers in the U.S. market, However, it isn't remembered with quite the same fevour by Porsche 911 enthusiasts despite Zuffenhausen limiting production to just 109 units, making it, The Dodge Charger Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 10th out of 12 for fullsize cars. Interior and a lot of the body tells me that. With that being said, the asking price is ridiculous. Clarke..American Muscle Cars: A Full-Throttle History by Darwin Holmstrom and Tom Glatch. Minore: I go from the top to the bottom to the best of my knowledge working with the references that I have. The factory chalk marks aren't usually there anymore. Car Fin Styling of the 1950s / Photos and History, How to Find Vintage and Antique Car Parts, Locations of Serial Numbers and Stamps on Vintage Vehicles, Model T Serial Numbers and Registering Antique Vehicles, Sample Decodings of Classic Car Serial Numbers, Search for Cars, Trucks and Parts / Advertise on this Site, The Worlds Two Highest Selling Cars At Auction, Tips on Keeping Your Antique Car or Truck Looking Great, Value of Classic and Vintage Cars and Trucks. What does it cost to authenticate a 1970s Oldsmobile muscle car? The dark blue finish is still presentable and the faded presence of the black W-31 body stripe, as well as the black hood accents, are still visible. I'm 40 years old. Sign up for a new account in our community. In 1970, Oldsmobile Division came out with an aluminum W-31 intake similar to the one used on the W-30s and made by the same foundry. The large O in the upper left corner of this TH400 transmission tag tells you it's for an Oldsmobile, while the 70 in the lower left corner denotes the 1970 model year. Only 113 W30 convertibles and 659 W30 coupes were made in 1972, making this a very rare option. The flat ridge acted like a spear. A road less traveled. $32,500 Dealership CC-1661981 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Yellow 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 AUTO 8-Cylinder Recent Arrival!This 1970 Oldsmobile 442 hardtop c . That's a dead giveaway that the fenders have been changed. Realizing that Jimmy was the right person to restore and save its history, Andy sold the W-31 to him. eBay item number: 125789414248. Missed updates will be sent once your connection has been reestablished. One of the best examples was the 340 CI Dodge Dart GTS which later helped spawn Plymouths Duster 340. That too has its own part number. There really is no book that I can pull out and unequivocally say this is the way it was done. Its why its so hard for me to pay the crazy numbers they want now. The seller states it is all original. The outside air now came through the hood scoops and directly into the air cleaner. When doing a vehicle authentication, I make sure that the car has the right fenders on it. Meriden, Connecticut's Stephen Minore is a self-professed "Oldsmobile nut" with a particular interest in the 1970 W-Machines. These are some of the most sought after muscle cars, by collectors and enthusiasts alike. The carpet is typically faded but the dash-pad and instrument panel seems fine. Checking for missed updates, BaT Auction Success Story: An NSX Rounds Out the Stable. Condition: New: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item (including handmade . In 1970, Oldsmobile Division came out with an aluminum W-31 intake similar to the one used on the W-30s and made by the same foundry. The 1970 Oldsmobile W-Machines (W-30, W-31), all manufactured in Lansing, Michigan are considered to be the ultimate Oldsmobile Super Cars. Production was very low. "Unless you have a paper trail, it's next to impossible to say this is a true W-31 factory car," he says.