Among those other pursuits is Minore's complete and total infatuation with Oldsmobile's W-Machines, specifically the 1968-1972 models. So why isn't the 4-4-2 praised today as a debut-year muscle car? 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. 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. Terms of Use, Your Privacy Choices You're the high bidder. MCR: What are the areas you look at when authenticating a car? I think for under 10k worth of work you could have a really nice ride that would be a blast to drive and just be seen in!! The interior is a mix. However, auto reviewers have given the Lamborghini Huracan an overall reliability rating of. Question of the Week: What's the Best Factory-Turbocharged Car? This luxury model suffers from a. Depending on the quality of the work the car may not even be worth it. Torque @ 3,600 rpm -mile: 13.94 seconds @ 105.5 mph Specifications Price Base price: $2,970.00 Price as profiled: $4,378.90 First, I need to have my travel, motel, and any ancillary expenses paid for regardless whether I have to fly or drive. These Cutlass models were equipped with the W-31 350 package. 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. The Porsche 911 GT3 is one of the highest performing sports cars in the 911 lineup and is designed primarily for ultimate track performance. The body panels, however, appear to be free of crash damage so thats encouraging. The following year the car was changed to the W-31. These models were equipped with the Pace Car package. 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. Research indicates that there were about 1,300 W-31's assembled in 1970 across all body styles. Unfortunately, everything that makes it a W-31 can be bolted to any 350 Olds motor, so without a build sheet and matching VIN derivative on the block, there is no way to know with absolute certainty. Copyright 2011 YearOne, Inc. - All Rights Reserved. "Hardware store hardware," we call it. Required fields are marked *. You don't find the right color or plated bolts in the right places anymore. The Olds Cutlass accounted for 154,300 of them. Supreme Holiday Hardtop Supreme Convertible Supreme 4-Door Holiday Hardtop Handling 1970 Averages The 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass measures 69.50 inches in width, The 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass measures 203.20 inches in length, and has a wheelbase of 112.00 inches. That too has its own part number. These Cutlass models were equipped with the Rallye 350 package. Or subscribe without commenting. After all the rust and grime are cleaned away, it's much harder to authenticate. That is the color most chosen by Camry buyers during its entire production run, rumor has it. 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. An original 1970 W-30 car like the one I authenticated in Chicago [Beth Bimbi's Oldsmobile, "Mom's W-30," Feb. '16] is easy to authenticate. There is no photo of the drivers side of the car so perhaps there is more of a problem there. I have owned W30 442s and several Hurst Olds through the years, and most recently a 70 4 speed Rallye 350. Look at the drivers door closeup showing the GM label, there is paint overspray there as well. (Article and photos copyright Auto Museum Online), Your email address will not be published. Many Oldsmobile enthusiasts say that the declining sales were in fact caused by the this is not your fathers Oldsmobile campaign. 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass 325 Horsepower @ 5,400 rpm 360-lb.ft. These are some of the most sought after muscle cars, by collectors and enthusiasts alike. Who the hell wants that? I wanted to see how things were put together. . Features include 14 Super Stock II wheels, front disc brakes, dual hood scoops, and a push-button radio. His intentions were not focused on a purchase, as the car was still not for sale. The factory chalk marks aren't usually there anymore. The average annual repair cost is $652 which means it has average ownership costs. Minore (right) chats with Ryan Weaver at the 2015 MCACN show about Weaver's barn-found 1969 W-31. There is a good amount of rust on areas visible in the photos, and you dont have any photos of the drivers side at all. Have you run across any earth-shaking discoveries in the authentication process? 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). Olds dealer propaganda touted the Rallye 350's base price of $3,252.84 was $67.16 less than a comparably equipped Plymouth Road Runnerthe original budget muscle car. The TH350 transmission was very special on this cars and is known as a JO coded unit. Let's face it. 1970 f85 w31 the car has everything a w31 has except carb intake and harmonic balancer has edelbrock carb and intake on it now and its a automatic trans which was rare only 52 made and its correct for a w31 car has matching number block but has 71 heads on it car needs some . Additional photos are presented in the gallery below showing the suspension, chassis, and driveline, as well as corrosion on portions of the underside. eBay item number: 125789414248. This is one of the cars I have always wanted, Im pretty familiar with these cars, but this one is really going to cost you. Power's 2020 ranking of the most reliable brands. The Cayenne is a great example of how sometimes more expensive vehicles are worth the investment since they do in fact hold their value for longer. Jimmy, already a W-31 owner, informed Andy that his 1970 Oldsmobile was a W-31. The next two numbers afterwards should decode . Forget the Olds, that classic brown for sale Camry caught my eye!!! I agree. The exterior of this Cutlass is fair. 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. Right away I could determine that the block had been re-stamped. These models were equipped with the 442 package. The highlight, of course, is the numbers matching, factory . The seller states, The original motor starts up and runs good. These models were equipped with the W-31 350 package. Lot #65,720. These Oldsmobile press photos of the then-new 1968 4-4-2 were taken in April 1967 by Petersen Publishing's Bob D'Olivo. Ive had a bunch of 442s, and had 1 W car, a 69 W30 convert 4 speed, but always wanted a 70 W-31. For those hardcore Oldsmobile W-Series collectors, they will know what a truly special car this is, more specifically, the engine. Thanks to Adam F for this tip! There really is no book that I can pull out and unequivocally say this is the way it was done. Your CA Privacy Rights (Shine the Light) Up to that point I didn't know the difference, so I went and inspected the car. A complete interior is going to cost a minimum of $2500 by itself. Perhaps another slogan would have been more effective. Of the above 442 production, these models were equipped with the W-32 4-bbl engine. Something well never know. In addition, a W-31 would never have had a 3-groove pulley because A/C was not available with that motor. The statistic that I uncovered was that there were 1,029 hardtops (Holiday Coupe) produced, the balance (200+) were post coupes or Sports Coupes in Olds lingo. Oldsmobile Rallye 350 (1970 to 1970) CMB $31,469 FOLLOW MARKET The Oldsmobile Rallye 350 was a limited production performance model available for the 1970 model year. this was a complete aluminum rear differential carrier but it was only offered in 1970. The predecessor to the 1969 W-31 was Oldsmobile's 1968 Ram Rod 350. 1970 oldsmobile w31 production numbers ford recall check by registration, Is the Lotus Evija a hypercar, What was the biggest engine Pontiac made, Did Saturn make good cars, How reliable is a 2022 Ford F150, Which Lamborghini is the most reliable, CAR 5W.COM. Love the car! Im willing to bet the lower fender, rockers, and rear wheel lips are shot as well. It was pointed out that the largest market for Oldsmobiles was the population whose parents had in fact owned Oldsmobiles. Then in 1971, GM mandated a decree that said there had to be crush zones built into the fenders, so from 1971-1972, all fenders have built-in crush zones. Additionally, Oldsmobile assembled two W-30 Vista Cruiser wagons. (faster than 130). Price: The 2022 Porsche Cayenne has a starting price of $69,000. The W-31 for the 68 and 69 year had a cast iron intake and #5 Heads. There are dead giveaways, like the wrong [mounting] hardware has been used. That's why, in 2013, he noticed a post on the classicoldsmobile.com forum from Andy Wenz of Cleveland. I have been able to amass a database for 1970 W-30 four-speed and automatic cars. Oldsmobile Division only made 500 of those cars, and all of them were four-speeds. No, theyre not too common. The Antique Automobile Club of America defines the Muscle Car Era as between 1961 and 1974, a wider range than many muscle car enthusiasts recognize. If the passenger side is rusted (front fender, rocker, quarter) you can be pretty certain the drivers side is just as bad. Starting around 1967, automobile insurance companies started premium surcharges on cars with outsized horsepower or low curb weight to power ratios. This car has seen some rough riding. Show of hands, has anyone ever owned or driven a W-31 Cutlass and what was it like? Production was very low. If you don't win, your existing pre-authorization will be released. 5 Ws ABOUT EVERY CAR! Always question everything else the seller says when he wont do something basic like clutch replacement and his asking is so high. Oldsmobile people would actually go just to look for me. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There are a few familiar names at the top of the chart, starting with, The average cost for a Porsche 911 oil change is. A lot of people don't know that. 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. Always had a thing for W-31 cars. Although it used the same block as the 455, GM management would not allow Oldsmobile to install an engine of more than 400 cubic inches in the mid size B body. . The 1968, 1969, and 1970 carburetors are W-31-specific, have their own W-31 part numbers, and are big-dollar items. 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. The car has obviously had paint work, the stripes are incorrect, the passenger rocker, rear wheel lips front fender rust really make you think this is a 149k mile car. I would go to people I had sold parts to and ask, 'You own a 1970 4-4-2 don't you? The front passenger fender looks to be a repaint. The cost is going to be the same to restore and the 200k car owner knows its value is gone . A 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass W-31 recently sold at auction for $90,000. The G is the application key; for 1970 this trans would have been used in 4-4-2, W-32, or SX, but not a W-30. In general, all high performance cars from the late 1960s through 1971 are popular collector cars. As can be expected for a purpose-built machine, production numbers for the W-30 4-4-2s are quite low. "That's when I got really charged up over those cars. This code conlsists of a prefix letter (330 V8=T(1964-65) or W(1966-67), 400 V8 = V), then a production sequence number, followed by a suffix eode letter (L = Low compresdon, E = 2-bbl 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. The automaker itself might have actually contributed to this with their late 1980s promotion of not your fathers Oldsmobile. Major difference was the AC cars had C heads, Non AC cars had D heads. The Rochester Quadrajet, PN 7040255 and specific to the W-31 automatic and manual transmission cars, is very valuable. When you bid we pre-authorize your credit card for the service fee (this helps prevent fraud). Unless you can do every bit of the work on it yourself you will find yourself extremely deep underwater on this one trying to bring it back. I always wonder why they stopped making this model. Photos of assorted casting numbers and stampings are provided in the gallery below. Andy's father, John, bought this W-31 brand new, then parked it in his housethis housein 1984. Total 1970 Oldsmobile production was 633,980 vehicles. What does it cost to authenticate a 1970s Oldsmobile muscle car? It is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and available here on craigslist for $22,500. Assuming the VIN derivative shows it to be a 1970 block, and the #6 heads have the 2.000/1.625 valves, and the cam is the correct 308 degree cam, and it has the W-31-unique balancer, and it has the correct distributor, and the pistons are flattops, then there's a high probability that the motor is an original W-31. If it's a four-speed car, I look to make sure that nobody's tampered with it and installed a new transmission tunnel. 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. 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. Cars are made in every corner of the globe, but when it comes to Porsche, home is definitely where the heart is. The W-30 was an option of the Olds 442, while the W-31 was an option on the Cutlass. FASTEST TOP SPEED OF ANY PRODUCTION MUSCLE CAR( Disclosure4), 3) Porsche 911 3.0 Carrera RS 109 built. W-31s have a lot of rare engine parts on them. Engine upgrades included the use of what's become known as the 308 camshaft, which was actually the unit's duration; the camshaft also touted .474-inch lift and an intake/exhaust valve overlap of 82 degrees. Let Us Sell Your Oldsmobile Coupe. Of the above production, these models were equipped with the W-30 32-bbl engine. These cars have a lot of rare engine parts on them, Minore says, including carburetors that were W-31 specific. Properly tuned, a W-31 is fun to drive, but it isnt going to scare anyone. Item specifics. Find out where they were built. Factory Tach doesnt appear to be missing, where would it go? Of the above 442 production, these models were equipped with the W-30 4-bbl engine. The seller advises that it has rust but the floors and trunk are very solid. "History really makes these cars become that much more interesting," Jimmy says. A power steering system was reportedly installed by the original owner, while updates by the seller are said to include resealing of the steering gear, re-installation of the power steering equipment, replacement of the center steering link and hoses and shock absorbers as well as performing an alignment. Everything you need to know about your car! Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Oldsmobile muscle car fanatics, you will want to take a very close look at this amazing Olds W-Machine! It seems that many 442s from the era have automatic transmissions, not sure of the breakdown with the W-31. We have seen other 1970 Cutlass W-31s advertised in the $80,000 to $115,000 range. When it comes to the W-30 cars, Oldsmobile made only about five or six different Julian codes, and you've got to be able to recognize those carburetors when you see them. It also has a factory Aluminum W-350 intake, 1970 W-30 4-speed Camshaft (Steve opted to install this stock grind as it has .475 lift, 328 duration instead of the stock .474 308 . The manufacturer estimates that about 200 Taycan cars cannot be built per day. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. However, he said that so-called experts had told him that it was not for that particular car because it didn't have the VIN listed at the top of it. In 1970, Oldsmobile Division stamped out only one style of fender. Stephen spent some of his formative years "banging gears and laying rubber all around town" in his uncle Mark's 1969 Cutlass Supreme. I liked the under bumper hood scoops on the 68-69, just like the bad W/30. 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. A couple of years ago I drove out to New Jersey to authenticate a couple of cars for a client in California. There was no crush zone in it and ran the whole length of the fender. . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Made with for Muscle Cars - Musclecarfacts.com Copyright 2023. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Please enable JavaScript to engage in the discussion on this site. The outside air now came through the hood scoops and directly into the air cleaner. It said "W-30" right on it, but the number listed at the top was not the VIN. What does it take to build a 911? As 19sixty5 suggests that this car looks more like 149K vs. 49K. Only 113 W30 convertibles and 659 W30 coupes were made in 1972, making this a very rare option. Rare Fully Restored 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Rallye 350 Coupe :: 1 Year Production, Only 3,547 Produced, Powered by Numbers Matching 350ci 310hp V8 Engine, 700R4 Overdrive Transmission, Sebring Primo Classics International LLC Horsepower was reported at 325 at 5400rpm, even though the mill featured a new aluminum intake manifold. 1970 oldsmobile w31 production numbers. With that being said, the asking price is ridiculous. Sliding into the number one spot, the French brand was named the most reliable car brand of all, beating all other manufacturers to the top. m)s of torque and incorporated low-restriction dual exhausts. The inline six alternative had a very limited following. The W-31 for 1970 had very similar styling to the W-30 trim but the engine was a more economical 350 cubic inch with 325 HP. Power 2019 Vehicle Dependability Study, or VDS. The flat ridge acted like a spear. no way. Free shipping for many products! Equipment includes a fiberglass dual-inlet hood, sport mirrors, black accent stripes, and W-31 badging. The one major detraction from the car was a missing carburetor that Jimmy says is "probably the hardest W-31 part to find." Compression Ratio was also up to 10.5 from 10.25. It is quite rare and very much in demand. On a true four-speed car, you'll see the slag on the edges of the opening. This month, we've stumbled onto a very special Oldsmobile that was meant to throw the insurance man a curve. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. "Another thing I've done is take a lot of pictures. Auto manufactures, in some instances, started to offer smaller-engined/lower horsepower varieties as a counter move. The tach in the dash currently isnt the original OEM tic-toc-tach. Vehicles with Similar 21.55 HP/Weight Ratio Oldsmobile Division only made 500 of those cars, and all of them were four-speeds. When Stephen J. Minore was in high school, his father Joe, a gas station operator, took him aside and gave him some advice. VIEW PRICES. I would rather have a clean all together 200,000 mile car than one claiming such low mileage with everything worn out. Clarke..American Muscle Cars: A Full-Throttle History by Darwin Holmstrom and Tom Glatch. Your email address will not be published. The option disappeared after 1970. . As the Olds' story started to unfold, it became more about the family's history than just a car collector's dream W-Machine. Admittedly this is a rare car, its documentation and understated nature is an attractive draw, but Im not sure about that price reasonable or a bit outsized? During the period from 1968-1972 most Olds Cutlass buyers went with the V-8 series standard 350 cubic inch engine. 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. Believe it or not, the. In effect, an argument could be made that they were not targeting, and possibly turning away, their best potential buyers. Do you want to have hands like this when you get to be my age? The 70 however, had an aluminum intake and #6 heads. It's easy! Additional factory equipment includes a six-blade fan and a N10 dual-exhaust system. By 1970, the insurance industry was losing money and began a clampdown. The W-31 was filled with day-two parts, such as a vintage MSD box, an ACCEL Super Coil, headers, a high-stall converter, red airbags in the springs, a Sun Tach, and gauge pod. The car will move, but the clutch is shot. He also includes a burb stating that this Olds is a 49K mile example. GM Corporate mandated a 10:1 minimum ratio across all five divisions through the 60s. "Unless you have a paper trail, it's next to impossible to say this is a true W-31 factory car," he says. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. I'm 40 years old. At that point I asked the owner if he had any paperwork and he said yes. I would like to learn more about both the earlier and later year cars, as my ultimate objective is, for lack of a better term, to become the Kevin Marti or Galen Govier of Oldsmobile authenticators. Quickest production Charger ever with a quarter-mile elapsed time (ET) of 10.6 seconds at 129 mph. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'barnfinds_com-leader-1','ezslot_9',149,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-barnfinds_com-leader-1-0'); This is a car that requires a personal inspection The steering wheel looks pretty worn, both pedal pads are missing, even the paint on the pedals is worn off, the drivers door arm rest pad is shot, the seats, has the odometer rolled over? document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I wonder if it still has the original carb and distributor are still in place? These models were equipped with the Hurst/Olds package. It's no slouch, and a W-31 has run 12.80 quarter-miles at the Pure Stock Drags with a ridiculously low gear of 4.66. I started buying cars in 1980 and through the years they almost all had at least 70k and yet somehow all these cars have half that 30-40 yrs later Approximately 75k miles are shown on the five-digit odometer, about 2,500 of which have been added by the seller. Bidding will advance immediately to $. 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. I owned a 70 W-31 4-speed that was in much better condition than this car and sold it for about half of what the owner is asking for this car. We have 21 locations and have Sold 201, ranging from $6995 to $92000. It was designed as a sportier high end F-85. While repairs tend to be more severe than average, the number of those issues is low, so, The extra power of the Turbo S can see it get from, The annual maintenance cost of a 2011 Porsche Panamera is. Senior year I had a six pack challenger paid 2500, Your insurance rates must have been off the charts with that lineup of cars . It was obviously a 350/325hp car with all the options. By 1971 it was only available as a cover.