Rare Breed, W-30

Rare Breed, 1972 Sports Coupe Cutlass 'S' 442 with W-30 option

He found it in a junk yard in Auburn Al.

Darin Shady found the car in this condition

Diamond in the Rough

In 1972 Oldsmobile felt the 442 needed to become an option on the Cutlass platform again. Therefore this is the first year that an Oldsmobile with the W-30 option would be designated in the VIN number. If you are searching for a real W-30, then 72 was the only year that a build sheet is not necessary. If a X appeared then you had a W-30 car no doubt. You may not know the option list but you have the main option nailed down.

This page is for my rare find. It is a 1972 Sports Coupe Cutlass S. This particular car was optioned with the 442 and W-30. Yes a X is in the VIN number. As I have been researching this vehicle, I have found that only 19 cars of this variety were built. The first couple of numbers in the VIN are 3G77X2Mxxxxxx. This is a very hard to find vehicle.

My Favorite Links:

Be sure to stop your mouse over the pictures for more information and links.

442.COM

Ed's Blue Olds

Ebay

My Info:

Name:

James

YearOne

Email:

w30post@yahoo.com

Now my car has had a very rough life and many people would probably have just passed on the opportunity to restore it as it was pretty bad. Yes the car has been wrecked. Yes the car has rust and yes the car is missing a lot of peices. But the car has a very big place in history. The picture to the right is how I purchased the car with all the front pieces replaced but the rear side windows were still installed.

Many Olds knowers would say the 442 W-30 would all have bucket seats, floor shift transmisson and gauges including TIC-TOC-TAC. Not this one. It was equipped with the W-30 option that included the bullet mirrors, rear sway bar, 400 turbo transmission, 455 CI motor with outside air induction, boxed lower control arms and that was about it. I believe it had AM radio because the antenna extension was present but the radio was gone when I got the car.

After a couple years of working on this car, I ordered Year One parts to remedy the rust issues. Many hours went into removing the old metal and adding the new. Both rear quarter panels, outter wheel houses and trunk floor extensions were replaced. Later a one piece trunk floor was installed. Do yourself a favor and buy the multi piece. You will get better results and better detail. These are some photos of work in progress. There was a lot of time spent removing all the rusted parts. Southern cars also have rust problems when they make it to a salvage yard...

In November of 2002 the car finally left my house to be painted. Now I have the delima that most of us have, dealing with through put at the painter. The car stayed away from home for 21 months, 5 of which I worked on the car almost full time in the paint shop while unemployeed. Yes it is time consuming work, yes you never feel you will finish and no you never feel you have the budget but don't give up. Below are pictures of the updates from the body shop and additional photos from work once the car came home.

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