1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

My good friend Lee Pearl just sent me an update on his beautiful & rare 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed. The car is currently undergoing a complete nut & bolt restoration at level-One restoration in Colorado. He said that they are using all NOS suspension exactly as original with oil impregnated treatment. Lee plans to unveil the car at the Oldsmobile Nationals in Reno Nevada. This car is probably the most or one of the most documented W-30s in the country. Lee has all the original documentation from birth including the original new car form dated from 1970 in California

This is such a neat car with such a great history it will be exciting to see it completed. Lee is pursuing the highest level of accuracy & detail on a truly historic car. I am very happy… I have gotten to know Lee as he is a great guy & one of the most knowledgeable, long time Oldsmobile performance collectors there is. As Lee said Gary from Level-One is a true artist & the perfect guy to do this car. Gary's Oldsmobile restorations are the finest in the country. I hope to have a chance to see the car in the near future.

Thanks Lee &amp; Gary for preserving such cool part of General Motor’s history for us automobile enthusiasts! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]


http://www.levelonerestoration.com/imageview.aspx?id=27

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Very nice! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Beautuiful resto. Nice color combo. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Bring it to MCACN!!

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

I mentioned it to him so hopefully he will considerer it. Lee lives in California so I know it is a long way to travel. Rick your restorations are stunning. I love the LS-6 convertible in Misty Turquoise. What a cool car!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif[/img]

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

A very classic GM Muscle Car, thanks for sharing.

Dan

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HO455</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I mentioned it to him so hopefully he will considerer it. Lee lives in California so I know it is a long way to travel. Rick your restorations are stunning. I love the LS-6 convertible in Misty Turquoise. What a cool car!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif[/img] </div></div>

I think a RAIV Judge is superior to both. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Why would you say that?

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

I said that because, by golly, I believe it. :-)

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

It comes across like you are putting down this car for some reason. Strange thing to do escpecially in a thread that was started specifically to share the car with everyone.


Jason

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Not sure how you'd infer I'm putting the car down when I never solicited a negative opinion, especially considering I own a similar car. Someone stated he also liked the LS6 ragtop, and I merely stated I like the Judge best of all.

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

I must have misread the post. Sorry for the misunderstanding.


Jason

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

I think it's just preference, eh? Personally I like the Mopar B-bodies. We all like different cars though so I'm not criticizing. Coming up at Mecum, this is Dark Gold Metallic (which makes it pretty rare), and it's a Hemi! I'm not against Oldsmobiles, but Hemis were in a different league.

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...=SC0511-110967

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...%20Charger.jpg

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Tawny Gold (I think that's what Plymouth called it) isn't really rare. But the Hemi is!

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SS427</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Bring it to MCACN!! </div></div>

Gary is bringing an amazing and super rare color '69 Judge this year, and we have discussed several other possibilities.

For those who don't know, Gary brought the black RAIV GTO Judge convertible that was in our Class of 1970 convertible circle, and several of the Olds 442's in the Class of 1970 were also out of his shop in Colorado.

Great stuff indeed!

Bashton
MCACN Managing Member

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Jason: I don't think you misread the post.

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 442w30</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HO455</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I mentioned it to him so hopefully he will considerer it. Lee lives in California so I know it is a long way to travel. Rick your restorations are stunning. I love the LS-6 convertible in Misty Turquoise. What a cool car!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif[/img] </div></div>

I think a RAIV Judge is superior to both. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img] </div></div>

Don't forget the Buick GS Stage1 'Verts.

Jan

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jannes_z-28</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Don't forget the Buick GS Stage1 'Verts.


</div></div>

I like those third, after the Judge and the Olds! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

If the Judge is so great... Then why do you go by name &quot;442W30&quot;? Just curious...

BTW - You do post as &quot;Joe Blow&quot; over on Classical Pontiac.... Right?

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Yeah, that's me.

I own the Olds, hence my handle. I first fell in love with Pontiac, but I ended up with the Olds. Kinda automotively transgendered, if you will.

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Adam12</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Coming up at Mecum, this is Dark Gold Metallic (which makes it pretty rare), and it's a Hemi! I'm not against Oldsmobiles, but Hemis were in a different league.

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...=SC0511-110967

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...%20Charger.jpg </div></div>

i believe Charger is a former Welborn car?

i saw it over 20 years ago at a mopar meet in Birmingham

sign in front of the car said:
&quot;last Hemi made&quot;

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Isn't <span style="font-style: italic">every</span> 71 Hemi Charger a current or former Welborn car? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

He has one of mine so that makes it a former njsteve car. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Andy, I know there was one in that color in MCR years ago. I think the article even stated that Wellborn's father owned the car first.

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 442w30</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HO455</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I mentioned it to him so hopefully he will considerer it. Lee lives in California so I know it is a long way to travel. Rick your restorations are stunning. I love the LS-6 convertible in Misty Turquoise. What a cool car!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif[/img] </div></div>

I think a RAIV Judge is superior to both. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img] </div></div>

The RAIV Judge is superior in what way? Is it the cheezy decal stickers or the notoriously fragile bottom end of the RAIV 400 Pontiac engine or is it both? RM [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Then let me rephrase it:

The Ram Air IV GTO is superior to both.

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Let the CONVINCIN' begin! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/laugh.gif[/img]

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

I'd take a Stage 1 myself....

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RM Schimel</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The RAIV Judge is superior in what way? Is it the cheezy decal stickers or the notoriously fragile bottom end of the RAIV 400 Pontiac engine or is it both? RM [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img] </div></div>

Cheezy decal stickers? Guess your not a fan of Road Runners or Super Bees or most other muscle cars. What do YOU own, oh stuck up one? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/bs.gif[/img]

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

&quot;One Adam 12, One Adam 12, we have an overreaction on page 3 of this thread.&quot;

The little emoticon on the end of RM's posting identifies this as a sarcastic jab, but all in good FUN. The modern musclecar market obviously prefers the stick on, groovy fun of Judge stripes and emblems, but let's not get too serious here. The Pontiac marketing folks were obviously playing fast and loose when they lifted that moniker from &quot;Laugh-In&quot;, right?

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Got it! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

I'm a Road Runner and Super Bee guy so I know a thing or two about &quot;groovy decals&quot;. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

I love em all!! I was just pulling the leg of the Pontiac Judge fella. RM [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

My leg was being pulled?

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 442w30</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My leg was being pulled? </div></div>

You Betcha!!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif[/img] RM

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

I heard you were talking about my old Oldsmobile on this site and I appreciate the kind words. I bought the car in 1977 for $600 when nobody wanted gas hogs. I am very pleased to finally finish it. After great thought I picked Level One because of the caliber of their restorations. Gary is a true artist and a correctly restored classic car is a work of art.

Pontiac, Buick, Olds, Chrysler there are many great cars and we all have favorites. If I was able to buy a Hemi Cuda convertible 4 speed in 1977 for $600 I would really like that car too.

There were very few w-30 convertibles with documentation ordered with the aluminum w-27 rear end and 4 speed and I hope the people that see the car will enjoy seeing how oldsmobile fit in to the muscle car days of the 70s.

One of the most interesting things about the car is that it was ordered for California the only smog state at that time. The car has many unique features because of the smog requirements. Imagine the car running down the production line in Lansing where all the w-30 were made and a bunch of strange fuel lines, canister, hoses, special gas tank. It must have really confused the assembly people because most California cars were built in Fremont, CA. Just a side note that created some challenges during the restoration.

The original owner even ordered it with poverty caps so he could install some aluminum slotted mags. Like most of these cars the steel wheels went in the garage or trash and the original pictures of the car one month after it was purchased already show the new wheels. On Gary's site are some of the many original pictures of the car.

I think this is my first post so thanks for all of your comments.

Lee Pearl

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

The good old days when you could buy a nice car for a good price. In 1976 my dad paid $750 for a nice 64 GTO convertible..... In 1985 I bought pretty decent '67 GTO with a 4 speed for $600 and drove it home. A friend has a '66 GS convertible that his dad bought in 1977 for $250.

BTW - Nice car.... cool you were able to hang onto it all those years.

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Welcome aboard Lee. You have a real beauty of a car with great history. Love the vintage photos. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Beautiful car Lee ! I love those ragtops. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

I friend of mine saw a W-30, W-27 convertible here in Sweden last year. I assume it was ordered that way but don´t know for sure. In the seventies many musclecars were bought on the East coast, in the pricerange you refer to, and were shipped over the pond. In later years some rare ragtops have found their way back to the U.S. I have a Hemi Challenger and a RAIV in mind.

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzBOsbcvOxk

Re: 1970 Olds 442 W-30 convertible four-speed
 

Tenney: I won't be doing that with my restored car but it is nice to see the olds passed the test in 1972.

Lee