Repro Pontiac round port/Oldsmobile W30 cyl heads

[StealthBird]

Seeing reproduction RAIV, 455HO, or W-30 heads doesn’t really surprise me, especially considering the parties involved. The entire Musclecar world is being reproduced! Being a Pontiac guy, I'm grateful we have PHS to authenticate a car. The reproduction of RAIV or 455HO heads (I guess the SD455 heads can't be far behind) will now allow people to clone all sorts of rare Pontiacs. However, it all goes back to the PHS documentation to see if it’s real. Unfortunately, because PHS is considered THE final word in the Pontiac community, we now have people that forge PHS invoices. They can take a 1969 Lemans invoice, scan it into their computer, change or add option codes, order up a forged trim tag, and voila, instant RAIV Judge! By adding repro RAIV heads into the equation, it just adds another element of doubt when trying to purchase one of these rare cars.

As more and more perfect clones appear, the prices for the authentics will go down, and it will damage their value. We’ve already seen a slump in prices in recent months for authentics (the Hemi cars are way down), and I believe it’s directly related to the fact that more and more clones are flooding the market. The supply and demand chain for authentics has shifted to the point where it’s now a buyer’s market. Granted, there will always be a market for those that seek true authenticity, and will be willing to pay 6 figures. But as more and more rare parts get reproduced (W-30 intake, W-30 heads, etc), and more and more perfect clones appear at auction houses, the demand (and prices) for the authentics will go down.

As we all know, there is a huge market for those wanting to purchase a car that is, mechanically and cosmetically, a perfect copy of a rare and desirable Musclecar, and for half the price of the real-deal. I believe it’s this segment of the market where these repro heads will fit in. Cars with somewhat questionable history, or cars that are flat out forgeries, will now be able to add another element of doubt as to their cars authenticity.

In my opinion, I would think that anyone with a true documented 70-72 W-30 car (or a 69-70 RAIV GTO or Firebird, or a 71-72 455HO car) that’s going through a full restoration, but are missing their original heads, would want to find original factory heads, and would not be interested in these repros.

So for Olds owners, I understand their concern about the W-30 heads being reproduced. With a forged trim tag, phony documentation, restamped block, reproduction W-30 heads, intake, hood, fenders, and air cleaner, counterfeit W-30’s are becoming as common as 1969 Z/28’s. To buy a real W-30 car nowadays, you almost need a hire a private detective to trace the owner history, conduct interviews with close relatives, perform lie detector tests, and while you’re at it, hire someone to perform metallurgy tests on the trim tag and VIN plates to see if they’re truly 35+ years old. It’s really out of hand now, which is why I believe the market is softening for authentics.

Hey, I just received the new Musclecar Enthusiast Magazine, which has excellent articles (written by the very under appreciated Paul Zazzarine) on the 1966 L-69 442, 1966 W-30 442, and the 1966 Track-Pak W-30, all of which utilized the very rare, one year only Olds Tri-Carb intake.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/66-1966-O...sspagenameZWDVW

Now where’s my reproduction chrome 1966 Tri-Carb W-30 air cleaner?