Dr. Ron's 442 W30

In 2006, Jim Stohlman (former owner of Stohlman Oldsmobile) introduced Ron to the “Premier” Oldsmobile restorer, Paul Frederick of Warrenton, Virginia. Paul does full “frame-off” restorations and takes only one car each year, working on each for a full year. Ron put his car on Paul Frederick’s waiting list and a spot opened up in May, 2007. The $100,000 restoration process would take place over the next 14 months with extensive work being required to restore the car to concours-level quality. Over the years, with the rise of the ‘collector car’ market and due, in part, to the decision to close the Oldsmobile Division, W-30 442 cars had become one of the ‘truly collectible’ cars which had rapidly escalated in value beyond what anyone might have anticipated when the cars were new. Cars such as Hemi’ Cudas and Challenger R/Ts, Cobra Jet Mustangs, LS-6 Chevelles, and W-30 442 Oldsmobiles were selling for prices 50 times or more their MSRP, especially the Olds with the 4-speed transmission. Those increasing values gave rise to the desire to make this Olds as pristine as possible.

 

There were several problems in restoring the Olds to concours, however. During its racing years, many of the original date coded correct parts had been discarded or swapped out for other items such as replacement number carburetor and distributor. For example, acquiring a correctly numbered (GM PN 7040256) 1970 W-30 stick shift carburetor with a date code prior to the car’s build date (1/15/70) was time consuming and expensive. One was finally located for $2,100 which required an additional $500 for plating and rebuilding.

 

Beyond the issue of correct part numbers was the fact that the car had been extensively modified during its racing career. Notice in the accompanying photos things like the removable transmission hump to facilitate changing four speed transmissions. One or two or specially modified spare ‘crash-box’ M-21 transmissions were taken to the race track to replace a damaged unit. One man working from above and one below could change transmissions in a much shorter time than either one or two below the car. Likewise, the photos show the welded chrome-moly 6-point roll cage being cut from the car. Since it is almost impossible to find good 1970 Olds 442 fenders, the acid-dipped ones from the car’s racing days were replaced with NOS ones for the car. (No leaning on the front fenders back then, please!). These types of modifications added extensively to the time and expense of turning this car back to ‘as new’ condition.