Tips for authenticating a 1969 "W" car

This is a question I get asked frequently, this may help if you are looking to buy one.

The "W cars" meaning W30, W31 and W32, are difficult to authenticate due to the fact that the VIN doesn't indicate if the car has that option. The only way a seller can PROVE a car is a "W machine" is if he has a build sheet from the car, a window sticker (either the original one from the window or the original selling dealership copy; disregard reproduction window stickers, they can be printed to say anything) or original sales paperwork that indicates the cars options. Oldsmobile does not have information on the cars it sold prior to 1977. Oldsmobile of Canada has information on all cars built in Canada or US built cars originally sold in Canada. Since all "W" cars were built in Lansing, the only way Olds of Canada would have info on one is if it was originally sold in Canada (a huge plus for you Canadians!)
These cars are often cloned so it can be risky paying the going rate for one that doesn't have documentation. Even if a car is real, and the seller is able to convince you, you will have to convince the next buyer if you should decide to sell the car, which could make it hard to recoupe your investment.
If there is no documentation and you want to try and determine if the car is real, here are some things to look for. This isn't a list of everything the car should have, just things that make it different from the standard Cutlass or 442. Remember all these things can be added to any car. All cars should have the W42 hood stripes (unless it were a rare stripe delete) and the sticker above the fender marker lights, however since most cars have been repainted, you won't know what was there originally. Be particularly suspicious if the rare parts (like ram air parts or red inner fenders) are reproduction, it could be a sign the car didn't have them in the first place

W31 The rarest item on a W31 is the unique W31 only harmonic balancer. It is larger that any other Oldsmobile balancer (see photo). The W31's were generally 4-speeds with some 3 speed automatics. They had 3.42, 3.91 or 4.33 rear end gears, All had the ram-air set up and the washer bottle located on the passenger side (*** there should be no holes on the drivers side inner fender from a washer bottle previously being there! ***). The engines had flat top pistons and larger intake and exhaust valves (neither very easy to verify on an assembled engine). All had 4 core radiators, no power brakes, no air conditioning, and all were built in Lansing (most Oldsmobiles were built in Lansing, so that doesn't authenticate it, just helps rule some out).

W31 harmonic balancer



W30 A 69 W30 has "D" cylinder heads instead of the standard 442 "C" heads. W30's were generally 4-speeds with some 3 speed turbo 400 automatics. (***Automatic W30's had an OW code on the transmission which is unique to that car. If you find an automatic car with the VIN stamped in the OW tranny, that would serve as documentation. ***) They had 3.42, 3.91 or 4.33 rear end gears. All had the ram-air set up with the washer bottle located on the passenger side and the plastic inner fender wells were molded out of red plastic. The hot air tube connecting the ex manifold to the adaptor on the air cleaner is a 1969 W30 only item and is perhaps the hardest unique item to find for that car. They are reproduced, but if the one on a car is original, consider that a good sign. All had 4 core radiators, no power brakes, no air conditioning, and all were built in Lansing.

W32 A W32 is basically an automatic transmission 442 with the 350 horsepower 4-speed engine and a ram-air set up. With ram air the washer bottle is located on the passenger side (*** there should be no holes on the drivers side inner fender from a washer bottle previously being there! ***). The inner fender wells are the standard black. There are no parts unique to this car making it particularly hard to authenticate. It should have a ram air set up and be a Lansing car.


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