1970 Oldsmobile 442 W30
2-Door Holiday Coupe

- One of 2,574 Produced
- All Original Ownership Documentation: Window Sticker, Build Sheet, Protect-O-Plate, and Manuals
- Purchased New By Mr. Minnick on October 31, 1969 from Skyland Oldsmobile of Asheville, NC
- Rebuilt, Numbers Matching 455cid/370hp 4bbl V8
- Professionally Restored in Factory Original Twilight Blue (Code 28)
- Factory AC

VIN Decoder:
3 - GM Division: Oldsmobile
44 - Series: 442
87 - Body Style: 2 Door Hardtop Coupe
0 - Production Year: 1970
M - Assembly Plant: Lansing, MI
166059 - Production Sequence

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W30 on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all of the more than 155 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“They say the cars we drive say a lot about us and if that is so invariably true, then (the) 1970 Oldsmobile 442 will do all the talking for you.” OPUMO online style magazine, August 2016

The OPUMO writer went on: “Much like every other American muscle car, the Oldsmobile has an unforgettable story to tell. Born out of the competitive post-war manufacturing era, which built to a crescendo in the late 1970's, the 442 was the most powerful model Oldsmobile ever made. The horsepower was considerably boosted to a standard of 365 hp and the aggressive W-30 package increased that number to 370, alongside the addition of a fiberglass hood and functional ram-air scoops. So, as you can imagine, the 442 concealed considerable clout to appease its tag of being the 'best-looking Oldsmobile of all-time.'”

Offered here is a highly documented 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W30 2-Door Holiday Coupe professionally restored to perfection. One of just 2,754 produced, the legendary car was assembled at the Lansing, Michigan GM plant and shipped to Skyland Oldsmobile, Inc. of Asheville, North Carolina. On October 31, 1969, the 442 was sold to G. E. Minnick of Clyde, North Carolina. Factory-ordered in Twilight Blue (code 28) over black with black exterior stripes, the car's full window sticker is included in the sale. (Please refer to the photo gallery for a copy listing the extensive optional equipment ordered on the car.) The 442's current odometer reading is 35,358 miles, remarkably fewer than 700 miles per-year on average since new. This is a museum-grade example of what was at the time, the car “with as large a V8 as was ever bolted into a special-performance production automobile.”

(Extensive specifications, marketing materials, and a wealth of other model-specific data for this Olds 442 is available online from the GM Heritage Center at: https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Oldsmobile/1970_Oldsmobile_442_Info_Kit.pdf)

The exterior of the 442 is flawless. Chrome, paint, stripes, emblems, and badging, literally every external surface is in first-class condition. Paint is superb with uniform application, proper alignment of stripes, and a 100%-true-to-the window-sticker authenticity. All 442/W30 bits are present including the hood locks; trumpet dual-exhaust tips; 442 identification front, sides, and rear; W30 side identification; racing-style mirrors; and rear-deck spoiler. There is no deviation from stock. (To best assess the quality of the paint and trim finishes, be sure to view the close-up photographs of the car in the accompanying gallery.) Stock, styled-steel wheels with Oldsmobile-logo center caps are mounted with true-to-the-window-sticker Firestone® Wide Oval raised-white-letter tires. The car's trunk is spotless and complete.

The 442's interior is no less impressive. Black upholstery covers the front bucket seats (with center armrest) and the rear bench seat. The upholstery pattern mixes two vinyl finishes in a diamond-shape with accent buttons. Door panels incorporate horizontal-pattern vinyl, woodgrain and chrome trim, and bottom black carpet panel. Roll-up windows are in place. Door-sill paint and trim are as-new. Black carpeting covers the cabin floors with Oldsmobile logos embossed in rubber, protective mats. The stock, 4-spoke, brushed-metal trimmed sports steering wheel includes the rim-blow feature and sports an Oldsmobile logo in the center. The 3-pod instrument cluster is set in woodgrain trim on the black dashboard with one pod devoted to engine-monitoring gauges, one for the 120-mph speedometer, and a third for a combination tachometer and analog clock. All stock switchgear—including the slide-lever controls for the factory air conditioning, and the Oldsmobile-branded factory radio—remains in place. The automatic-transmission shift lever (with alternate “launch” shifting) is located on the console. All interior trim, including chrome-on-plastic accents and instrument markings, is in excellent, crisp condition.

Under the twin-scoop fiberglass hood feeding air to the powerplant, the 455-cubic-inch, 4-barrel carbureted, 370-horsepower V8 is an impressive performance statement mounted between the two red fenders. The engine block and valve covers wear the correct light-blue paint, the intake manifold is unpainted, the air cleaner is a “topless” affair (gasket-mated to the hood), the brake booster shows its zinc plating, and all surfaces are properly clean but thankfully not sprayed with shine-enhancing sprays. This car left Lansing in 1969 looking virtually identical to this. Viewed from below, the chassis is likewise perfect: paint colors, surfaces, components, and condition of everything is without flaw. There is, of course, no rust.

All the car's build and identification tags remain as mounted at the factory. The window sticker, factory build sheet, Protect-o-Plate card, and owner's manuals are included in the sale.

While the more than 155 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this Olds 442 W30 in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

Looking at this beautiful 442 W30, it's almost impossible to believe there was a time when anyone could walk down to their local Oldsmobile dealership, plunk down their money, and wait for their dream car to arrive. Come to think of it, we do know of one place where you can still do that.