DESCRIPTION

In 1966, GM saddled its divisions with a serious disadvantage against the competition when it outlawed the production of Tri-Power carburetion in all cars but the Corvette. Embroiled in divisional competition with the successful GTO, Oldsmobile engineers responded with a new optional Track Pack induction system. Coded W-30, it used twin scoops mounted beneath the front bumper that forced fresh air through flexible hoses that connected to a special chromed air cleaner, which on factory cars was stamped with its production number. A radical cam and high tension valve springs were also used, and the battery was relocated to the trunk. The W-30 option went largely unnoticed in its first year of production; only 54 were installed by the factory and 93 at dealers, but by 1967 buyers were clamoring for it and the extra power that came with it. There were 501 W-30-equipped 442s built that year, 337 of them hardtop coupes, including this multiple prize-winner built in the first week of March 1967. Looking beautiful in Black paint with a contrasting Red interior, it boasts the W-30-enhanced short stroke E-code 400/385 HP V-8 coupled to a 4-speed manual transmission. Like all W-30s built from 1966 to 1971, it can be identified by its Red plastic front inner fenders, with the added extras of Redline tires on Magnum 500 wheels and Red pinstriping. Power steering was added during the superb frame-off restoration recently completed on this W-30. Since then it has been driven fewer than 1,000 miles and has won First Place honors at both the 2012 Olds Nationals and the 2014 Birmingham World of Wheels.