1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2

Description

It’s no coincidence that the fictional mad scientist Dr. Oldsmobile and the 1971 4-4-2 emerged around the same time. Dreamed up by the Olds marketing team, Dr. Oldsmobile was the quirky mascot who symbolized the raw power and innovation of the brand’s muscle cars.

And the 455-powered 1971 4-4-2 was truly monstrous. Available as a two-door Coupe or Convertible, it wore an aggressive grille, along with revised bumpers, parking lights, and taillamps. And true to 4-4-2 form, it came equipped with a heavy-duty suspension, Wide Oval tires, distinctive badging, dual exhaust tips, and bucket seats. It was available in two versions: a 340-horsepower base engine, and the legendary W-30.

Even though 1971 455s got a lower compression ratio, the W-30 455’s output was still prodigious. With a more aggressive camshaft and functional cold air induction, the W-30 put down 350 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque.

This pristine 4-4-2 is dressed in Cameo White with a unique Jade Green interior, and is a rare piece of muscle car history. There is no factory documentation to prove that it is a true W-30, but it wears correct W-30 components including H-code cylinder heads on an F-stamped 455 V8, a W-455-stamped aluminum intake manifold, and an OW-code heavy-duty TH400 transmission with a matching partial VIN.

Highlights 

• Rare, beautiful, and fast 4-4-2 believed but not verified to be a W-30 

• “396021F” 455 cu-in V8 rated at 350 gross horsepower and 410 lb-ft gross torque 

• “H” stamped cylinder heads 

• “OW” tag heavy duty three-speed TH400 automatic transmission with matching partial VIN 

• Finished in (11) Cameo White with (932) Jade Green interior 

• (7041250) four-barrel Quadrajet for a 1971 Olds V8  

• Dual-exhaust system 

• The chassis number (344871M135110) decodes as: 

  • 3 – Oldsmobile  

  • 44 – 4-4-2 

  • 87 – Two-door hardtop 

  • 1 – 1971 

  • M – Lansing, Michigan assembly plant 

  • 135110 – Sequential production number   

• The trim tag decodes as: 

  • 71 – 1971 

  • 34487 – Oldsmobile 4-4-2 two-door hardtop  

  • LAN – Lansing, Michigan assembly plant  

  • 262198 – Fisher Body sequence number  

  • 932 – Jade Green bucket seats 

  • 11 – Cameo White paint 

  • 01B – Built during the second week of January 1971    

• W-30 package included: 

  • High-output 455 V8 

  • H-series high-flow cylinder heads 

  • Camshaft with 285º/287º duration with automatic and A/C 

  • “W-455” aluminum intake manifold

  • "OW" heavy-duty transmission  

  • Revised carburetor and distributor settings 

  • Front disc brakes 

  • G70 bias-ply tires 

  • Sport mirrors 

  • Dual-intake Force Air fiberglass hood  

  • Force Air engine induction  

  • Red inner fenders 

  • Special paint and stripes 

  • W-30 emblems 

Features 

• 15-inch wheels wearing 255/60R15 BF Goodrich tires 

• FE2 heavy-duty suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars 

• Anti Spin differential 

• 120-mph speedometer, 7,000-rpm tachometer with clock, oil pressure, coolant temp, and fuel level gauges 

• Power windows 

• Air conditioning 

• Aftermarket oil pressure and coolant temp gauges under dash 

Known Imperfections 

• Driver side red inner fenderwell is an aftermarket replacement 

• Some cracking on the fiberglass hood 

• Small paint chips on the inner driver door 

• Small spot of rust on interior floor of trunk 

• Minor cracking on dash around headlight knob 

• A few missing buttons on driver side seat 

• Radio not working 

• Missing air vents underneath dashboard 

• A/C needs correct O-ring and a recharge 

Included 

• Keys 

• Chassis manual book 

• Number book 

• Maintenance records 

Ownership History

The California seller of this 1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 has owned it since August 2004. The consignor states, “Performance Auto Group in Glen Cove, New York sold cars on consignment, and showed me what they said was a 1971 4-4-2 W-30 that they had for sale. I wasn’t really looking for a car to buy but they had me test drive it anyway and once I test drove it, I was sold.”

“I would take it to local car shows in New York, and for short drives once a week. Performance Auto Group did minor maintenance to it, and eventually I had someone else replace the distributor and water pump. It has always been stored in a garage with a cover on it wherever I kept it.”

“Eventually I moved to California and had the car brought over from a classic car storage location in New Jersey about eight years ago. Over the last eight years I just wasn’t taking the car out for drives much and so I decided it would be best to sell it so someone could appreciate it. Over the past two years I haven’t done much except start it once a week and take it to the mechanic for oil changes and any other routine maintenance.”