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Muscle car

1968 Oldsmobile 442 W-30

Muscle car powered by Oldsmobile 400 W-30 V8.

1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Holiday Coupe front view; exact-year 442 visual context.
Build pathway Factory Oldsmobile 442 with W-30/OAI package
Engine 400 cu in Oldsmobile W-30 V-8
Advertised horsepower 360 hp reported for W-30
Authenticity posture Paperwork and component inspection required; visual cues alone are weak evidence

Story

1968 Oldsmobile 442 W-30

For 1968 the 4-4-2 became its own Oldsmobile model line, and the W-30 was the factory Outside Air Induction performance package layered on that 442 identity rather than a separate builder conversion. The safest sourced description is therefore a factory-built 1968 Oldsmobile 442 with W-30/OAI equipment, powered by Oldsmobile's long-stroke 400-cu-in V-8 as documented in marque references.

The W-30 record is clone-sensitive. Source-backed review points include the Outside Air Induction under-bumper ducting and dual-snorkel air-cleaner system, red inner fender wells with duct openings, D-cast cylinder heads, manual-brake context for 1968 W-30 cars, mandatory fender rally stripes, and an OW-tag Turbo Hydra-Matic when an original automatic is present. These markers should be treated as evidence to inspect, not as standalone proof without original paperwork and drivetrain stamp review.

Coverage remains intentionally conservative. Published references support the 400-cu-in W-30 identity, 360-hp rating, forced-air/OAI equipment, selected transmission and axle statements, and model-line 442 features such as front disc brakes and F70 tires. Exact factory production by W-30 body/transmission, complete trim-code interiors, and a complete factory option-price matrix require dealer data book, ordering guide, broadcast card, or factory accounting follow-up before publication as hard totals.

1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Holiday Coupe rear view; exact-year rear trim context.Elise240SX via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

A verified original price is not yet available for this car.

Market Observations

  • Auction sale $101,200

    Jan 12, 2023 · Mecum Kissimmee 2023

    Steve Minore frame-off-restored Holiday coupe 344878M230249 with matching-numbers W-30 400, M21 four-speed, G80 Positraction, and Rocket Report. · restored · unknown Mecum records a $101,200 sale for VIN 344878M230249. The archive identifies a frame-off restoration by W-30 specialist Steve Minore, matching-numbers 400 with forced-air induction, M21 close-ratio four-speed, G80 Positraction with 3.91 axle ratio, a Rocket Report, and long-term Ron Wendlinger ownership. The archive's documentation and identity claims remain consignor-reported.
  • High bid $75,000

    May 21, 2016 · Mecum Indianapolis 2016

    Frame-off-restored automatic convertible 344678M360554 with matching-numbers 400, original transmission, build sheet, punch card, Protect-O-Plate, and 2015 MCACN Concours Gold award. · restored · concours Mecum records a $75,000 Bid Goes On high bid rather than a completed sale. The archive identifies an automatic W-30 convertible restored in 2015 with mostly NOS parts, original body panels, matching-numbers engine, original transmission/interior/trunk, build sheet, punch card, Protect-O-Plate, and MCACN Concours Gold. Concours condition reflects that named award; rarity and identity claims remain consignor-reported.
  • Auction sale $53,900

    May 17, 2013 · Mecum Indianapolis 2013

    Restored four-speed Holiday coupe 344878M179941, represented as a documented real W-30 with Protect-O-Plate. · restored · unknown Mecum records a $53,900 sale for VIN 344878M179941. The archive identifies a restored 400/360-horsepower four-speed car, a Protect-O-Plate, Rally Pac gauges, bucket seats and console, and describes it as a documented real W-30. The documentation and identity descriptions remain consignor-reported rather than a fresh inspection by this project.

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Engine Details

  • Rochester Quadrajet carburetor number 7028254 · 1968 Oldsmobile 400 W-30 · carburetor / carburetor list
  • Main jet 7031975 · 1968 Oldsmobile 400 W-30 carburetor calibration · carburetor / part number
  • Primary metering rod 7034849; 49B · 1968 Oldsmobile 400 W-30 carburetor calibration · carburetor / part number
  • Secondary metering rod 7033655; AU · 1968 Oldsmobile 400 W-30 carburetor calibration · carburetor / part number

Transmission

  • Factory transmission Muncie 4-speed manual reported for W-30
  • Factory transmission Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic with OW/WOG references reported for W-30
  • Factory transmission M21 close-ratio four-speed manual (W-30 transmission choice)
  • Factory transmission M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic (W-30 transmission choice)

Paint

Front trim detail crop from a 1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 image; visual context only.Elise240SX via Wikimedia Commons; local crop · CC BY-SA 4.0 derivative

Chassis

Production

1968 Oldsmobile 442 at Les chauds vendredis; exact-year 442 public-show context.Bull-Doser via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Authenticity

1968 Oldsmobile 442 photographed in Chile; exact-year restored-car context.RL GNZLZ via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
  • VIN/model identity VIN is primary; 1968-1969 body/cowl tag may not mirror 442 sales series on some Lansing-built cars · VIN plate and Fisher body/cowl tag · fraud detection
  • W-30 induction hardware Outside Air Induction scoops, 4-inch ducting, dual-snorkel air cleaner, and duct clips · Under front bumper, inner fenders, air-cleaner assembly · trim correctness
  • Inner fenders Red plastic inner fender wells with duct holes reported for 1968 W-30 · Front inner fender wells behind headlights · trim correctness
  • Cylinder heads Raised letter D casting reported for 1968 W-30 · Cylinder heads near end spark plugs · numbers matching
  • Automatic transmission tag OW/WOG Turbo Hydra-Matic calibration tag reported · Transmission serial-number plate/right side of housing · numbers matching

Still Researching

  • engine Carburetor number and carburetor calibration parts were resolved from an Olds FAQ carburetor table. Distributor, camshaft, engine casting/date-code matrix, and factory parts/service corroboration remain unresolved from reviewed references.
  • transmission Sales-literature wording resolves the W-30 transmission order-code labels for Close Ratio 4-Speed Floor Shift Transmission (M-21) and Turbo Hydra-Matic (M-40), but complete body/trans combinations were not verified from dealer order forms.
  • rear axle Standard rear-gear ratios for 400 CID V-8 W-30 close-ratio 4-speed manual (4.33:1) and automatic (3.42:1) were resolved from a period-reference fact-sheet table, with positive-traction state carried only from the existing W-30 source. Optional or special-order ratio matrix details remain unresolved.
  • production W-30-specific production by body style/transmission was not found in reviewed references.
  • paint colors Only partial PaintRef color rows were normalized; complete 1968 Oldsmobile color list and W-30 stripe/color restrictions require factory color-and-trim book.
  • interior Exact upholstery/trim codes, gauge package content, steering wheel, and console availability were not factory-verified.

Codes & names

Names & Engine Codes

Common names and codes are grouped so LS6 references point to the same engine, not separate pages.

Oldsmobile 400 W-30 Oldsmobile 400 W-30 V8
Oldsmobile 400 W30 Oldsmobile 400 W-30 V8
1968 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Oldsmobile 400 W-30 V8
1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 Oldsmobile 400 W-30 V8
Ram Rod 400 Oldsmobile 400 W-30 V8
Outside Air Induction 400 Oldsmobile 400 W-30 V8
OAI 400 Oldsmobile 400 W-30 V8
W-30 400 Oldsmobile 400 W-30 V8
W30 400 Oldsmobile 400 W-30 V8

Photo and video gallery

Gallery

10 photos and videos

Sources & Documentation

Reader contributions

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