1969 Oldsmobile 442 W-30

Muscle car powered by Oldsmobile 400 W-30 V8.

1969 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 convertible front view; exact-year W-30 visual context.

Factory pathway Factory Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 performance option, not a dealer-built special edition.

Engine 400 cu in Rochester 4-barrel W-30 force-air V8, listed at 360 hp and 440 lb-ft in reference tables.

Production context 1969 4-4-2 model-line production recorded as 26,357 total; W-30-specific total not verified in reviewed sources.

Authentication emphasis W-30 review should focus on Lansing build evidence, D heads, red inner fenders, OAI ducting/braces, rear axle codes, and carb/distributor numbers.

Story

1969 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30

For 1969, the Oldsmobile 4-4-2 was its own A-body performance line, and the W-30 sat above the regular 400-cubic-inch 4-barrel specification as the force-air 400 package. The usable, source-backed public identity is intentionally narrow: model-year 1969, Oldsmobile 4-4-2, W-30 factory performance option, with the exact body style left as multi-body coverage because the target does not identify a particular car.

The reference record separates normal 1969 4-4-2 facts from W-30-specific facts. The general 1969 4-4-2 record supports the 400-cid Rochester 4-barrel engine family, available Hurst-shifted manual transmissions, automatic availability, model-line production by sports coupe, hardtop coupe, and convertible, and several 1969-only trim cues. The W-machine record adds the W-30 evidence markers: Lansing build expectation, D-code cylinder heads, red inner fenders with ram-air tube holes, under-bumper air pickup ducting, special front fender braces for the outside-air hoses, W-30 rear axle codes TM/TO/TY, and specific carburetor/distributor numbers when original.

This page does not claim that every listed paint color, interior feature, or auction/dealer media example proves a specific surviving car is a genuine W-30. Paint coverage is model-year Oldsmobile coverage, not a W-30-only color list. The approved gallery uses licensed Commons images and reviewed video embeds as visual context, not individual-car authenticity proof.

**1969 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 front three-quarter view; exact-year W-30 show-car context.**Xnatedawgx via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Specs

Car type: Muscle car
Body: Sports coupe, Holiday hardtop coupe, and convertible context; exact body-style split requires source-specific verification
Engine: 400 cu in Oldsmobile V8, Rochester 4-barrel, W-30 force-air specification
Horsepower: 360 hp @ 5400 rpm (reference listing)
Torque: 440 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm (reference listing)
Carburetion: Rochester 4-barrel; W-machine reference lists carb #7049254 as original 1969 W-30 marker

Equipment

Under-bumper outside-air scoops and ducting
Red inner fenders with holes for ram-air tubes
D-code cylinder heads
Manual disc brakes noted in W-machine authentication reference
Special front fender braces to clear OAI hoses

Ram Rod 400 engine in a 1969 Oldsmobile 442 W-30; engine-bay context only.Mr.choppers via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Linked Parts

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 $126,500

Jun 6, 2026 · Mecum Tulsa
W-30 convertible 344679M355066 with a 2019 body-off concours restoration, rebuilt 400, M21 four-speed, Anti-Spin rear axle, GM of Canada paperwork, and 41,403 miles shown. · restored · concours Mecum records the $126,500 completed sale. The upgraded W-27 differential cover is explicit and is not represented as factory-original equipment.
1969 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 convertible 344679M355066
Auction sale $84,700

May 19, 2023 · Mecum Indy
W-30 post coupe 344779M323082 with a concours frame-off restoration, matching-numbers 400/four-speed drivetrain, 3.91 Positraction axle, MCACN Gold judging, extensive documentation, and 22,515 miles shown. · restored · concours Mecum records the $84,700 completed sale. Concours preserves the auction's explicit restoration and MCACN judging description.
1969 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 344779M323082
High bid $112,000

Jul 30, 2022 · Bring a Trailer
Documented W-30 convertible 344679M273787 with prior refurbishment and repaint, 400 V8, M21 four-speed, 3.91 rear axle, extensive identity paperwork, MCACN judging sheets, and 71,000 miles shown. · restored · concours Bring a Trailer records the $112,000 reserve-not-met high bid, not a completed sale. Concours reflects the archived MCACN Concours Gold awards rather than an independent project inspection.
1969 Oldsmobile 442 convertible 344679M273787
Auction sale $165,000

Jan 15, 2022 · Mecum Kissimmee
W-30 Holiday Coupe 344879M389291 with a frame-on restoration, original 400 CI drivetrain, four-speed manual, original interior/glass/trim, and front disc brakes. · restored · unknown Mecum records the $165,000 completed sale. Mileage and a normalized condition grade are not reported, so neither is inferred.
1969 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 344879M389291
Auction sale $154,000

Nov 13, 2010 · RM Auctions Gainesville
W-30 convertible 344679M280739 with a recent show-quality restoration, 400/360-hp W-30 engine, four-speed manual, and 89,864 miles shown. · restored · excellent Hagerty records the $154,000 no-reserve RM sale. The archive describes the restoration as excellent show quality; that grade remains an archive representation rather than an independent inspection.
1969 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 344679M280739 past sale

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.

Transmission

Factory transmission 3-speed manual Hurst floor shifter (model-line standard)
Factory transmission 4-speed manual close-ratio Hurst floor shifter (optional/model-line; W-machine source notes XF close-ratio 4-speed marker)
Factory transmission 4-speed manual wide-ratio Hurst floor shifter (optional/model-line)
Factory transmission automatic with optional floor shifter/console (reference record describes automatic availability; exact W-30 automatic code not fully normalized)

Options

W-30 W-30 force-air performance package factory · performance · W-machine reference describes 1969 W-30 forced-air hardware and authentication items; general 1969 4-4-2 reference lists W-30 engine specs.
W29 4-4-2 package/body-line order code required · performance · 1969 reference describes W29 as the required 4-4-2 package/order code and states unique VIN ID was included.

Production

**1969 Oldsmobile 442 at an Oldsmobile club meet; exact-year enthusiast-history context.**Greg Gjerdingen via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

1969 4-4-2 sports coupe by body · 2,475 · reported
1969 4-4-2 hardtop coupe by body · 19,587 · reported
1969 4-4-2 convertible by body · 4,295 · reported
1969 4-4-2 all body styles total · 26,357 · reported

Authenticity

VIN/body identification 1969 4-4-2 VIN should start 344879; body data plate may carry Cutlass/Fisher body designation and may not match VIN sequence · VIN tag and Fisher Body data plate · fraud detection
W-30 build plant evidence Lansing-built car; M in VIN tag noted by W-machine reference · VIN tag/build documentation · fraud detection
Cylinder heads D-code cylinder heads · Raised/cast head identification locations · numbers matching
Outside-air induction hardware Red inner fenders with holes for ram-air tubes; under-bumper scoops feeding the 400 CID engine; special front fender braces to clear OAI hoses · Inner fenders, front under-bumper area, fender-to-radiator-support braces · fraud detection
Carburetor Carburetor #7049254 if original · Carburetor identification number · numbers matching
Distributor Distributor #1111933 if original · Distributor identification stamping/tag · numbers matching
Transmission marker Close-ratio 4-speed code XF with VIN on transmission · Transmission code/VIN stamp · numbers matching

Still Researching

suspension Only a 1969 4-4-2 front sway-bar marker was reviewed; complete spring/shock/control-arm specifications and W-30 chassis differences were not yet fully sourced.
production reviewed references verify 1969 4-4-2 production by body style but not W-30 production by body/transmission/plant.
paint colors Only all-model 1969 Oldsmobile paint-code coverage was reviewed; W-30-specific paint restrictions or complete factory chip evidence were not verified from a usable factory source.
interior Interior coverage is limited to 1969 4-4-2 trim/shifter notes; complete upholstery codes, seat choices, gauge package, steering wheel, and trim-code applicability were not verified.