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Model No. 311: Yellow with Black Top and Interior
The 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 was a prime example of the epitome of the muscle car era. Moves during this era by General Motors, and the federal bureaucrats, drastically affected the future of the American muscle car. 1970 marked the model year that GM waived the limit on cubic inch displacement and each of their divisions debuted their own monstrous big block engines in the popular intermediate "A" bodies. However, it was also the last year that GM engines would have high compression ratios requiring high octane, leaded fuel. Beginning with the 1971 model year, engines would have lower compression ratios and run on low octane unleaded fuel which resulted in significantly less horsepower.
With the handwriting already on the wall, Oldsmobile opted to deliver their most potent performer ever, the 1970 W-30, a high compression "Rocket" 455 cubic inch engine engineered to run on premium leaded gasoline. With a little coaxing and nimble footwork to keep tirespin to a minimum, the 3700+ lb. car could post high thirteen/low fourteen second elapsed times in the standing 1/4 mile, good enough to place it among the quickest and fastest cars ever available right off of the showroom floor.
Naturally, the heart of the W-30 option was the engine. Conservatively rated at only 370 gross horsepower, for insurance reasons, the potent 455 featured a long duration, high lift camshaft, 10.5:1 compression, a lightweight aluminum intake manifold mounting a 750 CFM four barrel carburetor, special cylinder heads fitted with high RPM valve springs, and a performance-curved distributor. Air was fed to the engine by a flapper-door air cleaner assembly mated to a fiberglass air-induction hood.
The car's exterior included many unique, striking features including side and hood striping, dual sport mirrors, red plastic inner front fenders, and 4-4-2 and W-30 identification badges. The interior was fitted with Strato bucket seats, a console mounted shifter and a Rally Pac gauge and tachometer package. The W-30 also featured dual exhausts with chromed trumpet-style exhaust tips, a standard 3.91 positraction rear end and choice of Muncie close ratio four-speed manual or Turbo-Hydramatic 400 automatic transmission. Several performance enhancing "W-Machine" options were also available including a Hurst dual gate shifter (W-26), rear deck spoiler (W-35), and an extremely rare aluminum rear axle carrier (W-27) complete with quick change look-alike rear end cover.
The Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 had impressive straight line acceleration, but it could handle the curves very well too. Its popular FE2 suspension package included heavy duty shocks, springs, boxed rear lower control arms, and heavy duty front and rear sway bars.
Although overall 4-4-2 production was at an all-time low in 1970, due to skyrocketing insurance costs following banner years in 1968 and 1969, 1970 4-4-2 W-30 production hit an all-time high with 3,100 cars being produced. Of those 2,574 were hardtop coupes, 262 were club coupes and 264 were convertibles.