1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Convertible

Although overall 4-4-2 production was at an all time low in 1970, due to skyrocketing insurance costs following banner years in '68 and '69, '70 4-4-2 W-30 production hit an all time high with 3,100 cars being produced. Of those 3,100 cars built, 2,574 were hardtop coupes, 262 were club coupes and 264 were convertibles. 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, a lightweight aluminum intake manifold, special cylinder heads, 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.