Relive Oldsmobile’s most potent muscle car offerings when the simple letter W intimidated all takers. Oldsmobile’s foray into the developing muscle car wars of the 1960s came as little surprise to most in the automotive industry. What was surprising was that it wasn’t the first to develop it! Oldsmobile’s Rocket 88 has been viewed by some as the beginning of performance offerings from automobile manufacturers. The 4-4-2 was Oldsmobile’s volley back at the Pontiac GTO, and in 1966, Olds attempted to spike the ball home with its all-new W-30 high-performance drag racing package. During the course of the next pair of decades, Oldsmobile offered the W-code on a host of platforms (the Cutlass, F-85, 4-4-2, Toronado, and Delta 88) with an assortment of engine packages (400, 455, and 350). As muscle cars fell by the wayside during the struggling 1970s, Oldsmobile continued to carry its flagship W-30 all the way through the 1980 model year. This book by muscle car historian and esteemed photographer David Newhardt revisits and celebrates Oldsmobile’s legendary W-optioned performance machines. So, sit down, strap in, and let Dr. Oldsmobile do the driving.

The traditional Oldsmobile V-8 powered some of the most memorable cars of the muscle car era, from the 442s of the 1960s and early 1970s to the Trans Ams of the late 1970s. These powerful V-8s were also popular in ski boats. They have found a new lease on life with the recent development of improved aftermarket cylinder heads, aggressive roller camshafts, and electronic fuel injection. Author Bill Trovato is recognized as being one of the most successful Oldsmobile engine experts, and he openly shares all of his proven tricks, tips, and techniques for this venerable power plant. In this revised edition of Oldsmobile V-8 Engines: How to Build Max Performance, he provides additional information for extracting the best performance. In particular, he goes into greater detail on ignition systems and other areas of performance. His many years of winning with the Olds V-8 in heads-up, street-legal cars proves he knows how to extract maximum power from the design without sacrificing durability. A complete review of factory blocks, cranks, heads, and more is teamed with a thorough review of available aftermarket equipment. Whether mild or wild, the important information on cam selection and Olds-specific engine building techniques are all here. Fans of the traditional Olds V-8 will appreciate the level of detail and completeness Trovato brings to the table, and his frank, to-the-point writing style is as efficient and effective as the engines he designs, builds, and races. Anyone considering an Oldsmobile V-8 to power their ride will save time, money, and headaches by following the clear and honest advice offered in Oldsmobile V-8 Engines: How to Build Max Performance. Plenty of full-color photos and step-by-step engine builds showcase exactly how these engines should be built to deliver the most power per dollar.

These value-packed guides feature hundreds of photographs and a wealth of information necessary to restore interiors, exteriors, wiring, engines, transmissions, and accessories to factory-original condition.

Oldsmobile Muscle Cars Bill Holder & Phil Kunz Oldsmobile performance models produced from 1964 to 1973; the 442, big- and small-block W high-performance models, Hurst/Olds, Indy pace cars, and much more! Period ads, detailed charts, and b&w photography trace the models development from a Cutlass option in 1964 to the stunning 197 442 and beyond. Looks at the Quad 4 and the incredible Aurora 32-valve V-8. Sftbd., 8 1/4x 1 5/8, 128 pgs., 25 b&will.

As the muscle car wars developed in the early 1960s, auto manufacturers scrambled to find catchy marketing campaigns to entice the buying public into their dealerships. General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, with all their divisions, as well as AMC and Studebaker, inevitably sank billions of dollars into one-upmanship in an effort to vie for the consumer's last dollar. Automotive writer Diego Rosenberg examines the tactics and components used by manufacturers in waging war against one another in the muscle car era. Manufacturers poured millions into racing programs, operating under the principle of "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday." Cars were given catchy nicknames, such as The GTO Judge, Plymouth Roadrunner, Cobra, and Dodge Super Bee. Entire manufacturer lines were given catchy marketing campaigns, such as Dodge's Scat Pack, AMC's Go Package, and Ford's Total Performance. From racing to commercials to print ads, from dealer showrooms to national auto shows, each manufacturer had its own approach in vying for the buyer's attention, and gimmicks and tactics ranged from comical to dead serious. Selling the American Muscle Car: Marketing Detroit Iron in the 60s and 70s takes you back to an era when options were plentiful and performance was cheap. You will relive or be introduced to some of the cleverest marketing campaigns created during a time when America was changing every day.

The ultimate resource on classic muscle cars from GM, with extensive coverage of prototypes, experimental models, anniversary and pace cars, and specialty packages for street and competition driving.

A late developer on the muscle car scene Oldsmobile's first muscle car was the 4-4-2 four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual shift and two exhausts on the F85. The 1965 car was better with a 400 cubic inch V8. This was now Oldsmobile's leading muscle machine, later to be supplemented by the W-30 racing package. Along with the rest of the US car industry performance diminished with the advent of cleaner exhausts and safety measures. This is a book of contemporary road tests, specification and technical data, new model introductions, driver's impressions, track tests. Models covered include: Jetstar 88, Cutlass Holiday, Starfire, 4-4-2, Delta 88, Toronado, Supreme, Hurst/Olds, Delmont, W-31, W-30, Delta Royale, Rallye 350.