11/26/2025
MCACN Week Recap Part 2: MCACN Concours Gold Award Winner! Holy Grail 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 4-Speed Convertible Unveiled at MCACN 2025!
1 of 96 built, this incredible torque monster discretely ruled the streets of the United States. 1970 was the peak year of the muscle car horsepower wars and GM lifted it's ban on engine sizes over 400 cui in intermediate size vehicles. The Olds W-30 option was truly a marvel of its time. Along with its sister Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV, Buick GS Stage 1 and the LS6 Chevelle SS cars, the W-30 package was at the top of the GM Stable of A-Body Muscle Cars. One peek at the bright red inner fenderwells was a sign that you were about to run across an incredibly high horsepower, formidable race opponent. The W-30 Convertible was the top of the GM line, and was the most expensive GM A-Body produced. It was a sophisticated and luxurious vehicle with the heart of a street killer. Most people drag raced their W-30's and hard tops were usually the choice for rigidity and affordability. The 1970 convertible W-30's were rare by themselves with only 264 made. Only 96 lucky individuals ponied up the significant sum that it took to purchase this elegant but lethal Street monster with the vaunted Muncie M-21 Rock Crusher 4-Speed Transmission and the Hurst Shifting Package.
This Numbers Matching Twilight Blue/White W-30 Ragtop was purchased new by Dr. Bob McDonald at the Miller Chevrolet/Oldsmobile Dealership in White River, VT. The Doctor drove the car putting 86k miles on it over 4 years back and forth to Vermont, Florida and New York. The second owner Dennis Champney was employed at the dealership and was in new car prep when the car was purchased originally. Dennis recalls that the Doctor had the dealership remove the heads and had the valves cleaned every spring as he was concerned about carbon build up. The doc subsequently traded in the car in December 1974 for a '74 Yellow Corvette (which he installed a built 427). Dennis had a young 19 year old fiancé named Ellen who said "I'd like to own that car", pointing to the Twilight Blue W-30. Dennis said the salesman was an arrogant jerk who said "you guys could never come up with the money for this car". Dennis recalls that it completely pi**ed off Ellen and by noon that day they had secured the money and the W-30. Dennis and Ellen enjoyed and showed the car frequently for 29 years until putting the car up for sale in 2004. Bob Martinisko in Virginia tried to purchase the car from Dennis and after a brief couple of months of ownership that was already in process, Bob was able to convince the owner to sell him the car back to him. Jim Stohlman, of Stohlman Oldsmobile fame, was well aware of this car and he was there to help unload it when his friend Bob in Virginia purchased the car roughly 22 years ago. Bodywork and paint followed, but as often happens, life got in the way, and the car sat in a barn, patiently waiting be restored to her original factory condition. Purchased from Bob by Allan Steinbock in 2022, many parts were restored, purchased and collected while waiting to have a full nut and bolt rotisserie restoration. Renowned restoration shop and Oldsmobile specialists, Garner Custom & Restorations in Sarasota, Florida tackled the restoration starting in 2024. As always, Garner worked extensively with Oldsmobile expert and W-Machine Guru, Stephen J. Minore to bring the car back to Concours, factory correct, condition. Authenticated, and with a full Rocket Report by Stephen Minore, she is back to her former glory!
A huge thank you to my tireless partner and hardest working man in show business, Ken Garner, and the amazing team at Garner Customs!: Ken Garner, Bruce Ponti, Franklin Tercero, Jimmy Davis, Ryan Bricker, Zach Gould, Rick Bedford and Stephen J. Minore.
A big shout out to Inline-Tube, Fusick, NPD, Legendary Auto Interiors, Gardner Exhaust Systems, Frank Chiechi, Dr. Decal (Mark Cornea), H&H Classic Auto. A special thanks to Bob Anderson in Tampa for allowing constant raids into the Olds graveyard!
Allan Steinbock
