The 1970 Olds W-30 option wrote its own script in the muscle car world because it gave more than it took to be a fierce muscle car.
The Olds Cutlass W-31 is a different story because it drew mega-horsepower out of a 350 small-block to get by the increasing insurance focus on big-block muscle cars.
This ’70 Olds Cutlass is a classic example of how the W-31 option really grew on its owner.
Jerry Sutherland
Bill Smith bought this classic 31 years ago, so he is clearly attached to this rare Olds muscle car. He found the car after he learned a guy “had too many cars”, so the W-31 was for sale.
The previous owner bought it from a DEA agent who apparently once used it on a case, so the car has some police history. The car had been in good hands, but it still needed work.
The original 350 was gone, so the donor engine came from a 1978 Olds. The engine was built up to the point where Bill estimates it pumps out “somewhere between 425-450 horsepower”. The 1970 Olds W-30 option was rated at 325 horsepower, so it probably had a bigger number—but not 425 horsepower big.
Bill was never a fan of the original copper and black paint, so the migration to bright yellow worked for him because this car stood out a big car show. He’s also happy to see far more aftermarket parts of these cars than he saw 31 years ago.
This car has become a part of the family in many ways. For example, there are two people on the car’s title (Bill and Travis Smith) because Bill wants to make sure the next owner is still a family member.
Bill also loves to take his grandkids on runs in the Olds because they love the experience. That’s why the car has a nickname, ‘Poppa’s Hot Rod’, thanks to a granddaughter who thought the bright yellow Olds deserved a name.
The driving experience is great because Oldsmobiles were built for the open road and this car has seen plenty of open road over the past 31 years. Bill hedged his bet on the speed because he merely reported, “It goes as fast as I want to go”. That’s a mild way of saying a car with 400 + horsepower pumps out a decent passing gear.
Bill has a minor list of things he wants to do to the car—lists are a car guy thing because they’re never really done. He’d like to update or upgrade the dash because it’s showing its 56 years and there are a few other little things he’d like to do.
He also dedicated this show season to his son-in-law John Lewis who passed away earlier this year. Bill explained how enthusiastic John was about the car at car shows, so he wanted to honor his memory. That’s how much this car means to the Smith family.
It’s a rare muscle car, but the real value is how much this ‘71 Olds Cutlass W-31 means to the Smith family.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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