The Oldsmobile 4-4-2: W30 Option

The Oldsmobile 4-4-2 was produced between the 1964 and 1987 model years and became a model in its own right from 1968 to 1971. All standard 1968 4-4-2 engines were painted a bronze–copper color, the 1967s were topped with a fire-red air cleaner. The W-30 option (Oldsmobile’s big secret in hopes of finally outdoing the GTO) came equipped with a ram-air option package. It was a “Supercar” released in late ’66, and by 1967 the word was out about the muscle car, making its way to Navy Combat Pilot, Paul Killgo.

While on an aircraft carrier in Vietnam, Killgo came across an article covering the W-30 and mentioned to his wife that he wanted to get one when he returned from tour. Taking the matter into her hands, Paul’s wife began setting aside a little bit of his pay every month to ensure he would have a down payment when he was home for good.

It was January of ’69 when the couple traded in their VW Bug for a Willow Gold 1968 Oldsmobile W-30 from Greg Henton Oldsmobile in Mt Vernon, WA. It was the larger family car they needed with four small children and a dog. It came with high back seats, a rare option for ’68, a 3:91 rear end, and since it was a 4-speed car it came with the 328″ high energy camshaft. Packing a little more horsepower than Paul anticipated, he lost control and nearly wrecked it on his way out of the parking lot.

Years turned into decades, and the world lost both Paul Sr. and Jr. leaving the Oldsmobile to Charles Killgo, younger brother to Jr., son to Sr. Charles who resides in Waikoloa, Hawaii was just one year old when his Dad purchased the now Classic Muscle Car that had been sitting since 1986.

Not a big fan of the sunroof like his big brother, Charles purchased a new roof skin from OPGI and installed it prior to painting it back to its original Willow Gold in 2010. Not wanting his father and brother to ever miss a cruise, he incorporated both of their ashes in the paint.

Charles says if he had to guess, he’d say at least 75% of the restoration parts are from OPGI. In addition to the roof skin from Original Parts Group, check out some, but not all of the restoration parts and accessories Paul sourced from opgi.com.

When it comes to the transmission, Charles entrusts the help of Transmission Technology on the Big Island where Vic Comesario and his team keep his M-21 four-speed shifting smoothly.

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