Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

Does anyone have any familiarity with this 1970 W-30 ragtop 4spd car? I do not see any mention of paperwork or other docs on this car or any of the other W-30 rags going through the spring Mecum auction. I have some knowledge of the old Otis Chandler 1970 black and gold car. But it is an older restoration from what I remember without any paperwork as well, although it is a known entity. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks R.M.

http://www.mecumauction.com/auctions...D=SC0508-67445

http://www.mecumauction.com/auctions...D=SC0508-65948

http://www.mecumauction.com/auctions...D=SC0508-65936

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

No info, I'm just curious to see the results of these. A local friend has one locally and I'd be curious to see the mean value.

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

Don't you find it a bit weird that two of the cars say they have the full aluminum W-27 carrier and there are no pics?

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

Two of those cars are from Dave Christenholz collection... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

R.M.

Are you looking for people who personally knwo about the cars or input on "correctness"?

Wouldn't want to start listing issues if that's not what you were looking for.

Obviously the red 4-speed is the cats you-know-what!!!!!!! If there's paperwork, watch out!

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

Saw the red and black car in January. Both are stunning, I liked the black one best. I believe the black one did not have AC.

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

Even though I own one, I can't say I know any of the red cars, although that's not to say they're not what you see. I would hope, however, that if a premium price is gonna be paid for a W-27 car, there would be documentation for it. Otherwise, it's just an added option.

Black/gold is my favorite color combo. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

Thanks fellas for all your help. I was hoping that someone might have known the particular background and history of these three cars especially the red 4spd car. They all look like very nice W-30 rags in various stages of correctness. But without a lot of documentation and history to prove these cars provenance… I would be somewhat leery. I would assume if they were fully documented with bulletproof histories that would be almost the first thing cited in the write up. But none of the three have any mention of documentation. With the Oldsmobile and Chevrolet cars we all realize just how crucial solid paperwork is today. The black car along with the red as you mentioned from the Dave Christenholz collection affords them a higher level of credibility for being authentic. But I am still very skeptical of cars without an ironclad pedigree to prove authenticity in today’s market. But if these cars are fully documented as JOZW30 mentioned… LOOK OUT, but if they are not they will be held back considerably. I hope to attend the auction so it should be very interesting. Thanks again!!! R.M.

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

My understanding is the reserves are very low on The Christenholz collection cars. I tried to do a trade for the RS ZL1 but they insisted on keeping it in the lot going to auction and I was told the reserve is alot less that my trade offer was so if anyone is thinking of maybe bidding, get your ducks in a row because stuff should be selling.

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

Charley, did Dave get the black W-30 and the Y Chevelle from England?

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

I remember he got the Yenko from England. Carlos ? I don't remember on the W-30.

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

He got both from England !! The W-30 is from the Otis Collection and it had paperwork that has been misplaced.
The car had paperwork before it went to England. I heard someone was mad at Carlo's and was keeping paperwork on his cars. I know one of my clients got his paperwork with a few calls !! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

Carlos is a bit of an odd bird, as they say here.

He offered me the Yenko for 150 at the time, which I now regret not doing. I think he got the car from Randy Miller?

I never got a look at the Olds.

He must have gotten a bulk shipping deal sending those to Dave and the first/last Hemi Cuda verts to Bill W.

He's sold off most of his Mopar stuff now I think, but still has a bunch of vintage Ferraris and other 60s sports racing stuff.

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

Regarding W30 converts, or even W30 cars in general, I would be very careful of any cars without bulletproof docs and a verifiable owner history. I've been tracking these cars for years since I bought my first W30 convert in 1988 (still own it) from the original owner. Back then, chances were if the car had the right "bits" it was real because some of the W30 stuff was either very hard to obtain, or the details that "made" a W30 were obscure enough that most people didn't know how to fake them or it just wasn't worth the trouble as even W30's weren't that expensive. Most guys plopped on W30 emblems and red fender liners along with a 'glass hood and left it at that. Saw a lot of "W30" cars with cast iron intakes and non-RA air cleaners back in the day! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif However, in the last decade the availibility of W30 repop parts and the INFORMATION being made available on how these cars were built in various books, magazines, and the internet has made it very easy to build a very convincing fake W car. Today you can call a well-known vendor and order the heads, intake, a stamped carb, an OW trans tag, fender liners, emblems, hood, etc and build a dead-nuts W30 car. You can even get a "real" build sheet by making a few calls. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/blush.gif

Unlike a lot of other cars with vins encoded with engine data, W30 cars other than the Lansing plant code are just the same as other 442's.

For 10 years I looked for another W30 'vert and passed on a ton of them until I found my latest one about 3 years ago. Has all the docs from the window sticker to 3 build sheets, original dealer paperwork, etc. Had the original top, paint, interior, etc and the engine had never been out. It was a joy to restore as every nut and bolt was there and real. If you get a good W30 it is well worth the hunt as they are fantastic and extremely rare cars imho.

This in no way is a commentary on Dave's cars or any other cars at the Mecum auction. Just my thoughts on buying a W30 in general. Paperwork and history is paramount in this day and age with "new" W30 cars being minted daily! Buy a known car with docs and you'll be able to sleep at night https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Colin

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

[ QUOTE ]
Today you can call a well-known vendor and order the heads, intake, a stamped carb, an OW trans tag, fender liners, emblems, hood, etc and build a dead-nuts W30 car. You can even get a "real" build sheet by making a few calls. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/blush.gif



[/ QUOTE ]

Same phone call can get you all the above,including a blank original broad cast/IBM card.

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

The best part about the information in Colin's post is we didn't have to buy a magazine or a book to get it. Nothing better than a freebie!!!I didn't know people were making such an effort to create W-30 rag tops? Whats the market these days for documented no story W 30 ragtops?????

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

[ QUOTE ]
The best part about the information in Colin's post is we didn't have to buy a magazine or a book to get it. Nothing better than a freebie!!!I didn't know people were making such an effort to create W-30 rag tops? Whats the market these days for documented no story W 30 ragtops?????

[/ QUOTE ]

Pretty much anything is cloned. If they do it for LS6 ragtops, why not W-30 ragtops?

And if they're not fake cars, they're restored with W-30 stripes. I, for one, am not chagrined when I see the latter, but I don't know what's wrong with a standard 4-4-2 that it can't have the proper stripes.

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

[ QUOTE ]
didn't know people were making such an effort to create W-30 rag tops? Whats the market these days for documented no story W 30 ragtops?????

[/ QUOTE ]



$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/crazy.gif

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

It seems to me it is more difficult to clone a Mustang or Poncho given the available factory paperwork? Might throw in the Yenko Camaro's into that mix since the known VINS are available.

Re: Mecum W-30 Ragtops
 

Indeed . . . the Fords are especially interesting because they have been digitized so now you know how many were made. I would be willing to bet some Fords changed value based on this update.