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Motor Trend
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
A-Body Brothers In Arms: The Buick GS 455 vs. Oldsmobile 442 W-30
[Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the Winter 2011 issue of MotorTrend Classic] Imagine the Indianapolis Colts playing the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. Payton versus Eli, Manning-a-Manning. It could have happened, but now it probably won't. It did happen with two other brothers, not in an NFL game, but on streets and dragstrips. Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 versus Buick GS 455 Stage 1, A-body brothers each considered the 'gentleman's musclecar.' Sibling rivals from the era when GM divisions competed more with each other than with Ford, Chrysler, or AMC. John Z. DeLorean started it all with a third brother, the 1964 Pontiac GTO. Olds dropped a 400-cube, four-barrel dual exhaust into the Cutlass to create the 4-4-2 a few months later. When the 1965 Buick GS arrived within a year, it technically violated GM's 400-cubic-inch-displacement limit for A-body cars. Badged as 400, its Wildcat V-8 was a 401-cube 'Nailhead' V-8. GM replaced its 1964-'67 A-bodies with new 1968 models, with new sheetmetal scheduled for every two years. Through '69, the GTO was GM's preeminent musclecar, and the 4-4-2 was its more refined brother, with better handling. The subtle, more relaxed GS wasn't a contender. GM did away with its 400-cube limit for the 1970 model year, and Buick was ready, especially after the 1969 Opel GT launch. 'The increase in showroom floor traffic when the GT went on display early in April was almost unbelievable,' reads the Buick Engineering Production Information Department's outline of the 1970 GSX. 'Some Buick dealers reported 5000 people through their showrooms in one weekend.' Paul Haddock, owner of the 1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 on these pages, sent a copy of that report. He also owns a 1970 Stage 1 hardtop and a 1971 GS 455 convertible. The GSX, a 455-cubic-inch Buick A-body with 'mod' graphics typical of the era, would be the Skylark's halo model, which Buick hoped might help close the model's 50,000-unit annual sales gap relative to the Olds Cutlass. When torque came to shove, it wasn't the GSX, with un-Buick-like flat black stripes on deep-yellow paint, that gave the GS street cred. It was the Stage 1 455. 'It's the car that beat the Hemi 'Cuda,' allows Mike Bivins, owner of the 1971 Olds 4-4-2 W-30 sharing these pages with Haddock's Stage 1. Like Manning versus Manning, the Olds versus Buick musclecar rivalry would be short-lived. Car insurance rates were rising steeply by the late '60s, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, established in December 1970, enacted immediate restrictions on leaded premium fuel. Stricter regs were due in 1975. Olds and Buick lowered the compression ratio on their blueprinted 1971 W-30 and Stage 1 engines from 10.5:1 to 8.5:1 and complied with a mandated switch from SAE gross to net horsepower reporting. By 1972, the Hemi 'Cuda that Buick beat in '70 was gone, and the Plymouth pony's top engine was a 260-hp, 340 cubic-inch V-8. A year later, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries staged their first oil embargo. 0:00 / 0:00 'Despite the almost total demise of the high compression/premium fuel engine, the '71 Super Cars have managed to retain their essential vitality,' A.B. Shuman wrote in the October 1970 issue of Motor Trend. In Shuman's story, the Buick GS 455 Stage 1 edged a '71 W-30 prototype with a four-speed stick and '70 sheetmetal, recording a 6.5-second 0-60 run to the Olds' 6.6. It was quicker than the GTO, Chevy Chevelle SS 454, Camaro Z28, and Plymouth Road Runner. Shuman asked Olds for an automatic W-30 to see what effect its combo of torque converter and different valve timing would have. It beat the Buick with a 6.1 second 0-60. Motor Trend's test of the '72 GS Stage 1 was a sidebar to a June 1972 comparison entitled 'Sayonara Supercar.' 'The amazing thing, considering all that's happened just in the area of emissions controls,' Shuman wrote, 'is that a car that runs like the GS Stage 1 could still exist.' It was faster than the manual GTO and W-30 automatic of 1972, beating the latter by 0.8 seconds in 0-60-mph times and by 0.4 second and 5 mph in the quarter. Haddock's 1972 Stage 1 exists only because a 1971 United Auto Workers strike delayed GM's 'Colonnade' A-body replacements by one model year. Ad huckster 'Dr. Oldsmobile's' 4-4-2 was a separate model from 1967 to '71, then became an option package on Cutlasses again in 1972. The '72 face-lifts were minimal, with chrome headlamp surrounds as on Bivins' car on the '71 Olds and Buick, flat black surrounds as on Haddock's car on the '72s, and tweaked grille meshes. Bivins' Olds doesn't have the two vertical pieces that split the taillamps into thirds like the '72 models. Black rubber trim surrounds the taillamps on Haddock's 1972 GS, but not on his '71. The Olds is the epitome of Bill Mitchell's organic 'fuselage' surfacing, with a large, split grille and a sleek fastback with strong, muscular rear shoulders. The Buick is sublime with two small ram air intakes near the center of the hood, where the W-30 has two gigantic golden scoops. Side surfacing is more creased, lending the GS a kind of abstract Coke-bottle shape. Haddock has restuffed his driver's seat, so you sit high in the Buick. Both tachometers are hard to read behind thin-rimmed steering wheels. The Oldsmobile's tach is of the tick-tock variety, and Bivins' car features a Hurst dual-gate shifter, with a separate gate for 'manual' shifting. It's easier to simply set either Turbo-Hydramatic in 'drive' and put your foot to the floor. The steering in both cars has more play than a kindergarten gym. Neither has the kind of lean or wallow most contemporaries would display even on gentle turns. Though it feels slightly quicker, the GS has less squat and tighter, more refined body control. Those huge ram air intakes on the W-30 makes the Oldsmobile feel bigger from behind the wheel. Its engine warmed, the W-30 starts immediately. The Stage 1 needs a quarter-throttle. Haddock put '70 Stage 1 10.5:1 pistons in his '72 because, 'Why wouldn't I?' Both are stronger cars than other '70s musclecars, their power coming on strong at the mid-range, with a NASCAR growl that would do a modern car proud. Don't take my word for it. I ask Mike and Paul to trade keys. 'Are they going to be diplomatic, or truthful?' Mike's wife, Laurie, asks. Mike Bivins: 'That one was right smooth going down the highway, smooth shifting. Seemed like it had a bit hotter cam. Good driving car. I didn't stand on it, because I didn't want to have to buy Paul a new motor. It has more brakes.' Paul Haddock: 'I was surprised at the similarities between the cars. They both kind of feel the same. Set up the same. The hood feels awfully long on that W-30. I like the dual-gate shifter. I think Buick was playing to a more conservative customer. The Olds looks more aggressive.' Diplomatic indeed. 'Well, we're gentlemen, right?' Haddock says. 'The Olds and Buick guys are gentlemen.' 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Ask The Man Who Own One Mike Bivins owns Tri-Tech Incorporated, a handrail and metal fabrication manufacturer in Austell, Georgia ( He bought his W-30 in 2002, five years after he offered to purchase it from a fellow Oldsmobile Club of America member and has since sold his first collectible, a 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme sport coupe. Why I Like IT: 'Its sportiness. I like that it's a big-block car and a ram air car.' Why It's Collectible: 'Only 920 were made, and probably half are gone. It shows what GM could do 40 years ago and how advanced they were, and when performance and sportiness were critical.' Restoring/Maintaining: 'Drive it pretty regularly, especially with ethanol fuels. I use an additive to try to help with that. Change the oil regularly, and an Oldsmobile engine will last.' Beware: Clones. Local Olds Club chapters can help tell if you've got an authentic W-30. Its carburetors have unique jets. Bivins has even found 'W-30' stamped on the end of his car's camshaft. 'Buy one that's all but done. You're going to save money in the long run.' GM A-bodies are known for leaky front and rear windows. Expect To Pay: (W-30 coupe) Concours-ready: $39,950, Solid driver: $21,000, Tired runner: $11,550 Join The Club: Oldsmobile Club of America ( Our Take Then: 'The car made top marks in standing start acceleration, though it couldn't match the four-speeds in the passing range.' —A.B. Shuman, MotorTrend, October 1970 Now: The 4-4-2 W-30 is a stylish Belle Epoch musclecar, a quick and refined step up from the Pontiac GTO. 1972 Buick GS 455 Ask The Man Who Own One Paul Haddock owns Fairclough & Company, a men's fine clothing store in Charlotte, North Carolina ( His father drove LeSabre and Wildcat company cars in the '60s and '70s. Haddock bought the '72 Stage 1, one of his three GS models, about 15 years ago. He drove it unrestored 'just for fun,' then restored the car about eight years ago. Haddock repaired bodywork from front and rear window leaks, replaced the radiator support and battery box, rebuilt the engine and transmission, and replaced a front fender that had a rusted-out support. He traded a Chevy Suburban for the paint job. Why I Like It: 'I love a Buick because it's a sleeper. People just don't really get it most of the time, and it's got all the horsepower and torque you need.' Why It's Collectible: 'It was the underrated musclecar of the era. People are just beginning to understand in the last 10 or so years what they really are and were. Buick fans always knew.' Restoring/Maintaining: 'Driving the car is the best thing you can do to maintain it. General use keeps the battery up and gas running through it; so use is your friend. I mix racing gas in, from time to time—gets the octane up.' Beware: 'If you want a true, investment-grade Stage 1, get the documentation that it's a numbers-matching car. Make sure you have the correct engine, the correct transmission for the car. Guys drive a Stage 1 hard and blow a motor and throw another Buick motor in. Contact the GS club of America to check VIN codes. GM A-bodies catch stuff in the lower fender wells; the battery trays rust and corrode. All those can be fixed if it's not a totally right car.' Expect To Pay: (Stage 1 coupe) Concours-ready: $44,450, Solid driver: $23,400, Tired runner: $12,850 Join The Clubs: Buick Club of America ( Buick GS Club of America ( Our Take Then: 'In the final analysis, Buick builds a pretty good car, because, on top of everything else, it is quiet, smooth, and rattle free.'—A.B. Shuman, MotorTrend, June 1972 Now: It's a clean, trim, upper-middle premium intermediate with more power than more common contemporaries.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Memorial Day events scheduled around region
Area residents will have several opportunities to observe Memorial Day and honor local veterans at event Monday. JoplinA Memorial Day Murph will take place at 10 a.m. Monday at Joplin Strength and Fitness, 3231 Enterprise Ave. This is the 13th year it has hosted a Memorial Day workout dedicated to the memory of Navy Lt. Michael Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, New York, who was killed June 28, 2005, in Afghanistan. The U.S. Navy SEAL officer was awarded the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the war in Afghanistan. He was the first member of the U.S. Navy to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. The Crossfit workout involves a 1-mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats and another 1-mile run. It was one of Murphy's favorites, and he named it 'Body Armor.' Gyms around the world participate in the annual workout to honor Murphy. Justin Olds, co-owner of Joplin Strength and Fitness, said Crossfit was started as a military workout before becoming a worldwide fitness activity. 'Crossfit itself was founded on the idea of sacrificing and struggling together,' Olds said. 'It's about being part of something bigger than yourself. We've always tried to make a big deal out of it, and the community has responded really well to it.' The workout will have variations so everyone can participate. Olds said that sometimes Joplin Strength and Fitness will have 20 women in their 60s and 70s do a walking version of the workout, so it can be adapted for anyone. The event is free and open to the public, and it regularly draws over 100 people. Webb CityMount Hope Cemetery, 3700 N. Range Line Road, is partnering with Charlie 22 Outdoors to present a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at the cemetery's open air pavilion, just off 17th Street. The ceremony will involve the burial of the unclaimed remains of a local soldier. He will be buried with military honors at the cemetery's 'Fallen But Not Forgotten' area, just east of Mount Hope's Veterans Wall, for unclaimed remains. The cemetery is raising funds for a memorial marker for the site. The guest speaker will be Col. Philip Wright from Missouri Military Honors in Jefferson City. The event will also feature the playing of the national anthem and a presentation by Webb City JROTC. 'We want to recognize our veterans that are here at the cemetery and recognize veterans around the country,' said Travis Boyd, general manager at Mount Hope Cemetery. 'This is also an opportunity to support a soldier who will be buried with military honors who didn't get those honors when he passed. We want to step up and show our veterans our love and appreciation for all they've done.' The ceremony is free and open to the public. Parking will be limited, so people are advised to arrive early. Seating is also limited, so the public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs. MiamiAmerican Legion Post 147 will hold a short Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at the GAR Cemetery, 2801 N. Main St. in Miami. People should plan to meet at the cemetery's flagpole for the ceremony. The event will include a gun salute and the playing of taps. Legion member Fred Carter said they've hosted a ceremony for several years at the cemetery. The event is free and open to the public. CarthageThe Carthage Veterans Alliance, a group of local veterans organizations, will host a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at Park Cemetery, 801 S. Baker Blvd., in Carthage. The event's guest speaker will be Lloyd 'Doc' Holloway.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
This exclusive European enclave is luring deep-pocketed Americans looking to leave the US behind
For wealthy Americans, Monaco is the new Palm Beach — without the taxes. A wave of wealthy Americans is flocking to that European city-state, trading rising tax burdens at home for Mediterranean breezes, luxury shopping and fiscal leniency in the storied principality. The tiny sovereign state on the French Riviera — long a favorite of European royals and Formula One fans — has recently caught the attention of high-net-worth US citizens in growing numbers, said top local property agents. 6 Monaco is quickly becoming a magnet for wealthy Americans drawn to its tax-friendly policies and Mediterranean lifestyle. TravelWorld – The influx has been especially pronounced in recent weeks, with prime rentals commanding over $50,000 a month. 'I've been actively working this market for more than 20 years,' Caroline Olds, a luxury real estate agent in Monaco, told the Daily Mail. 'I've come across more and more Americans moving here in the last four weeks, in particular for rentals that are $50,000 plus a month. So something is changing.' With no personal income tax, no wealth tax and generally no capital gains tax for residents who are not French nationals, Monaco offers financial incentives that few jurisdictions can match. 6 Long known for its luxury casinos, beaches and James Bond cameos, the glamorous principality is seeing a surge in US expats, with some rentals now fetching over $50,000 a month. Getty Images Expats must prove they have at least $550,000 in savings, a clean criminal record and a lease or property purchase to establish residency. From there, they can apply for a long-term visa through the French consulate and then seek official Monegasque residency. Though Americans must still file US tax returns and report global income, many reduce their liability by claiming the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion — potentially shielding over $100,000 of foreign earnings from US taxes if they qualify. 6 The appeal includes no income, wealth or capital gains taxes for residents, a strong education system, English-friendly environment and seamless access to European destinations. Sergey Yarochkin – Beyond financial perks, Monaco's pristine setting — wedged between France and the Mediterranean Sea — has long been a draw. 'What everybody knows is that it's completely safe here, that it's very beautiful and that the crowds are very, very nice,' Olds said. 'We are sophisticated people with a lot in common.' The country's manageable size and cosmopolitan population make it surprisingly easy to form connections, she added. Olds said Monaco it's very inclusive, adding 'it's possible to get into the best universities and schools in the world from here.' 6 To gain residency, applicants must have a clean record, secure housing and prove assets of at least $550,000. GISTEL – Though Monaco uses the euro and abides by some French laws, it maintains its own government and borders. The result is a distinct cultural identity — equal parts Riviera chic and financial haven. 'Everything here is easily accessible,' Olds said. 'Top quality of everything, whatever you need. Great clothes, food, everything is here.' The country's English-speaking environment also lowers the barrier for American transplants. 'Americans can speak English,' she said. 'And do not need to speak any other languages.' 6 Amid US economic uncertainty, Monaco is increasingly seen as a 'safe haven,' said Sotheby's agent Alexander Kraft. SvetlanaSF – Realtors say the recent uptick in demand is due in part to growing unease among US property owners, especially in traditional second-home destinations. Baby Boomers in markets like Maine — where nearly 20% of homes were second residences as of 2019 — have begun shedding vacation properties in response to a turbulent housing market. Sotheby's International Realty's Alexander Kraft, who sells high-end homes in the principality and lives there himself, attributes the rising interest from Americans to broader unrest. 'Especially in challenging times, Monaco is a safe haven of peace,' he told the Daily Mail. 'Contrary to other destinations, it is not in some far-flung location but easily accessible in one of the most desirable corners of the world.' He added, 'In Monaco, one can safely enjoy the best life has to offer, without the constant political or economical challenges of so many other countries.' 6 Disillusioned Americans — especially Baby Boomers — offloading US second homes are looking for a stable, sun-soaked life along the Riviera. dudlajzov – Residents also enjoy a robust Mediterranean lifestyle — complete with fine dining, sea access and no shortage of luxury amenities. The country's iconic Casino Monte Carlo has been featured in James Bond films like 'Never Say Never Again' and 'GoldenEye.' Its coastline is dotted with beach clubs and restaurants near Larvotto Beach, popular for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports. 'The food is excellent,' said Olds. 'I went to the US for three weeks, and compared to Monaco, the food is inedible.' For those who can afford the buy-in, the appeal of the Riviera enclave lies not just in the tax code or scenery — but in the promise of a more secure, curated life. 'Monaco feels like a little village,' Olds said. 'The quality is unbelievable.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
U.S. Attorney's Office: Coram meth dealer pleads guilty, faces $10 million fine
Photo illustration by Getty Images. A Coram man accused of possessing methamphetamine admitted to a distribution crime Monday, according to U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme. Blaine Justin Olds, 51, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. Olds faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Olds was detained pending further proceedings. His sentencing was set for Sept. 18, 2025. U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided and will determine any sentence. According to the news release, beginning in May 2024, Olds and his co-defendant traveled from their home in Coram to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation to deliver large amounts of meth. In October of that year, law enforcement arranged three controlled purchases from the defendants. In each instance, Olds and his co-defendant traveled from Coram to the Blackfeet Reservation and exchange large amounts of meth for money. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Oldsmobile Cutlass Faces Off Against Pontiac GTO in Classic Muscle Car Drag Duel
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious A pair of rare GM muscle cars roared back to life at the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race series, where a 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass W31 and a 1972 Pontiac GTO 455 H.O. lined up for a nostalgic showdown that was as much about history as horsepower. On paper, it was a close matchup: the Oldsmobile, a lightweight contender with its high-revving 350-cubic-inch W31 small block, faced off against the brute force of the GTO's big-block 455 H.O., known for its torque-heavy delivery. Despite the W31's higher-compression 325 hp rating, its figures were based on the pre-1971 gross measurement. The GTO's 300 hp was net-rated, but its torque advantage—415 lb-ft versus 390—made up for any perceived deficit. With both cars equipped with four-speed manuals and extremely limited production numbers—742 W31s in 1968 and just 310 GTOs in this spec in 1972—the matchup was a rare sight on the strip. The opening race saw both cars cross the line at nearly identical speeds—97 mph—with the Olds eking out a win after the GTO jumped the start. But in the second heat, traction issues for the W31 gave the Pontiac a clear edge, allowing it to clock a 14.25-second pass to the Oldsmobile's slower response. With the rubber cooling and the score tied, the final run crowned the GTO the victor, pulling ahead by over half a second. It was a fitting win for the heavyweight, even if the Olds had put up a surprisingly strong fight. Both cars may have been slightly upgraded within Pure Stock rules, but the spirit of Detroit's golden muscle car era was unmistakable—brutal launches, close quarters, and the unforgettable wail of uncorked V8s battling for dominance.
