Some enthusiasts are willing to transform a classic car into something genuinely special where spotless originality isn’t a primary concern. Such is the case with this 1969 Oldsmobile Holiday Coupe. It is a genuine 442, but the owner chose to create a Hurst/Olds Tribute with a touch of Tabasco. It presents extremely well and is a turnkey proposition with plenty of power available under the driver’s right foot. Its next journey could be to a new home, with the seller listing it here on eBay in Marshfield, Massachusetts. Bidding has raced to $35,100 in a No Reserve auction.

It is hard to criticize this Olds in its color combination of Cameo White with the distinctive Fire Frost Gold stripes and decals that are a hallmark of a genuine Hurst/Olds. However, it is worth noting that the Trim Tag confirms it rolled off the line resplendent in Meadow Green Metallic. The transformation was performed to a high standard, with no evidence of the original shade visible anywhere. The car holds an impressive shine, and while the seller admits it isn’t perfect, any flaws or defects in the paint or panels are too insignificant to show in the supplied photos. The seller doesn’t mention any rust issues, and there are no apparent dramas that might cause the winning bidder sleepless nights. A recent refurbishment allowed the seller to replace the bumpers, grille set, and headlight bezels. They help this Olds make a positive impression, which is only heightened by the flawless glass and Super Stock II wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich tires.

What a shame the seller didn’t take the time or effort to lift the hood because the powerhouse occupying the engine bay is one of this classic’s key selling points. The most potent drivetrain package offered in the 1969 Olds 442 included the W-30 version of the 400ci V8 producing 360hp and 440 ft/lbs of torque. When teamed with the three-speed Turbo Hydramatic that we find in our feature car, it allowed the 442 to blast through the ¼-mile in 14.1 seconds. The Hurst/Olds brought the 455ci V8 and 380hp to the table but produced a marginally slower, but still impressive, ET of 14.3 seconds. Yes, the muscle car was alive and well in 1969, folks! However, those figures have been rendered irrelevant by a recent engine upgrade. The original powerplant is a distant memory as its rightful place is now occupied by a 455 stroked to 468ci. This beast wears Edelbrock aluminum cylinder heads and a matching intake, an 850cfm double-pumper carburetor, an HEI distributor, an MSD ignition system, headers, and a larger aluminum radiator with an electric fan setup to keep things cool. Was it worth the effort? With a claimed power output of over 600hp, I think the answer is a resounding “yes!” What is the point of having power to burn if it can’t be used effectively? The seller addressed that potential shortcoming by installing a rebuilt Turbo 400 transmission with a shift kit that feeds those raging stallions to an 8½” Posi rear end with 3.73 gears and high-performance upper and lower rear control arms. This classic might offer brutal performance, but the driving experience is made more civilized by the power assistance for the steering and brakes. Talk is cheap, but this 442 can put its money where its mouth is. The seller states it runs and drives beautifully, with enough power to pin occupants in their seats. Somehow, that’s a claim I find easily believable.

If it weren’t for the enormous Autometer tach mounted in the dash and the Pro Comp liquid-filled cluster below, this interior would offer no clues that this Oldsmobile is anything out of the ordinary. They are a wise inclusion to protect the significant investment under this car’s hood and are the only visible modifications. The interior presentation is acceptable for a driver-grade classic, but there are flaws the new owner might choose to address. The seller identifies a small tear in the rear seat, meaning the buyer may need to invest $400 in a replacement cover. However, they confirm the car recently received new carpet, a new headliner, and new locks for the ignition, doors, and glovebox. The radio and lighter don’t work, but the remaining accessories and lights function as they should.

Relative rarity may have been the seller’s prime motivation for transforming an already desirable 1969 Oldsmobile 442 into a Hurst/Olds Tribute. Oldsmobile produced 19,587 examples of the 442 in Holiday Coupe form that year, but only 906 buyers were fortunate enough to drive home in a Hurst/Olds. Those cars emerged at the height of the muscle car wars, and with the motoring landscape set to change a few years after those iconic vehicles rolled off the line, they have become some of the most highly sought-after cars in the classic market. This Olds has received twenty-six bids, confirming that people like what they see. Are you tempted to submit the twenty-seventh?