No Reserve: 1974 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds W-30
Although tightening emission regulations and falling engine power outputs were hurting American V8s by 1974, some vehicles still offered respectable performance. One such car was the Hurst/Olds W-30. While the company produced 1,800 examples of the Hurst for that model year, a mere 380 were the W-30 derivative with a big-block under the hood. Our feature car is one of those, and it is an original survivor that has garnered interest since the owner listed it for sale here on eBay with No Reserve. It is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and the bidding has hit $12,200. With less than two days left on the auction, a new home is beckoning this classic.
The Olds makes a striking first impression in Ebony Black with a matching vinyl top and contrasting Gold stripes. There’s no doubt that this classic would’ve turned heads when new, and while it now shows its age, that ability hasn’t diminished over time. The vinyl top is in excellent condition, but the paint and stripes have seen better days. A cosmetic refresh would seem the most logical course of action, although some potential owners may find the prospect of owning an original survivor too tempting to resist. The panels are straight, with the owner stating that there is no evidence of prior accident damage, repairs, or existing rust issues. If this is accurate, any restoration work should be pretty straightforward. The original Super Stock II wheels wear their correct trim rings, caps, and lug nuts. As with the paint, they may benefit from some restoration work to present at their best. The exterior trim is in good order, as is the tinted glass.
Potential buyers in 1974 faced two choices when it came to which powerplant landed under the hood of their new Hurst/Olds. Most selected the entry-level 350, but 380 buyers who ticked the W-30 box received the 455ci big-block. It sent its 230hp to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission, allowing the Hurst to cover the ¼ mile in 16 seconds. When you consider the significant changes occurring within the American automotive industry at that time, the ¼ mile ET looked pretty respectable. The news for potential buyers remains positive, with the seller indicating that the car runs and drives perfectly. The motor feels strong, runs well, and the car tracks straight and true. They say that the previous owner treated the transmission to a rebuild, and it shifts as it should. That makes this W-30 a turnkey proposition for its next owner.
One aspect of this Olds that presents impressively is its interior. The previous owner treated the seats to a professional retrim, and they look perfect. There is no evidence of wear or physical damage, and the swivel front buckets operate as they should. The dash and pad are excellent, the carpet exhibits no significant wear, while the console features the iconic Hurst “His and Hers” dual-gate shifter. The only aftermarket additions are a beautiful 442 wheel and a JVC radio/cassette player. Since the installer didn’t cut the dash to fit the unit, slotting a correct factory radio back into that space would not be difficult. As the owner indicates that it only plays on one speaker, it’s an option worth considering. The original owner also ordered this Olds with air conditioning, and while the system is complete, the compressor sits in the trunk. Returning the system to a working state should not break the buyer’s bank.
This 1974 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds is an unmolested and original classic offering respectable performance. It would benefit from a cosmetic refresh, but as the seller rightly points out, they are only original once. Seventeen potential buyers have already submitted twenty-four bids, suggesting they like what they see. Do you feel the same? If you do and choose to make a play for this classic, what path would you follow? Would a repaint feature high on your list, or is the thought of slipping behind the wheel of a genuine survivor too tempting to resist?
Auctions Ending Soon
2002 Subaru Impreza WRXBid Now1 days$333
1975 Chevrolet Corvette ConvertibleBid Now1 days$4,000
1964 Ford F-100 Camper CustomBid Now1 days$2,000
2006 Jeep Wrangler SportBid Now3 days$11,000
1974 Datsun 260ZBid Now5 days$750
Comments
(IMO) the “cheesecake” photos do nothing to enhance consideration of buying the car, and are inappropriate for an ad. I think that the exhaust tips are excessive, and the trailer hitch gives me pause. Otherwise, a VERY nice looking car. I prefer this styling rather than the later models with the vinyl top covering the entire side window. GLWTA!! :-)
I think the model is a mannequin.
I think you are right and that is even creepier.
Maybe trailer hitch resulted in a hot transmission temperature requiring a rebuild? Cool car and powerful for 1974 w the big Olds 455.
I bet the muffler shop employees were shaking their heads while installing those exhaust tips.
Would question buying from a guy who owns a manikin dressed like a hooker
That may be the owner in drag😄
Cars with trailer hitches were pretty common back then. Trucks w/hitches weren’t the norm as they are today. We towed everything and anything.
The author of this goofed. These did not have nor come with a big block. Luckily enough they had an Oldsmobile engine.
I always worry about ads that have lengthy, flowery prose with little actual info on the condition of the car. Take the “refused birthday present” story with a grain of salt – the guy’s owned the car less than a month and is flipping it, so he has no real idea of the condition or what’s wrong with it. Buyer beware. Repro parts for the 73-77 cars are still extremely limited, and the non-stock paint on the engine says that something has been done to it (then there’s the one-size-fits-none E-brock carb and crappy die cast adapter). The NADA prices quoted in the ad are optimistic to say the least. The nicest 1974 H/O in the world will be hard pressed to pull over $50K, and as the seller even points out, they don’t come up for sale that often, so how statistically valid are those NADA prices?
Loose the Ghetto tips and you have a decent looking car.
What’s up Glenn…and you are correct, sir!
One of these drove past me this afternoon and I hadn’t seen one in years. It had that deep, bass rumble all the guys in high school tried to achieve with their hoopties and style-wise it really holds up: Definitely longer/lower/wider than the boxy SUV’s lining the street but rakish and very nicely proportioned. 10 MPG might be worth it.
By looking at his feedback on Ebay and the “style” of his add, this gentlemen specializes in selling Oldsmobiles of that era. He is definitely a dealer/flipper. He doesn’t say if the motor is the original V-code 455 and it needs the a/c compressor refitted. I don’t see the main a/c bracket in the trunk, it’s big and heavy. I’d leave this one alone unless you can personally verify it’s what the wheeler dealer says it is.
Whoa Daddy…paging Mr. Wordsmith
I have to get a couple Tylenol after reading the eBay ad.
Not often I bother to look at the eBay ad because of the “bizarre” factor.
Just one comment; don’t those “state of the art” “love” dolls in fact cost about the same as what he is asking here for the car?
No, they’re actually only…uh, er, nevermind.
I had one of these 1976 through 1978. The performance stock was disappointing and I didn’t have the money or smarts then to do a proper build-up. 10 MPG. It was also a magnet for cops. I let it go and moved on.
Hell no
The mannequin thing is fokin creepy
Anyone wanting to have a look at the car should;be accompanied with armed backup and make sure to leave address to relatives in case of disappearance
Could also sniff around when onsite in case you can help someone held captive
SOLD for $18,200.
Rumor is the new owner made a deal and the mannequin is included in the deal.
Creepy is as creepy does.
Did anyone else noise that the shifter is not shown as a dual gate model that is mentioned in the text?
John, it is absolutely a Hurst Dual-Gate shifter. 100% original to this car and correct.
Hi Brian,the 1974 Cutlass could be ordered with the Olds.455 big block and could be ordered with that engine through 1976.
Paul, there is no such thing. Oldsmobile did not have a small and big block. Only a V8 block. All they’re V8’s we’re the same externally. Pontiac was the same.
Sorry Brian, but you are not correct. The second-gen Olds V8 built from 1964-1990 has two distinctly different deck heights. The 9.33″ deck height was used on the 260, 307, 330, 350, and 403 motors and is commonly called the “small block”. The 10.625″ deck height was used on the 400, 425, and 455 motors and is called the “big block”. While the engines share a lot of architecture similarities (bore spacing, cam, valvetrain, distributor, oil pump) the reality is that the big block has different bearing diameters, different pushrod lengths, different rod lengths, etc. The taller deck also means that the intakes don’t interchange.