The Last 455: 1975 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds W-30
In terms of performance, the 1975 Hurst/Olds was a far cry from the earliest models. However, considering the dismal state many muscle cars had gotten to by the mid-seventies, it was still a pretty great offering for the period. For ’75, the W-25 came with a 350 engine, but stepping up to the W-30 got you the last H/O with an Oldsmobile 455 under the hood. Color availability was white or black, with this 1975 Hurst/Olds painted the latter plus it’s a true W-30, making this one quite a desirable example. We’d like to say thank you to Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for sending us the excellent tip here!
The seller tells us he’s owned the car for the past 6 years and that it got repainted long before then, with the finish described as a 10-footer. The black paint has some sections with scratches, plus it’s beginning to chip away around the rear window and in other areas. However, the body is said to remain solid, straight, and rust-free, so I’d probably be inclined to just enjoy driving this one for a while before thinking about taking the exterior to a higher level.
Most of the interior seems to be decently preserved, with the dash appearing to be in exceptionally nice shape. The original steering wheel has been replaced with what looks like a Grant GT unit, a once popular aftermarket helm from this time, but it’s also easily replaceable should the next owner prefer to revert back to an Olds component. The dual-gate shifter is still in place from ’75, controlling a Turbo-Hydromatic 400 transmission, and the T-Tops (or “Hurst Hatch” panels as they are known here) are also from the factory.
An additional link is provided which shows numerous other photos, including information from Mondello Performance Products regarding work they did to the 455 back in 2003. The seller says the oil, transmission fluid, and coolant have all recently been changed, with the car stated to start right up. This 1975 Hurst/Olds definitely seems like a fun mid-seventies cruiser, so if you’re envisioning this one in your future, it can be seen here on Craigslist in Smithtown, New York. I’m finding the asking price of $16,500 quite reasonable for what we’re seeing here, how about you?
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Comments
I will be the 1st to step forward and pledge my love to the 75 as my favorite Hurst/Olds .Tasteful and less hairy then the 69,and plenty less powerful. But i dont care. I love the mid 70s Cutlass and to me the 75 was the most handsome. If i was selling this i would immediately ditch that steering wheel and then vow to never take photos on a driveway with oil stains right in front of the car again
That stain in front of the car looks bad! Maybe it’s only water though.
This needs put back to original.
First loose the mods and steering wheel….
Then get the paint fixed…
These are beautiful Oldsmobiles…
The word is “lose”, not “loose”.
Thnkz mikke
Do I need the disclaimer for typos 😜😎
This text is independently created by a human non AI and possesses at least some minimal degree of creativity. Using a thumb on a keyboard can cause minimal typing issues to allow others to evaluate.
Jeff, yeah the “grammer police” on a board for auto enthusiasts is quite comical.
There ya go, have a blast with this post.
Nice looking H/O but the picture of the rear sail panel and padded roof section might be worse than described
Too bad the Mondello receipt is tough to read, it would be nice to know exactly what was done to the 455.
They are a reputable Oldsmobile performance company.
Mondello was reputable when Joe was still there. Unfortunately after his former business partner Lynn took over, lets just say their quality decreased exponentially. Not just engine build quality but shady business practices that run the gamut. I believe Mondello Performance changed hands again at some point in the last decade and the complaints and cautionary tales continue. The current owners continue to be the benefactors of the legacy and reputation that Joe built. The only real Mondello left is Bernard, Joe’s son, who works on machining performance heads for Olds and he is very well regarded within the community.
Really good looking example! But, 2.48 rear end gear? Is that correct? I don’t think I’ve ever come across a car with those stated numbers. Maybe due to the “fuel crisis” back then? With all the mid-seventies smog equipment and that rear end, that 455 must have been a great disappointment off the line. Not an outrageous price for a decent car with a pretty cool history (H/O and Mondello)
I think you and 454 rat are correctly suspicious on that 2.48. I believe 2.56 was the lowest in an Olds that year. Chevrolet even had a 2.41…and by 1978 you could get a big Caddy with something like a 2.25 gear. But ive never heard of a 2 48 rear. Who knows. Learn something new every day
Hemmings is usually pretty accurate. They say that this car would have came standard with 2:56 gears.
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/1975-oldsmobile-hurst-olds/
Not quick off the line but should provide excellent mpg numbers!
That’s a good deal for something like that. The 2.48 rear? I had a 69 Malibu 350 engine, with a 2.56 rear. 70 mph with the air on got 21 to 22 mpg. It had a good top end also. the 2.48 would be okay for highway.
Nice car except for the built in water leak. Put a full vinyl roof on it.
How could you put a full vinyl roof on a car with T-Tops ?
I am an Oldsmobile guy, but must honestly state I have the opposite opinion of Matt. To me, the early to mid 70s Cutlass and Hurst Olds were the least desirable body style. This however is one of the nicer ones I’ve seen (swirly paint noted) and could be made very nice with a minimal effort. I like the black on gold with camel tan better than the common white or black interior. I agree the original steering wheel and air cleaner cover would look better. No problem with the Modello massaging of the 455 – originality may be desirable for muscle cars of the late 60s to 70-72 vintage, but everything had been diluted by 75. Why not tweak it with internal improvements that make it go better?
I love the 70/71 Cutlasses the most. But for H/O Cutlasses i have a soft spot for these 75s. I agree on the Modello engine mods.
Matt – I concur with the 70-72 body style, although I am also partial to the 78-80s (I have owned two 79 Cutlass Calais, and still have one). I thought the early “Collonade” bodies 73-75 were a step back. I felt the 76-77 restyle was a positive step, going to lines more similar to the 70-72, albeit more squared off and angular.
Also concur with Dwight’s comment below re: the “test pipe” days. My first 79 Cutlass I had in high school was a 305. The jump in performance with test pipe was noticeable. But, we continued running the test for many years just to confirm results.
Swivel buckets need to make a comeback. At my age driving a sports car they would really come in handy.
Fun comfortable car. That first year catalytic converter killed 40 horsepower, but replace it with a ” test pipe” ( remember those? ) enjoy and tolerate the 12 MPG
Apologize for my ignorance, never heard of that one. Do they still make “test” pipes, or is it a DIY piece?
When catalytic converters first came out, they were popular. They were the exact length of the converter and were a direct replacement for the converter. Of course, if you lived in a state that did tailpipe emission testing, or your converter had a sensor installed, you ran the risk of being flunked,
Nowadays, removing the converter would most likely make your car run like crap because the computers wouldn’t know how to deal with that change.
Nobody sees the 1977 dashboard? Nice looking from the outside.
I caught it along with the entire 77 interior. You can see the opera window sail panels in one of the rear end pics. No digital tach either. Still a T code 75 Supreme, most likely a real H/O.
Looks like cracking Bondo at the vinyl top trim ahead of the trunk, possible serious rust issues.
things look bad on that dutchman panel. lose the steering wheel and the under-hood crap. does nothing but hurt the look. find the original h/o console mounted digital tach.
Sharp looking car. Takes you back in time.
A white 1975 H/O W25 just sold at Mecum this past weekend for $21,500 and is in far better shape than this one. That paint is in bad shape. Gonna take more than buffing to really make it nice. Looks like it was run through a car wash, which uses very harsh soaps and those horrible plastic brushes. I want a black 75, but will pass on this one. That steering wheel has got to go. You can buy a correct repo from Fusick.