Aug 26, 2021  •  For Sale  •  10 Comments

Time Capsule: 4,880-Mile 1984 Hurst/Olds

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We’ve seen some jaw-dropping low-mileage classic cars come across our desks in recent times here at Barn Finds, and this 1984 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds is no exception. The original owner knew precisely what he wanted when he purchased the car, and today it is a testament to careful ownership. With a genuine 4,880 miles showing on its odometer, you will struggle to find one that has seen less active duty. Its overall level of preservation earns it the right to be classed as a time capsule, and it’s one that you could park in your driveway today. Located in Mazomanie, Wisconsin, you will find the Hurst listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set the BIN at $39,500, and the amount of interest that it has generated can best be gauged by the 118 people watching the listing.

The Hurst/Olds first broke cover in 1968, although there were a couple of breaks in production between then and when our feature car rolled off the production line. At the time, it seemed that the 1979 model year might be its last, but the Hurst popped up in showrooms in 1983 to overwhelming demand. For the 1984 model, Oldsmobile chose to produce 3,500 examples, and this car is one of them. You could order a Hurst/Olds in any color, as long as it was Bright Silver with a Black lower body highlight and Red/Black stripes. This car presents well, which is hardly surprising when you consider the life it has led. It has been garage-kept since Day One, and it has only ventured outdoors on sunny days. The paint still shines beautifully, although it isn’t perfect. It has accumulated some minor stone chips and marks over the past 37-years. There is no visible rust, and the underside is just as clean, thanks to the original owner’s decision to have the car rustproofed when it was new. The distinctive chrome wheels remain in good order, while the exterior plastic shows none of the deterioration that can result from exposure to UV rays. This Hurst was not a special order but was purchased directly off a showroom floor. It features the optional glass T-Top, which was seen as an essential requirement by the original owner. Basically, he didn’t care what other options were fitted, as long as it had the T-Top. This looks to be free from any flaws, and the same seems true of the glass.

The interior of the Hurst/Olds isn’t perfect, but it is still pretty good. The only fault that the owner notes is a sagging headliner, which is one of the most common problems owners face. Fixing this is a cheap and easy undertaking, and when you consider the condition of the rest of the interior, it would be money well spent. The Maroon cloth on the seats exhibits no wear, while the same is true of the vinyl and plastic trim. There are some minor scuffs on the carpet, but the console and dash are perfect. Creature comforts extend to air conditioning, a rear defogger, a remote diver’s mirror, a tilt wheel, an AM/FM radio and cassette player with rear speakers, and a power antenna.

And you thought that I’d forgotten. The distinctive and probably defining feature of the Hurst/Olds is the “Lightning Rod” shifter. So popular are these that more than one Hurst/Olds owner walked out to their car to find that some enterprising thief had liberated this feature. This one is original and in good condition, and it is a graphic indicator of the life that this classic has led. The Information Tag that the company attached was usually removed and discarded soon after purchase. That hasn’t happened in this case, and it is only one of many items that the original owner squirreled away for the future. Others include the Window Sticker, GMAC Financing paperwork, bill of sale, and rustproofing receipts.

While buyers had a long list of optional extras from which to choose with the ’84 Hurst/Olds, all cars came equipped with the same engine and transmission. These were the 307ci V8 and TH200-4R automatic. With a mere 180hp on tap, the ¼ mile ET of 16.6 seconds doesn’t look that impressive. However, this was the height of The Malaise Era, which was about what most buyers expected in 1984. This car is numbers-matching, and even though it features an incredibly low odometer reading, it is no trailer queen. The original owner used to take it out for a gallop on designated sunny days to keep everything fresh and the fluids circulating. During its life, he has replaced the battery, oil filter, and air filter. The rest remains original, and delving below the surface reveals many original tags, stickers, and paint marks that adorned the car when new. The seller says that this Olds runs and drives well, which means that it is ready to be enjoyed by a new owner.

I am pretty sure that if you were to search long enough and hard enough, you might stumble across a 1984 Hurst/Olds with a lower odometer reading than on this car. However, I wouldn’t try holding my breath because it could be a long search. This one is a classic that has earned the time capsule tag. My only worry with this car is the BIN price. Hagerty often quotes values that are higher than you might expect in the open market, and they indicate that a #1 condition example should sell for $33,100. The mileage and overall condition get this close to a #1, although the sagging headliner and minor paint chips could place it closer to a #2. Recent sales seem to support the fact that the car might be priced too high, so it will be interesting to see if one of those watchers hits the BIN button.

Comments

  1. John
    Aug 27, 2021 at 4:29am

    It’s got rustproofing. Not original. I am out. (Nice barn by the way)

    Like 3
  2. Walter
    Aug 27, 2021 at 7:11am

    Why so few miles? The price reflects the odometer but as soon as you drive it much of that value is gone. Put it in a museum (The Museum of Malaise?) or watch your investment go away every time you put it in Drive.
    1970s and 80s Malaise holds some nostalgia appeal but nowhere near this much.

    Like 6
  3. Chris
    Aug 27, 2021 at 7:44am

    Its a nice looking car . Bring cash & make it a driver . The only thing on these rides was a speedometer fail . It just did not look right in these cars.

    Like 1
  4. Steve Savastuk
    Aug 27, 2021 at 9:30am

    I had a 83′ Hurst Olds. Loved that car. First saw it in a magazine. The local Oldsmobile dealer in Port Huron MI was only going to get two of them. I bought the first one right off the show room floor. I paid $14,000.00 +/-. It did not come without some issues. General Motors put three transmissions in it (under warranty) and could not fix fuel line vapor issue. If I had it to do over again…I would buy it again.

    Like 0
  5. jose
    Aug 27, 2021 at 11:41am

    $ 219 per horsepower. Kind of stiff.

    Like 0
  6. James Martin
    Aug 27, 2021 at 4:17pm

    Bought it drove it stored it now score on price for it. People need to quit watching barret Jackson.

    Like 1
  7. Jcs
    Aug 27, 2021 at 7:12pm

    As Adam stated, 118 people are “watching” this listing.

    117 of them are current or past 84 H/O owners that are curious to see if it will exceed $25K.

    Like 1
  8. Bob
    Aug 28, 2021 at 3:47am

    Steep price but GLWS

    Like 0
  9. Steve
    Aug 28, 2021 at 8:04pm

    None of the new cars I have ever had (many) had as many little nicks, stone chips, scuffs, or other things listed in this description at the 5000 mile mark. Those details always make me question the mileage. Looks good but never a fan of red velour.

    Like 1
  10. Steve
    Aug 29, 2021 at 3:02am

    I was 23 years old when bought my first new car. It was the 83′ Hurst Olds. Bought it right off the show room floor. When the salesman started it up (inside) I was hooked. Only wish I could of had the t-tops. The dealership I bought it from was only getting two of them. Neither with t-tops. It was a nice car for that time period. It did not come without issues. The transmission was replaced three times under warranty and it had a fuel vapor issue that was never resolved. If I had it to do over again…I would buy it again. Loved that car!

    Like 0

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