Serious Muscle: 1969 Hurst/Olds 455
Beginning in the late 1960s, Oldsmobile partnered with Hurst Performance to build a series of limited production cars, all based on the mid-size Cutlass/F-85 platform. They would be available nine times between 1968 and 1984 with several breaks in-between. Output for 1969 was 906 cars, of which the seller’s machine was one of them. Located in Alvord, Texas, this driver-quality Olds is available here on eBay where the bidding stands at $20,100 with an unmet reserve. Or you can pass-go and buy the car right now for $35,000.
Oldsmobile’s intermediates got a refresh in styling in 1969 after a redesign the year before. The most noticeable changes were in the execution of the headlights and taillights. The Hurst/Olds was offered in just one color combination, white with Firefrost Gold inserts. Instead of dual Ram Air scoops under the front bumper, the Hurst/Olds went with a functional “mailbox” fiberglass hood scope with 455 lettering on each side (the cars had been upgraded from a 400 V8 used in 1968). Other performance touches included a rear spoiler, chrome rims, racing mirrors, a blacked-out grille borrowed from the 442, and H/O lettering hither and yon. And there was the Hurst shifter dual-gate that resided in the console.
The seller’s car is listed on the Hurst/Olds Registry, adding credence to its authenticity. It’s no longer a numbers-matching car but does have an Olds 455 V8 with Edelbrock heads, MSD ignition, Holley Sniper EFI, and other upgrades that are not stock for the model year. But we’re told the automobile runs and drives great and everything works properly except for the factory air conditioning.
Any shortfalls with the car lie in its appearance. The passenger quarter panel was hit at one time and poorly redone, so the seller is sending a new one along with the car. On the driver’s side, the floor pan has some rust and a new one is provided for that repair, too. Since the dash pad is cracked, its replacement is provided that will have to be dyed to match the rest of the very nice black interior. The Hurst/Olds would not appear again until 1972-75, 1979, and 1983-84 and annual production numbers never exceeded 1,000 before 1973.
Comments
The ’68 Hurst/Olds used a 455, also.
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/olds/hurst1/bilder/2.jpg
Someone just stole this car. lucky guy.
Never a stripes and scoops fan but these ’69 Hurst/Olds are one of my favorites. I never clearly understood how these cars were promoted, did they sit in the showroom for a while to draw customers and sold later or were they sold off right away?
Get into it cheap but needs plenty of work. Good that the new metal is present but would need repaint anyway. This gold is incorrect, not firefrost gold. Good starter though, not sure what id do about engine, probably modify it further 😁. Always thought these were cool. A friend of mine was selling his 5 years ago and offered it to me at good price but i had just bought a new truck. That was a disappointing day, love the truck but wouldve rather had the car. Bodywork was beautiful, engine was lightly modded and had 3.91 rear. Nice car, wouldve been great company to my 69 Hurst Rambler. Sorry, not sure why pic comes in upside down.