George Hurst came to Pontiac in hopes of creating a performance package for the Firebird. Pontiac didn’t bite, but General Motors thought it might be able to apply Hurst’s ideas to Oldsmobile, creating an appeal to younger buyers. The outcome was the 1968 Hurst/Olds, which came with the monster 455 Big Block, the largest engine available in the A-body platform. GM had banned use of any engine in excess of 400 cubic inches in A-body cars, but Oldsmobile managed to skirt the rule by doing final assembly and modification off-site. Despite limited production, Oldsmobile was flooded with orders.
Oldsmobile was no stranger when it came to pacing the Indianapolis 500. In 1974, Olds came back to Indy for the fourth time with the Hurst/Olds optioned Cutlass. The Hurst/Olds came with either a 350 cubic-inch V8 (first time available in the Cutlass, and mandatory for models bound for California) or in W-30 trim with the L76 455 Big Block rated at 230 horsepower, and backed by the M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission.
Finished in Cameo White, the Hurst/Olds package consisted of the “AN7” option pack, with swiveling black and white vinyl bucket seats, two-tone vinyl top, power front disc brakes, gold “Super Stock III” wheels, and raised white-letter tires. Just over 1,800 of the Pace Car package Hurst/Olds left the factory.
Our featured Hurst/Olds was originally a W-25 option package car, meaning it came equipped with the California emissions-spec 350. The owner swapped in a period-correct 455. It is optioned with Soft Ray Tinted Windows, rear electric window defogger, Positraction, AM push-button radio, sport style outside rear view mirrors, sport console, rallye suspension, 442 radiator grille and black louvered hood, and a custom sport steering wheel. It shows just over 19,000 miles and is accompanied by the original widow sticker, warranty card, owner’s manual, maintenance schedule booklet, and other factory paperwork. It is for sale here on Craigslist in San Diego.
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Comments
Nice car. Attractive and sporty both. In such nice condition and with such low miles, it should bring the money. But I really think a huge error was made by replacing the stock engine with the bigger one, even if period correct. This is now a car with non-matching numbers. Total killer for ever bringing top dollar.
Did any one notice the square fog lights underneath the front Pumber ? WTF is that all about ?
LED lights, all the rage……
Not really a ‘car guy’ Dan?
Actually Rex, quite a car guy. If you are, you would know that swapping out the factory engine with matching numbers for something with more power will kill the ultimate value. Matching numbers brings higher money.
Still a very nice car.
Dan, I know you’re a car guy, I was teasing. I’m a car guy too, did the ol’ 455 swap probably 50 or more times back in the day as most car guys just want more power and can’t afford any closet queens like this one anyway.
I had a 1972 hurst olds indy 500 pace car way back in 1982 she was so nice and super fast sold her for parts 1500 big mistake
455 should have been painted oldsmobile blue …
Had 73 Malibu Colonnade which wore similar skin. I’d love to see a future Camaro use this design as either EV or ICE or both.
Beautiful!
I believe that motor is from a late 60s Oldsmobile. The color of the motor is actually correct. Some 455s were red. Beautiful car nicely done.
Great car with real style! I sure miss seeing these types of vehicles on the road.
Had a 74 in the 80s 350 rocket, nice cruiser
OK, first off the engine bay picture is of a ’69 Hurst/ Olds. It is most definitely NOT a ’74 engine bay. Also, the interior is not factory materials. They did not 2 tone the seats. The correct material for the inside is a mesh weave, in an off white color. The rims are technically 14″ SS II’s with the bolt on center caps. The exhaust extensions are not correct. Not too sure of the resonators either. Hard to tell without a good photo, but the black top material looks correct. Lastly, the stripes look redone, which suggests a repaint. For a 19K mile car, I’d be suspicious.
The seat material and pattern is wrong. The stripes look like reproductions. Both of which argue against the original mileage claim.