The story of the 1968 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds doesn’t start at Oldsmobile, but Pontiac. Performance parts maven George Hurst initially approached Pontiac about installing his high-performance shifters in the 1964 Pontiac GTO. Pontiac bit, but unfortunately for George, would not allow the shifters to bear the Hurst name that first year, but did allow the Hurst moniker for the 1965 model year. Aside from tires, this was the first time an outside manufacturer would have their name featured so prominently on a GM car.
Hurst approached Pontiac about another idea, this time a performance package for the Firebird. George wanted Pontiac to send him Firebirds without engines installed. He would perform final assembly at his facility, stuffing Big Block engines into the cars before sending them back to Pontiac. This was to be a way to skirt GM’s internal rule of limiting engine displacement in cars smaller than full-sized models (except for the Corvette, of course) to 400 cubic inches. Chevrolet balked at the idea, fearing it would cut into Camaro sales. GM nixed the project before it ever got started. Hurst then approached Oldsmobile with the idea, but the Big Blocks would be installed in the Cutlass. No objections came from Pontiac whose GTO was a Cutlass competitor, and thus the Hurst/Olds was born.
To create the Hurst/Olds, a 455 cubic-inch Big Block Rocket V8 would be installed. The 455 was a beast, making 390 horsepower and an eye-watering 500 pound-feet of torque. The H/O also featured a ram air-style intake just beneath the front bumper, Hurst’s Dual-Gate ratcheting shifter, and a Peruvian Silver paint job with black rear deck and striping with white pinstripes. Despite Oldsmobile having several times more orders, only 515 1968 Hurst/Olds (it wouldn’t be the Hurst/Olds 442 until the following year) left the factory.
Our feature 1968 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds is an exceptionally well-restored example. It is finished in Peruvian Silver with a black rear deck and black stripes with white pinstripes, as all Hurst/Olds were that year. The paint is glossy, and the brightwork has been either refurbished or replaced. The H/O rolls on Olds Super Stock steel wheels with polished trim rings wrapped in whitewall tires. A heavy-duty suspension and rear sway bar make sure the H/O stays planted in the corners.
Inside the Hurst/Olds is a solid black interior with walnut accents. Black vinyl front buckets flank a walnut-trimmed console with a Hurst Dual-Gate shifter. The dash features walnut trim on the lower half that stretches the full width of the interior. A woodgrain steering wheel is mounted to the tilt steering column. The Hurst/Olds is equipped with power steering, and is one of only 154 equipped with air conditioning and power front disc brakes.
Under the hood of the Hurst/Olds is the 455 cubic-inch Rocket V8, framed by the correct red inner fender wells. Forced-air induction comes by way of the oval air intakes just below the front bumper. A Rochester Quadrajet carb feeds the 455, which is backed by a Turbo Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic transmission. The engine compartment is well detailed, with proper decals and markings in place.
The Hurst/Olds has been the recipient of numerous awards. It scored 998 points out of 1,000 possible, landing a Best in Show at the 2000 Oldsmobile Club of America Show. That same year it was featured in ‘Muscle Cars: Kings of the Street from the Golden Era’, and Collectable Automobile magazine. It took first place at the 2004 Oldsmobile Club of America Mile High Nationals in Denver, Colorado, and first place and Best of Show at the 2017 Oldsmobile Nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This Hurst/Olds will be sold at the Mecum Auctions Dallas, Texas event taking place September 7th through the 10th, with all proceeds to benefit the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.
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Comments
Love the car great looking, love Oldsmobile, wish they were still around.
best cars every made
My dad traded a 70 Chevelle running and driving for a 69 442 sitting on blocks at age 13. With no regrets. Do love olds.