1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 HURST OLDS / One of 515 Produced & Fully Documented
ALL Numbers Matching 455ci 390hp W-45 Engine & DriveTrain.
This is one rare find! One of the most popular and desirable Oldsmobile's ever built. With only 515 produced, these H/Os are rarely seen in any condition. What we have here is a MINT condition, all numbers matching classic with full documentation of its history and authenticity. This H/O is one of a very limited few remaining.
FMC is proud to offer this 1968 Olds 442 H/O complete with its original matching numbers Rocket 455ci 390hp W-45 engine, its original 4-barrel carburetor, matching numbers THD400 3-speed transmission with Dual Gate Shifter (His & Hers), factory original 3.91 gears and Anti-Spin rear (Posi) and much more,
While GM had decided to limit the engine size of mid-sized cars to 400ci, George Hurst had other ideas. and decided to produce a Hurst/Olds model with a 390hp 455ci engine called the W-45. The Hurst/Olds was the only GM mid sized car to offer an engine larger than 400ci due to a corporate policy that prohibited the GM divisions from putting larger engines in cars smaller than full-sized models (other than the Corvette), Oldsmobile got around the 400ci limit by implying that the 455 engines were installed by Hurst, not Oldsmobile. In fact, the special drive train & Ram Air package (shared with the W-30 and W-31) were installed at the Oldsmobile factory. These cars were then taken across town to Lansing Michigan to Demmer Engineering where the remainder of the unique Hurst/Olds components were added. This included black accent paint with hand-applied white pinstripes, real walnut dash trim, H/O emblems, and the Dual Gate shifter with mini-console. The 455 featured Force Air Induction and was built with a special crank, custom distributor, 308-degree camshaft with .474-inch lift and Ram-Air cylinder heads. The transmission was a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission that could also be shifted like a manual gearbox called a Dual Gate Shifter AKA the "His/Hers shifter" The Hurst/Olds had beefed-up disc/drum brakes, heavy duty suspension, supersized cooling system and the 3:91 rear axle.
Sold new by Mid-State Motors, Inc of Marshalltown Iowa to Mr. Harold Bragg on July 17, 1968. Records show that was a one (1) owner car until 2005. Since 2005, only two others have owned this car. Copies of all three titles are part of the documentation. Other documentation includes original window sticker, warranty booklet & Protecto Plate, original owners manual and more. Best of all, the original dealership installed the air conditioning at the request of the original owner. A/C was not available from the factory built 455 H/O W-45 engine or the 3.91 Posi rear however, the dealership Invoice from Mid-State Motors, Inc shows the A/C was installed on the same sale date (July 17, 1968) as the car itself meaning it has been in this car since day one! The dealership installation for the A/C was $275 as shown on the original dealers invoice.
While this is not a #1 show car in concourse condition, this H/O can only be described as MINT. Everything is in order and as good as it gets for a car that has been driven carefully and extremely well kept its entire life by all three previous owners. All body panels are original. Floors are rock solid and also original. There is absolutely no rust anywhere. The paint has been refinished and is absolutely beautiful, All chrome and trim are equally as nice.
The interior is all original except for the carpet. Seat leather, headliner and the dash are original and immaculate. The woodgrain dash panels and wood steering wheel are as good as new! This H/O starts, runs and drives as if it were new.
This 442 has maintenance records dating back to day one. This is a true collectors classic. There are other 442 H/Os out there but when you read through the descriptions, you'll find the differences between them; and this one! There are No Disappointments here.
