Vehicle Description
GM had a rule that the intermediates couldn't have more than 400
cubic inches. That meant that the Oldsmobile 442, for example, was
limited to 400 cubes. But as this 1969 Hurst/Olds proves, outside
firms weren't constrained by such rules and with a snarling 455
cubic inch V8 under the deeply scooped hood, this cool coupe is one
heck of a formidable street machine.
Only 906 Hurst/Olds cars were built in 1969, and they were all
white with Firefrost Gold decals. Now this Tribute gets a lot of
things right, including that color combination, but the stripes you
see on this car are painted on, not mere decals, which makes one
heck of a difference when you see it in person. It was originally
green, so nobody's going to miss it now that it looks so potent,
and the overall look is extremely compelling. Hurst added that
twin-snorkel hood, which remains one of the most outrageous pieces
of muscle car kit ever seen, and there's a wing out back that would
be appropriated by GM stylists for their own 442. Workmanship is
quite good, with a great shine and great attention to detail,
although there are now some small indications of use, a situation
that's easy to understand. The grilles were blacked out properly,
there are neat little Hurst emblems on the front fenders and deck
lid, and the exhaust trumpets fit in neat cut-outs in the rear
bumper, just the way they were done originally. It seems a shame to
call this car merely a clone, because it's very nicely done.
The beautiful parchment interior gives you a taste of Oldsmobile's
blend of comfort and performance. Code 937 is this car's original
interior choice and it's quite possible that the upholstery,
headliner, and even the door panels are original to the car. With
that in mind, it remains in very good condition overall, although
there are some smart upgrades, including the fat three-spoke
steering wheel and, of course, a Hurst T-handle shifter for the
4-speed manual transmission. There are also round gauges set into
deep pods that give the dashboard a performance look and burled
walnut appliques on the dash that suggest a more luxury-oriented
approach. A correct Hurst badge on the glove box lid, a Kenwood
AM/FM/CD stereo, and heavy-duty floor mats round out the list of
must-haves in this heavy cruiser. The trunk is finished with a
black carpet mat and a full-sized spare that's never been used.
You could get a 455 in a Toronado, so that's likely what lives in
the engine bay today: a 375 horsepower 455 cubic inch mill that's
date-code correct and dressed like it would have been directly from
Hurst. The big orange air cleaner makes no bones about what lives
underneath and the wide intake manifold makes it easy to spot the
big block Olds. Nicely detailed and correctly finished throughout,
someone clearly did their homework before starting work on this
tribute. Power steering and brakes are part of the package (this is
an Oldsmobile, after all) and despite 375 horsepower on tap, it's
docile enough to sit happily in traffic. It's worth noting that
both the 4-speed and the rear end are numbers-matching and original
to this car, suggesting that it's always been performance-oriented,
and the floors underneath are shockingly clean. A rumbling
Flowmaster dual exhaust system provides plenty of appropriate
ambience for your drive and those cool wheels are 15-inch Hurst
Dazzlers that really give this Olds a racy look.
Performance, looks, and a great story to tell, the Hurst/Olds was
one of the greatest muscle cars of the era. This is your chance to
capture some of that Hurst magic and be able to enjoy driving it,
too. Call today!
