Mark Wein
09-05-2010, 01:47 PM
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/top%20bannere.jpg
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-main-use.jpg
__________________________________________________ ____
For current values, auction pricing, market trends and
vehicle information on thousands of collector cars, visit
www.oldcarsreport.com
__________________________________________________ ____
Story and photos by Brian Earnest
Whether you preferred your cars flashy or refined, hair-raising or classy, heart-attack fast or just smooth and sophisticated, it was hard to find much to criticize with the early Hurst/Olds.
It was simply one of those rare cars that didn’t have many critics. Pretty much everybody agreed: these were some awesome machines, packed with loads of muscle power and wrapped in a killer zoot suit that couldn’t be mistaken.
If the Hurst/Olds wasn’t the coolest kid in school during the height of the muscle car craze, it was at least on the prom court. Like a lot of guys at the time, Bob Blattler of Manitowoc, Wis., lusted after the 1969 Hurst/Olds — the second year Olds and Hurst partnered up to produce a tricked-out 4-4-2 — but he had no hope of shelling out the $4,500-plus that it took to bring one home. “I liked them, but really I didn’t have any money and my kids were young,” said Blattler, re-telling a tale that countless domesticated males could relate to at the time. “I always wanted one, but I didn’t have the money to buy one then.”
Even if he could have afforded one, only 906 of the white-and-gold beauties were built for the 1969 model year, and there was no guarantee Blattler could have found a Hurst/Olds to buy when they were new. Of course, it was easier to get a 1969 version that it was the debut 1968 Hurst/Olds. That was the original Hurst/Olds, born when George Hurst of Hurst Performance Products took a GM 425-cid V-8, turned it into a 455 that could kick out 390 hp, and, together with entrepreneur and Olds supplier John Demmer, produced 515 fancied-up silver-and-black cars that had critics and hi-po fans raving.
“Ah yes friends, there really is a supercar without lumps in it,” proclaimed Super Stock magazine in its July 1969 issue.
All 1969 Hurst/Olds were based on the 4-4-2 Holiday two-door hardtop body style. Under the twin-scoop hood was a 455-cid “Rocket” V-8. Magazine tests at the time found the cars could run sub-14-second quarter-miles right off the lot. Not only did this car look great and ride better than most cars of its genre, it was really fast!
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-scoops.jpg
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-spoiler.jpg
Buyers had the choice of heavy-duty Turbo Hydra-Matic or a close- or wide-ratio four-speed manual transmission. The Forced-Air induction engine was known as the W-46 option in Olds nomenclature, and featured most of the important go-fast goodies from the famed Olds W-30 option, including the cam, heads and distributor.
The Hurst/Olds was based on the mid-sized Cutlass and it was altered only slightly for the 1969 model year. The quad headlight system was brought closer together, and the grille and bumper area were given a less-cluttered frontal appearance. The Cutlass taillights were recessed and more vertical than the 1968s.
The Hurst/Olds again rode a 112-inch wheelbase and had an overall length of 201.9 inches. With a shipping weight of 3,716 lbs., it was not the lightest muscle car on the market, but the awesome power train and refined ride and aesthetics seemed to make for a good trade-off.
The crowning touches, of course, were the stunning gold graphics over the white paint scheme topped off with a huge strut-mounted rear spoiler that actually provided some functional down force when the car really took flight. The striping was officially named “Firemist Gold," and it matched the “H/O 455” graphics on the serious-looking dual snouts protruding from the hood.
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-dash.jpg
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-shifter.jpg
Blattler admits he had his eyes on his current ’69 for a long time before he was able to pry it away from its previous owner, but the long wait has proven to be worth it. I chased the car for eight years before I was able to buy it. I saw the guy at a car show in 1995, and I bugged him to buy it starting then, until 2003 when he sold it to me. It took awhile, but I was persistent. I wanted a 69, because I have had other Hurst Olds, and this is one I didn’t have, and I woundn’t take ‘no’ for an answer …
“I put new tires and springs and shocks on it, and it had been damaged in the right rear quarter, and I had that fixed and painted below the doors, but other than that the top surfaces are all original. I don’t know how many miles are on it, but it shows 43,000 on the odometer. It’s a pretty nice original.”
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-engine.jpg
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-badge.jpg
Blattler believes he is about the fourth owner of the car. The original buyer opted for the automatic transmission with no air-conditioning. About the only other options on the car are a three-spoke sport steering wheel and a rear-window defogger, “which is basically just a fan,” he said.
Values for nice examples of the 1969 Hurst/Olds have soared well above $50,000 on the collector market, but that hasn’t stopped Blattler from occasionally winding up his car and letting the 455 cubes make some smoke and noise. “It’s a blast. I had it on the drag strip, which is the first time I’ve ever done that, and it’s a blast,” Blattler said. “That’s what they were made for, to go in a straight line
“Sure, I watch out where I drive it. I drive it in the summertime and maybe put 500 miles a year on it, but it’s fun to get into the throttle … That’s what it’s for. You can’t hurt this car.”
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-rearquarter.jpg
SUGGESTED READING
Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942
Standard Guide to American Muscle Cars, 4th Edition
Nothin' But Muscle: 199 Radical Rides
MORE RESOURCES FOR CAR COLLECTORS FROM OLDCARSWEEKLY.COM *Great Books, CDs, Price Guides & More
*Share YOUR Thoughts in the Old Cars Weekly Forums
*Get Pricing. Data. History in one place
*Sign up for your FREE OldCarsWeekly.com email newsletter
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-main-use.jpg
__________________________________________________ ____
For current values, auction pricing, market trends and
vehicle information on thousands of collector cars, visit
www.oldcarsreport.com
__________________________________________________ ____
Story and photos by Brian Earnest
Whether you preferred your cars flashy or refined, hair-raising or classy, heart-attack fast or just smooth and sophisticated, it was hard to find much to criticize with the early Hurst/Olds.
It was simply one of those rare cars that didn’t have many critics. Pretty much everybody agreed: these were some awesome machines, packed with loads of muscle power and wrapped in a killer zoot suit that couldn’t be mistaken.
If the Hurst/Olds wasn’t the coolest kid in school during the height of the muscle car craze, it was at least on the prom court. Like a lot of guys at the time, Bob Blattler of Manitowoc, Wis., lusted after the 1969 Hurst/Olds — the second year Olds and Hurst partnered up to produce a tricked-out 4-4-2 — but he had no hope of shelling out the $4,500-plus that it took to bring one home. “I liked them, but really I didn’t have any money and my kids were young,” said Blattler, re-telling a tale that countless domesticated males could relate to at the time. “I always wanted one, but I didn’t have the money to buy one then.”
Even if he could have afforded one, only 906 of the white-and-gold beauties were built for the 1969 model year, and there was no guarantee Blattler could have found a Hurst/Olds to buy when they were new. Of course, it was easier to get a 1969 version that it was the debut 1968 Hurst/Olds. That was the original Hurst/Olds, born when George Hurst of Hurst Performance Products took a GM 425-cid V-8, turned it into a 455 that could kick out 390 hp, and, together with entrepreneur and Olds supplier John Demmer, produced 515 fancied-up silver-and-black cars that had critics and hi-po fans raving.
“Ah yes friends, there really is a supercar without lumps in it,” proclaimed Super Stock magazine in its July 1969 issue.
All 1969 Hurst/Olds were based on the 4-4-2 Holiday two-door hardtop body style. Under the twin-scoop hood was a 455-cid “Rocket” V-8. Magazine tests at the time found the cars could run sub-14-second quarter-miles right off the lot. Not only did this car look great and ride better than most cars of its genre, it was really fast!
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-scoops.jpg
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-spoiler.jpg
Buyers had the choice of heavy-duty Turbo Hydra-Matic or a close- or wide-ratio four-speed manual transmission. The Forced-Air induction engine was known as the W-46 option in Olds nomenclature, and featured most of the important go-fast goodies from the famed Olds W-30 option, including the cam, heads and distributor.
The Hurst/Olds was based on the mid-sized Cutlass and it was altered only slightly for the 1969 model year. The quad headlight system was brought closer together, and the grille and bumper area were given a less-cluttered frontal appearance. The Cutlass taillights were recessed and more vertical than the 1968s.
The Hurst/Olds again rode a 112-inch wheelbase and had an overall length of 201.9 inches. With a shipping weight of 3,716 lbs., it was not the lightest muscle car on the market, but the awesome power train and refined ride and aesthetics seemed to make for a good trade-off.
The crowning touches, of course, were the stunning gold graphics over the white paint scheme topped off with a huge strut-mounted rear spoiler that actually provided some functional down force when the car really took flight. The striping was officially named “Firemist Gold," and it matched the “H/O 455” graphics on the serious-looking dual snouts protruding from the hood.
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-dash.jpg
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-shifter.jpg
Blattler admits he had his eyes on his current ’69 for a long time before he was able to pry it away from its previous owner, but the long wait has proven to be worth it. I chased the car for eight years before I was able to buy it. I saw the guy at a car show in 1995, and I bugged him to buy it starting then, until 2003 when he sold it to me. It took awhile, but I was persistent. I wanted a 69, because I have had other Hurst Olds, and this is one I didn’t have, and I woundn’t take ‘no’ for an answer …
“I put new tires and springs and shocks on it, and it had been damaged in the right rear quarter, and I had that fixed and painted below the doors, but other than that the top surfaces are all original. I don’t know how many miles are on it, but it shows 43,000 on the odometer. It’s a pretty nice original.”
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-engine.jpg
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-badge.jpg
Blattler believes he is about the fourth owner of the car. The original buyer opted for the automatic transmission with no air-conditioning. About the only other options on the car are a three-spoke sport steering wheel and a rear-window defogger, “which is basically just a fan,” he said.
Values for nice examples of the 1969 Hurst/Olds have soared well above $50,000 on the collector market, but that hasn’t stopped Blattler from occasionally winding up his car and letting the 455 cubes make some smoke and noise. “It’s a blast. I had it on the drag strip, which is the first time I’ve ever done that, and it’s a blast,” Blattler said. “That’s what they were made for, to go in a straight line
“Sure, I watch out where I drive it. I drive it in the summertime and maybe put 500 miles a year on it, but it’s fun to get into the throttle … That’s what it’s for. You can’t hurt this car.”
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/upload/images/2010%20Car%20of%20the%20Week/69Hurst-rearquarter.jpg
SUGGESTED READING
Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942
Standard Guide to American Muscle Cars, 4th Edition
Nothin' But Muscle: 199 Radical Rides
MORE RESOURCES FOR CAR COLLECTORS FROM OLDCARSWEEKLY.COM *Great Books, CDs, Price Guides & More
*Share YOUR Thoughts in the Old Cars Weekly Forums
*Get Pricing. Data. History in one place
*Sign up for your FREE OldCarsWeekly.com email newsletter