By the end of 1972, the snarling large displacement muscle car engines had been cut back to lower compression and less power. But the 1973 Hurst Olds still offered a massive 455 cubic inch V8 that propelled this Oldsmobile like a muscle car. With only 1,097 1973 Hurst Olds manufactured, these machines have become quite rare. This particular car is in good health and has a few upgrades to boot. This 3 owner classic can be yours for $12,500. Find it here on craigslist out of Seattle, Washington. Thanks to reader Rocco B. for the cool submission!
One of the better looking “later” muscle cars, this Hurst Olds looks to have been pretty well taken care of. Packing 400 ponies, the numbers matching 455 V8 has a bigger camshaft, and the transmission has been rebuilt. The seller has also rebuilt the entire suspension, and added some aftermarket handling goodies to make this muscle car handle excellent. What can be seen of the interior through the windows looks nice, but it is difficult to make out specifics.
From 20 feet away where the photos were taken, this Oldsmobile looks like a nice example, that is driver quality. The seller has clearly explained that this one is not a rust bucket, and this claim appears to be true for the most part. There is a rot in the lower portion of the passenger front fender, and in the bottom front corner of the passenger door. Beyond that, there appears to be no other visible rust. The paint looks acceptable with the gold stripe on the hood appearing a bit dry and faded. Otherwise, this Hurst Olds looks like a well maintained classic with enough updates to make it a very special and enjoyable driver. Would you jump on this late muscle classic?
it’s beautiful
Gorgeous ride!
Different styling
Don’t remember seeing a Hurst Olds, but do remember Cutlasses in this body style were EVERYWHERE at the time. Nice looking.
Great looking car and price seems fair.
I had a 73 Hurst Olds 455 car. Not that I’m being a purist but it’s missing the padded vinyl top and the 442/HO front grills that were only to these cars. The grills were one year only. The vinyl top trim would be a nightmare to find. The only way to know if it’s actually a HO is the VIN.
I had no idea that you could get 400hp in ’73. That’s fantastic.
400 horsepower was not factory available on the Hurst Olds in 73. As I recall the factory net rating was about 250. I know that does not sound like much but with the torque these early 70’s large displacement V8’s put our you could still do a pretty strong burnout.
The padded top is missing but I think it is still a Hurst because the inner window plastic trim still looks to be there. The car used the stock larger quarter windows of the regular Cutlass, just trimmed out to appear smaller and more formal.
The 73 had the best appearing 5 mph impact absorbing bumpers of the entire 73 GM line. In 74 it got the big cowcatchers the rest of the cars had……..
The 1973 Pontiac Grand Am (1st GA) had the first truly integrated 5 mph bumper. It was essentially hidden.Weather you liked the styling or not is strictly a matter of taste. IMO they hid the “tack-on” railroad tie that most cars had fairly well.
Hi Glen. I think that is the sellers estimate after installing the aftermarket camshaft.
Thanks.
I looked back after your comment, I missed that he mentioned the camshaft, makes me wonder how much more could be squeezed out of these engines with the right set-up.
Oh gee, some years back when I was just a teenager, I went to look at 2 Hurst Olds cars, a 73 just like this and a 68, the first year which is the hottest Hurst Olds today. Both cars were being sold by the same guy and each car had the same price, 4000. Both cars needed work, however, the cars had plates and were on the road. I almost took the 73 as I thought it would be a more modern car to drive everyday but thank goodness, I bought the 68 for 3400 and drove it home about 30 miles. I fixed it up a little here and there, it was never a showcar but it was a nice driver. About 12 years later, a guy from the Oldsmobile club contacted me about buying the car. He was also in the Packard club and offered me an even trade for his nice 37 Packard Super 8 with sidemounts which was also a nice looking driver. I made an even trade with my Hurst Olds for the Packard which is still have today. Looking back, as much as I like my Packard, I should have kept the 68 Hurst Olds. I figure the Packard is worth 50k, the Hurst Olds, maybe 75k to 100k now that it’s fully restored? Oh well. Although he restored it and it went to a good home, I want it back.
Oh, I left one thing out, do what you have to do and bring the thumbs up and down back. The site is not the same anymore.
Don’t worry we are working on it, but it’s a software compatibility issue, so it takes a lot of coding and testing to make sure everything is going to get along.
Yes, you are right, the site is not the same anymore without the thumbs option, it’s actually better now! Now we don’t have three year olds thumbs downing every single post for no reason other than to be a troublemaker….
No, to those of us who have been here a long time, it is not the same and not for the better. I for one never give thumbs down just for the fun of it and I do not care if I get the thumbs down. Gee, this is a website for fun, not for fighting. 98% agree with me RX7TURBOII and dj because we already went through this before….
What if there is only a thumbs-up? If you disagree with a comment, you either leave, a comment or shut-up.
Yes, it’s much better now. I quit posting because of the childish thumbs down. Do a vote on the thumbs option.
Wouldn’t it be easier to vote for the thumbs option with thumbs? Likely the most “dislikers” would be the grammer police. Just a guess. Much cooler car than the 74 cutlass supreme i had.
Check it out! Who wiould drive it like this now? Or then for that matter….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJX11bxqnU8
Also see the Buick GS test
Cool, it’s a rare pretty car. I didn’t ever care for the padded roof, pimp style was popular in the early 70’s. Those grills my be hard to find.
Nessy 👍
Rock on Mr Rock On to thumbs up.
Also incorrect wheels
They look correct to me. Just missing the chrome trim ring and the chrome inserts. What do see wrong???
that makes them incorect
I’d like to get my hands around the throat of the guy who came up with the idea to drill holes in conspicuous places to mount those 70’s “alarm” lock tumblers. Often fake. Nice looking car nevertheless.
I remember vividly reading the Motor Trend article in 73, and in the closing paragraphs, after bemoaning the downturn of the performance car, stating that they were driving in the desert, at 100, and the pleasure it was to know there was 50 in reserve , also, put in a vote for ” thumbs” for me
I think the second photo is of an other car. Paint on the hood shines much more that the other photos and look at the wheels on the drivers side,different trim rings.
I like the car, and I like the thumbs. I don’t worry much about the thumbs down, after all some people are just disagreeable, but everybody is in entitled to their opinion. When talking horsepower, in 1973 the manufacturers switched from gross to net ratings so you can add 25 to 30% to those readings to get a apples to apples comparison. These cars still went pretty good, and could be improved with the same speed enhancing parts as earlier models, especially if you lived in a “non emissions” testing area. i.e. Not in CA.
Rusty tech, its your like cry day. Being a ’73, this Olds is no longer subject to smog checks here in good ol’ Commiefornia
I love this body style although this car is rare they also made a 442 that was pretty much the same car .Every time I see a cutlass like this I want one .I mean c’monwhats not to like about swivel buckets and a 455 or a 350 rocket for that matter.They are just all around nice cars.
In the 1980s in the military I knew a guy who had a Hurst Olds, later body style and cool car. Many of us are what the hell is that thing? It was my intro to that segment which I thought was cool.
I like this car and very cool today. I think it would turn a lot of heads. But back in the 70s and 80s I HATED this bloated body style. I thought it was pimp-ish. I went to high school with a guy who had this exact same body style (Non Hurst Olds,,) and while his was nice,, Oh God does this posting bring back memories. Mark had his lifted in the back with Air Shocks and big fat M50 tires, Cragars all the way around. I can still picture him today with his Fedora hat, Bell bottoms and he often wore a white scarf. In my head is the Ted Nugent and AC/DC blaring from the Pioneer 6×9 speakers in boxs in the back window shelf and the whiff of funny smelling cigarettes he sold out of the trunk. Damn, Its the 1970s all over again.
Thumb Up!
Nice story.
Anyone who wants to use thumbs up or down should just say it in their reply and use an f for a thumb as in fd for finger down or fu for finger- never mind
If you really must then why not use + and –
I’m the minority that liked the pre-thumb BF. It’s a bit of a take off on BaT with their “like counters”. Some people go out of their way to comment on practically ever post just to increase their counters. What you get then is a bunch of non-sense put on there just for the sake of posting. I go to these sights to learn and on occasion share my limited knowledge and personal experience in cars and bikes. Just my 2 cents…
I was wondering what happened to the thumbs up and down thing, now I know.
I have one 👍So Cali
Sweet! Very nice Marissa.
Cool car Marissa, Good for you. My wife has a 69 Chevelle project and at her job at a machine shop many of the guys are very jealous. You should be proud