Despite this plain white specimen’s low-key appearance, nobody bought a Hurst/Olds as a sleeper. These white and gold beauties flaunted their performance intentions for all to see. If it checks out, this 1972 Hurst Oldsmobile in Medina, Ohio stands as one of 633 total Hurst/Olds from ’72 and one of 220 sunroof-equipped units. Developed by Hurst Performance and not Oldsmobile, the 1972 Hurst/Olds served as the official pace car for the Indianapolis 500. This one’s lost its original 455 engine, but another 1972 model year 455 rests on the motor mounts today. Thanks to HurstOlds for some details and to reader Ed for submitting the tip on this rare muscle car.
The retractable metal panel sunroof gives a partial open-air driving experience without the maintenance, sealing, noise, and structural compromises of a convertible. Picture a convertible with the top down and the doors open and it’s easy to see why having the car’s front connected to the rear only through the floor pan and frame or sub-frame creates unwanted flex and vibrations.
The seller provides no documentation to authenticate a Hurst/Olds, but sometimes that’s done to avoid your listing becoming the basis for copy-and-paste fakers. What looks like a white-painted brown passenger door adds to the mystery. Of course Hurst fitted one of their famous shifters to all Hurst/Olds vehicles.
Part of the fun on this needs-everything project car includes locating, attaching, and making operational all accessories including air conditioning before pronouncing this Oldsmobile finished. All Hurst cars came with a 455 cubic inch (7.5L) V8, either the standard W45 code L75 four-barrel reportedly fitted to this car or the hotter W46 code L77 455 when combined with the W-30 performance package.
The Cutlass-based Hurst/Olds came as either convertible or this Holiday Coupe hardtop body style. Olds still produced a fastback Cutlass in ’72. See more pictures and details in the listing here on Craigslist. The $13,500 asking price buys a ticket for a long journey to perfection. That said, we’ve seen far worse starting points in that price range. Do you think this is a real Hurst/Olds?
Hotrod from the good Dr’s laboratory in 72′ Dual-gate shifter equipped.
Fitch, wouldn’t the Hurst high performance models come standard w a posi-traction diff ?
You would think so, but not even the FE2 suspension was standard.
I wonder if that sunroof was available on a Cutlass Supreme or not. My guess is no, they only were made for the Hurst conversion. I could certainly be wrong, though, and the guys from the Olds forum will probably point this out.
Looks like an aftermarket Skytop Brand sunroof
Not for nothing but this is just a big mess!!! I never understood why people take the whole car apart and decide that they cant follow through.. I would work on one thing at a time. Hard pass on this my opinion…
I used to get disassembled cars in all the time; either to be scrapped, or to be repaired and reassembled. The latter virtually never occurred due to the high cost of putting a car puzzle together while charging shop rate.
I call them Lefty Lucy “Mechanics”. They only know how to remove parts, having not mastered flipping the ratchet over to Righty Tighty mode.
The seller also has a nice looking 455-powered ’71 Ninety-Eight coupe for sale on Craigslist. Just click “more ads by this user” in the H/O CL ad.
Loaded with options like factory dual exhaust, posi, F41 suspension, tilt-tele, power windows, locks seats, cruise, automatic climate control/AC. Twice the car this H/O is at half the price.
Would you be willing to take 5,000 for the whole car
I’d rather have a convert.