Collaboration between Hurst Performance and Oldsmobile began in 1968, and the Hurst name and gold trim generally effect a Midas Touch, adding value to Hurst Oldsmobiles as well as style. This Cutlass-based 1979 Hurst/Olds W-30 emerged from 20 years of storage and now seeks a new owner here on eBay. According to the seller, Oldsmobile made 2,499 Hurst/Olds in 1979, and this example in Clinton, Iowa is one of only 537 sporting T-tops.
Some cosmetic rust spots blemish a largely original and clean-looking body. The listing states that the underside of the car is solid. Not only that, but the engine reportedly “fires right up… test drove around the block.” The gold-painted aluminum wheels were part of the package, along with H/O badges.
Owners rarely praise General Motors interior materials of this era for their longevity, but this one seems to have weathered the decades rather well. Interesting details include the Hurst dual-gate “His ‘n’ Hers” shifter, tilt-wheel, air conditioning, cruise control, and power windows. Check out Hemmings.com for more details and a pristine example of the 1979 Hurst/Olds.
In prior years, “W-30” indicated a 455 cid engine and “W-25” denoted the 350 cid mill. The 455 vanished from the Cutlass lineup after 1976, but this 1979 W30 featured the L34 Oldsmobile 350 cid V8 engine, the only GM G-body to offer a 350 V8 in 1979 (thanks to wikipedia.org for some details). Even when fully detailed, the ’79 L34 looks about like every other mid-’70s to mid-’80s GM engine compartment, but at least Hurst/Olds owners knew they had the upper hand at the “Stop-Light Gran Prix” vs. any other G-body that year. All things being equal, the word “Hurst” normally adorns the the most valuable Oldsmobile of a given year. How much gold would you trade for this one?
5-6k probably. I like these but probably the least desirable H/P. I’d also drive it as is because it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to restore it.
It’s hard to put much faith in the condition of a 40 year old car coming out of Illinois where the ad avoids pictures of rust prone areas and the entire description of the body states, “The underside of the car is solid”.
Steve R
Corrupt state
Well then you should be very happy for once Steve as this car is not even in Illinois! ITS IN IOWA! Land of corn ,sunflowers and the almighty I-80 truck stop! Lol.
I don’t mean to be “that guy” Todd, but there is no such thing as a T- top on a Hurst/Olds. There are referred to as Hurst Hatches.
http://www.firebirdtransamparts.com/techinfo/ttops/hurst.htm
And yet, right in the article you posted the link to it actually says…..
“Hurst Hatch Tech
If you’ve got Hurst t-tops, visit these other pages! We’re your one-stop shop for”
Its a miracle!!! I can read!!!! Lol
Thanks, Jack M. Corrections always welcome! Some of these posts become lengthy archives of information, so we should get it right whenever possible.
Anyone remember those three crazy lightning rod shifters in the 1983 and 84 Hurst Olds?
I do. Had an 84 H/O. It drove nicely, shifted hard, and was a very cool car back in the day, but the constant jamming of those Lightning Rods, 2 failures of the 200-R-4 transmission, a blocked catalytic converter, and a host of other issues really killed the joy.
Not GM’s glory days!
A fond memory of one of these cars..I worked at a dealership after school as a kid, a salesman told me to go up the street to put a couple gallons of gas in it. I remember it clearly silver and black,tops off and just detailed to be handed over to the new owner next day. Well…I decided to swing thru the neighborhood looking for ANY one of my friends. I did and as was tryin to look cool I took the corner too tight. Over the curb in to a mailbox…I liked that job too.LOL
Unless storage is considered sitting in someones uncovered driveway for 20 years, this flipper is full of you know what. This thing sat in a driveway for 20 years in my hometown.
A seller that considers the word “solid” as an appropriate, but meaningless word to describe the car, sitting in a driveway for years would be considered storage.
Steve R
Olds had a BIG problem with rear bumpers in this generation of Cutlass.
This rear bumper is one Michigan pothole and Rail Road crossing from falling off.
I owned an ’80…although a nice looking car, too many other problems followed the bumpers…PASS.
Would make a nice fair weather cruiser, a shadow of the former 442s yet still a unique and cool car. The price is far more than I’d spend on it, but at half the asking it would be a nice entry into the hobby for someone.
Whatever you want to call the tops, sooner or later they are going to leak on you!
Guy way back in high school lost one of these playing chicken on a highway near school. Four very lucky fools were made before the first bell rang that morning.