When it comes to performance upgrades, few brands are as easily recognizable as Hurst. The company became famous for their trick shifters and performance upgrades in the mid ’60s. The seller of this 1966 Pontiac Bonneville Station Wagon claims this car was ordered by Hurst and has many early Hurst components on it. The seller is having medical problems and needs to move the car. Find it here on eBay with a BIN of $12,750 and the option to make an offer.
According to the seller, it was ordered and used by George Hurst and Bill Campbell before the two parted ways. When the two founders split, Mr. Campbell got this wagon and somehow the car made its way into storage. It was a very well optioned car and still has its Hurst shifter. They claim the shifter is either a prototype or a very early version of Hurst’s His/Her shifter. The interior looks original and solid, but there are a few tears in the seats. For a big family wagon, the interior looks surprisingly sporty.
To hurtle this big wagon down the road, Pontiac stuffed their 325 hp 389 V8 under the hood. This was the same engine found in the GTO, but without some of the performance goodies. Sadly, this car came with the three speed slush box, but hopefully the Hurst shifter helps make it a bit more fun to drive. The seller claims the engine is running and that it still drives. We would be tempted to have this engine upgraded to GTO specification.
We aren’t sure if this car really is the one owned by Hurst, but the seller has lots of documentation that could prove it was. Either way it has plenty of rare Hurst parts that are worth quite a bit. It might just be us, but if Pontiac had ever built a GTO wagon, we imagine this is what it would have looked like. If you’ve dreamed of a GTO wagon this is probably as close as you’ll ever get. While it’s not as fast as a GTO, you couldn’t ever haul the whole family in a Goat like you can in this wagon. If this were your wagon, what would you do with it? Would you leave it as is, restore it, or modify it into your own GTO Wagon?
The seller had his chance to convince me and he didn’t.
A wagon with a stick. I think it’s pretty cool, you would have to restore it , it looks like some rust holes on the rear quarter up by the glass, this rust as well as the rust in the jambs need to be addressed, so your talking a complete paint, here. As for the mech maybe a good rebuild.
I was building a 65 tempest/safari/ gto wagon last year but had to sell for financial reasons, this bonny nicer then my tempest but gto was built on tempest’s a body, not the full size, anyway its cool leave it as is cause its one of…
First you state that “This is the same engine as found in GTO.”and that’s correct. Then you state that “you would add the same performance equipment as found on the GTO.” GTOs came with this exact 325hp 4engine barrel engine. The only difference was chrome valve covers, and chrome low-restriction air filter. With a tr-power, the engine was rated @360hp.
It’s only an auto stick…….not a stick/stick.
OK didn’t realize it was auto but still cool & yes these were full size not mid size like the GTO.
still you never saw these with a floor mounted shift.
And it’s not what I’d call a slush box…….the 2nd year for the T400 in the big (B body) GM’s was certainly a tough nut to crack.
That wagon is as cool as it gets. I could just picture Steve and Uncle Charlie pullin Robbie’s GTO out to the track with Chip and Ernie in the back!
Maybe Linda Vaughn owned it?
It would make a nice MONKEEMOBILE.
Maybe, if Linda Vaughn came with it.
We had the Tempest Wagon with the 326 V8 and I still recall many runs down the interstate and straighter roads around Charleston WV with indicated dpeeds north of 125mph. That was on the regular bias ply tires of the day. But a friend’s dad had the ultimate Pontiac wagon. It was a Bonneville 421 with the Hurst 4 speed. How I long for the days of Sunoco 360 gas @ $0.39 a gallon, or trips to general aviation to get Av Gas.
There was a guy in my GA hometown about 6 years back that had a similar wagon, except his was fire-engine red and equipped with a factory 421 tri-power with a 4-speed and a front bench seat. He claimed it was 1 of 6 equipped like that in 1965 (maybe ’66?). Immaculate car and I only saw it a couple of times at the NAPA I was working at back then.
Love the wagons!
Oldsmobile made a “HURST” vista cruiser wagon w/455, used the TH400. I think it was 69′-70′.
Cool wagon. The Hurst logo sure seems fresh compared to the rest of the cars paint.
~ have i ever seen a wagon (besides a funeral coach) with a vinyl roof? not that i can remember. love the Chief Pontiac high-beam indicator. tin indians rule.
My grandparents had a 69 Bonneville wagon. Dark metallic brown/tan interior and a black vinyl top from the factory. Maybe it was a Pontiac “deal” back in the 60’s-)
Pontiac did make a GTO Wagon in ’70. As a joke on the line made 2 1/2 GTO Wagons before getting caught. What happened to them is a mystery.
This same wagon has been offered twice before with the same photos and some of the same text, once last year on eBay, and once on a site called localcarsale for a small fraction of the price in this eBay listing.
I’m with Charles—-too bad the seller didn’t include scans or photos of some of the documentation he talks about having. Maybe the claims of documentation without evidence of it has worked against a sale of the car.
Looks like someone made an offer of $9,500 and they accepted it.
I think some of you think this was bought as a Hurst car, but it is just a Bonnie wagon that they painted the Hurst colors, installed some of their products, and put the sticker on. This car was used to haul the display they used to show their products at all of the national events. It probably has a bunch of miles on it. That is why it is in ruff shape inside. To the crew that sat in the booth during the events it was just a company car. It is still a sort of Icon, cause we all saw it at which ever track we went to. You could take your old shifter to them during a race, and they would rebuild it right there. I’m sure it would make a great vehicle to tow your race car with. the top looks a little scary rust wise and there are no close pics of the top, jmo
I can validate this was a Hurst car. When my dad, Bill Campbell, left his association with George, he bought the car out of the company and it was our family car. I learned to drive on it. When dad bought my mom a new 1970 Pontiac wagon, he gave this to my cousin. From there it went to my dad’s shop manager, then was sold away from our family connections. I would love to know where the car is today.
The car was / is for sale. You know what you can do? Get hold of them and ask where it is today.
That is easy you know man. :-)
This one is gone!!!!!!
Wonderfully evocative, looks like something out of an episode of Thunderbirds.
The car is now located at Helger Brothers Speed Shop in Little Compton, Rhode Island. Ray Helger got it running. It is in need of restoration.