The Hurst/Olds was a performance/trim package on the Oldsmobile Cutlass. Through a partnership with Hurst Corp., the Hurst/Olds was offered sporadically between 1968 and 1984. The last iteration was in 1983/84 based on the Cutlass Supreme. These cars were noted for their complicated “Lightning Rod” shifters provided by Hurst. The seller’s low mileage ’84 is in great condition and is one of 3,500 made in the last year of the Hurst/Olds association. Located in Eugene, Oregon, this one looks like a solid survivor with plenty of life left. It’s available here on craigslist for $29,500.
When the Hurst/Olds returned in 1983, they were all finished in black paint with grey and red accents. For the encore year in 1984, the main color was reversed to grey, using black and red accents. For the era, performance was decent with a 307 cubic inch V8 that produced 180 hp SAE net along with 245 lb-ft of torque. The transmission was a TH200-4R 4-speed automatic transmission using Hurst’s “Lightning Rods” shifter. With three levers involved, the driver could switch to manual shifting if desired.
Though 3,500 of these cars were built in 1984, the seller says only 1,500 had T-Tops, which applies to this example. We suspect this is a two-owner car, and the original owner was female and she took very good care of it, adding most of its 41,000 odometer miles. Though the seller says it’s “not perfect,” it looks sweet enough to impress anyone in the Cars & Coffee crowd. There is no mention of any repairs done or needed, so we assume this is a turn-key driver, the way it sits.
While the seller would prefer cash ($29,500 is firm), a partial trade might be considered. This would need to consist of a 1975-81 Pontiac Firebird or Chevrolet Camaro, or a Chevy El Camino from 1978-87. He/she will only allow $10,500 against the cash sale for one of these cars, which may likely need some work for that amount of money. If you happen to have one of these you can part with, hit the seller up.
Told this story before but…One of these smoked our stock 89LX 5.0 in a lite to lite..🚥 match-up 😲 So at the next lite i found out why…he told me..built 350🏁
It’s too bad the good Dr. Olds didn’t drop a healthy Olds 350 in these from the get go Stan.That would’ve been nice.
The 1979 Hurst/Olds came with a 350. The 1980 442 could have a 350 or the 260 CID V8.
After that the 307 was the largest you could get.
I guess they didn’t have any left and didn’t want to cast something different. The 307 had a smaller bore and probably was thinner-walled. The 403 would have worked, too, but that had been discontinued as well.
From Wiki:
“The LG8 was a modern 307 cu in (5.0 L) High-Output derivative of the LV2 produced from 1983 to 1987. Performance modifications included a “hot” camshaft (in reality, just a camshaft used in various applications during the ’70s with .440″/.440″ lift and 196°/208° duration at .050″), stiffer valve springs, a larger vibration damper (same as all ’73-’79 350s, 403s, and 455s), a Y-pipe dual-outlet exhaust system, and richer secondary metering rods in the carburetor. It was offered in the Hurst/Olds version of the Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais and in the 4-4-2 version of the Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon. Output for 1983-1985 was 180 hp (134 kW) and 245 lb⋅ft (332 N⋅m). Revisions to the engine for 1986 included roller lifters with a slightly smaller camshaft (.435″/.438″ lift and 194°/210° duration at .050″), new heads with smaller, swirl-port intake runners, floating piston pins, and larger piston dishes for lower compression (8.0:1 v. 8.4:1). These changes increased torque to 250 lb⋅ft (339 N⋅m) but lowered power to 170 hp (130 kW), while lowering the RPM at which peak power and torque was achieved.”
The 307 was not Olds’ shining moment, even in the context of the times. The contemporary Monte Carlo SS with the L69 305 H.O. was faster, and the pre intercooled Buick Regal 3.8 turbos were way faster.
But a 350 would have been impossible by the time this came out due to CAFE and emissions regulations. So they had to make do with the 307. To the 307’s credit, I believe it has the distinction of being the last carbureted American engine.
If Oldmobile was going to make a Hurst Olds, at least put an engine in the thing to go along with all the cosmetics. “Lightning” shifters? Not when there’s a slug under the hood.
Anytime I see one of these I’m gonna nitpick so here I go.
While these are Old Culass cars, they were all made on the Calais trim level. That option gave you bucket seats, console, sport steering wheel, gauges with tachometer etc. Only exception to this generation is the 1987 442’s that were based on the Supreme. Otherwise the 79 and 83-84 H/O’s and 85-86 442’s were all Calais models.
This does look to be a mostly original car. I noticed the red pinstripe is missing from the wheel lip, but wheels appear to be the correct 15 in ones.
As far as T-tops go, even GM didn’t keep exact numbers on how many were made with them. I feel sure at least half the total number built were equipped because most of those cars were decently loaded with options.
Asking price reflects closer to a near perfect instead of not perfect car so seller is a little optimistic I’d say, but it shouldn’t take much to get this one to a higher level.
Every Hurst/Olds ever made was an automatic. Go figure…
I figure its because Hurst made automatic dual gate and Lightening Rod “Street & Strip” shifters which they were trying to promote with these cars.
looks good and price seems fair. needs some tlc
I owned one of these about 14 years ago. Nice cruiser, good looking and comfortable, but not a street terror by any means. Sold it after about a year for 12k. After the improvements I made, I really didn’t make a profit, but it was another interesting car to own. All that aside, I really do not see this car bringing the asking price. It is worth what someone is willing to pay, but I just don’t see 29k.