Revivals are not a new automotive phenomenon. Oldsmobile proved this in 1983 when it launched the Hurst/Olds. The badge had disappeared at the end of 1979, but the company staged a last hurrah to satisfy buyer demand. This ’83 Hurst/Olds presents impressively and is loaded with factory options. However, its greatest strength could be its odometer reading, which is a documented 48,900 miles. It is a genuine survivor, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Tony P for spotting the Oldsmobile listed here on Craigslist in Prescott Valley, Arizona. The seller set their price at $34,900 for this beautiful survivor.
The revival of the Hurst/Olds badge in 1983 proved a masterstroke, with sales far exceeding Oldsmobile’s expectations. This car presents beautifully, finished in Black and Silver. That was the only color combination available, but it makes a striking visual statement. The car’s cause is aided by its condition, which is difficult to fault. The paint shines deeply, and the contrasting Red stripes and the Hurst/Olds decals are crisp. This is particularly noteworthy because Arizona’s climate can exact a high toll on vinyl. That location has also protected the Oldsmobile from rust, ensuring that this survivor is as solid as the day it left the line. The trim and glass look excellent, and the beautiful chrome Super Stock wheels look perfect.
Although considered a muscle car, the power and torque figures for the ’83 Hurst/Olds are quite modest. The 307ci “HO” V8 delivers 180hp and 245 ft/lbs, which feeds to the rear wheels via a four-speed TH200-4R automatic transmission. There weren’t many mechanical options, with every Hurst/Olds receiving power-assisted steering and brakes. It appears that the seller can verify their claimed odometer reading, and they include receipts confirming a recent transmission rebuild that lightened their wallet by $2,600. Although it isn’t specifically stated, I would expect any ’83 Hust/Olds within this price range to be a turnkey proposition. There is nothing in the images suggesting otherwise, so we must take that as read.
The Oldsmobile’s interior features the only aftermarket addition. Unsurprisingly, the original radio/cassette player is long gone, with a CD stereo occupying the empty spot. That isn’t the end of the world because genuine items frequently appear on the usual online auction sites and typically sell for affordable prices. Otherwise, the buyer receives a car equipped with ice-cold air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a six-way power driver’s seat, cruise control, a rear defogger, and a tilt wheel. The rich Red vinyl and cloth trim look excellent, with no visible wear. The carpet is spotless, perfectly protected by “H/O” floor mats. However, the star of the show is undoubtedly the Hurst “Lightning Rod” shifter. It looks complex, but it is surprisingly easy to use. Thieves often target these items, but this classic has avoided that fate.
Sometimes, the best-laid plans can fail to meet expectations, and the classic world is full of examples proving this. However, the 1983 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds is an exception, because while the company planned to produce 2,500 examples, intense buyer demand saw that figure rise to 3,001. Manufacturers rarely like surprises, but company management certainly welcomed this one. This Hurst/Olds presents beautifully, justifying what recent successful sales suggest is a realistic price. It is also worth remembering that values are slowly climbing, suggesting that it could potentially be a solid long-term investment prospect. Only time will tell, but would you roll the dice by parking this gem in your garage?
I had one of these back in the early 90’s. It was a nice driving car, but the Olds 307 was not impressive. It couldn’t beat my dog with a full bladder, but it did run well. I think I paid $3500 for it back then.
35K can’t even touch that nostalgia there KHayes.
Priceless
The tachometer indicates ~2,400 RPM and the oil pressure is ~60 PSI when the car isn’t running. What other issues will a new owner have to troubleshoot?
I remember the Tachs on a number of GM cars back then wouldn’t go back to zero when you shut them down, not until you put the key back to On.
Nice Olds!!
Looks like a clean H/O. These, all GM G body cars, are nice driving and not overly complicated so one can easily maintain and use as a daily driver if so desired. I remember pulling up to a stoplight next to a silver ’84 in my dad’s intercooled Turbo Regal in the late 1990s. The driver of the H/O got an A for effort, but the turbo 3.8 annihilated the Olds, and it was not really even close. So long as one knows that you’re not going to be ripping stoplight to stoplight in one of these, it’ll still be a capable and fun cruiser. Maybe a bit high on the price, but if everything works and the undercarriage looks as clean as the rest of the car, I don’t think the seller is too far off. The one thing I don’t get, the seller takes pics of the car on a lift, but no pics of underneath the car while on the lift.
Install a 70 310 horse 350, paint it black like these engines are and have some fun…