Even if the Malaise era of automobiles hadn’t quite arrived by 1975, it was just around the corner, making it all the more amazing that cars like the Hurst/Olds still existed. The Hurst association with Oldsmobile dates back to 1968, and while it was an on-again, off-again relationship, each incarnation excelled in offering buyers something fun and exciting. 1975 marked the first year the H/O came with T-Tops, or the “Hurst/Hatch” as these detachable glass panels were officially dubbed. The seller here calls his car a true survivor, and it’s a real beauty. Located in Lumber Bridge, North Carolina, this one can be found here on Hagerty, where the current high bid is resting at $13,750.
T.J., thanks a lot for your excellent tip here! In 1975, buyers could choose either a 350-powered H/O known as the W25, or instead step up to the 455, designated as a W30. This one’s the former, with the small block receiving a factory horsepower rating of 170. While this was a far cry from the output of the Hurst/Olds in its heyday, this was to be expected, as by now, EPA concerns were a front-burner subject. For the first time, catalytic converters were required on all U.S. vehicles in ’75, with the Hurst/Olds now originally coming with just a single exhaust. Although the ad lists TMU (True Mileage Unknown) under the mileage of 89,600, the seller clarifies in the comments that this number is accurate.
The seller reports that he’s owned this Olds for the past seven years, and describes it as an unmodified, preserved true survivor. The white paint is said to be the original factory finish, and the car still looks beautiful outside from almost every angle. The H/O also featured a louvered hood, tasteful gold trim, and gold rally wheels. One unusual feature here is the lack of a half vinyl top, as I seem to remember most of these cars had this material covering the rear section of the roof. A couple of comments in the Hagerty ad seem to suggest that at least some potential buyers question the authenticity of this one, given the nonexistent vinyl, so I’d be curious to hear what our readers have to say about this detail.
Considering this Oldsmobile is 50 years old, most of the inside components are still in very good condition overall, with an aftermarket Stereo being the only obvious non-factory item I spotted in the dash. This one appears very solid all the way around, and, in my opinion, certainly one of the finer offerings from the GM Colonnade era. Is this 1975 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds W-25 one you’d be interested in acquiring?
The malaise era had arrived in ’75 due to the unleaded only fuel and catalytic converter requirements. I had a Dodge Dart of that year that was definitely detuned for unleaded only. I suspect, so is this Olds. So don’t expect neck snapping performance. Fun fact, cats and unleaded were not required in trucks heavier than a half ton, yet.
Remove the cat, decent exhaust, richer fuel curve and a little more spark advance and you won’t care it’s a 1975 car. Nice Collanade here…
I notice it already has dual exhaust so converter is probably gone. Olds 350 is a great engine with plenty of power.
Very strong bids for a car that takes nearly 12 seconds to reach 60 mph. But I guess there’s nostalgia coupled with exclusivity and rarity. There’s something about a Hurst badged car regardless of how slow it is.
No tach in a “Performance Car”!!!!!
I used to own a 76′ Trans Am which had the federal emissions…no catalytic converter,no smog pump,true dual exhaust…the Z code 400…you could still get a non catalytic converter vehicle in 75’…it just wasn’t California compliant.
@ Cforce…..please produce the alleged Fed. edict which authorized such a violation!
VIN lookup says Cutlass Supreme. Is that a Hurst shifter?
What’s your point? All 1975 H/Os were built on the Supreme platform and carried Supreme VINs.
these were all done on the supreme style body and has hurst dual gate shifters in them. looks as though the padded top was not put back and it’s missing the factory sport steering wheel. these normally sell for around 20-30k for a nice 1. the olds dealer i worked for had 2 of these he always had me doing thing on them for him. cool for what they are.
I’m curious what the black knob-like things are on the seat cushions? And was the gold upholstery factory?
Look like cushions for a short driver and passenger.
The gold is not a factory choice. It was black cloth or white vinyl from the factory. The black knob things are snaps for the seat cushions to help keep them in place
The seats cushions were reversable from one side to the other.
All 75 HOs, were based on the Cutlass Supreme body. Several lnterior colors were available with the white vinyl swivel buckets. I have seen red, black and tan, saddle for the reversible seat cushions and carpet. All 75 were either painted white or black with either white or black half vinyl roofs. 2,535 built, to date, the highest number of HO production, but you rarely see one. The beautiful four spoke steering wheel was optional. Otherwise you got a black vinyl wheel with Olds rocket emblem in the middle. All came with Hurst dual gates and the then ahead of its time, digital tach was optional, sat mounted in front of console. Today, they are very expensive if you can find one.
So George, is the upholstery here the “saddle” color you mention? And did they all have reversible seat cushions? I was not aware of any car that had reversible cushions except for the Packard Caribbean in the mid-50s. If they are, in fact, reversible, then are those black knob things just the handles to grip to remove the cushions?
Of all the Hurst Olds made this was my favourite year.I’m not big on stripes all over the place and this was the most subdued of them all.Also i’m a bit of a colonade fan as i grew up in the malaise era and those were my cars.
the cushions were reversable but i don’t think they came in gold but could be wrong. i have never seen them in gold. black does look better
Ended at $15,250.
Reserve Not Met.
25 bids.