By 1979, most auto enthusiasts realized that the fastest new cars plainly lacked the punch of the best you could buy ten years earlier. However, if you wanted a new car, something sporty and Cutlass-ish, this Hurst Olds looked pretty sharp, and performed well against its contemporaries. Thanks to Rocco B. for spotting this 1979 Hurst Olds W30 in Derby, Connecticut offered here on New Haven, Connecticut craigslist.
This tidy interior supports the seller’s assertion that this Oldsmobile covered a modest 74,418 miles during its 38 years on planet Earth. With no ready source of replacement parts, a clean and complete interior should rate highly among potential buyers. This one shows some rust, but nothing too heinous for a New England car from the ’70s.
No Hurst Oldsmobile would be complete without the Hurst shifter. This one gets the so-called “His and Hers” shifter with a traditional PRNDSL gate and another for manual shifting when things get serious.
The W30 package sweetened the pot with the 350 cid Oldsmobile V8, an engine not available in any other Cutlass in ’79, or any GM A Body for that matter (thanks to hemmings.com for some details). Making 170 HP and a respectable 275 lb-ft of torque, this W30 accomplished 0 to 60 MPH in 9.5 seconds. A rebuild could yield more impressive numbers, but with fewer than 3000 built, those remaining should probably retain their stock appearance. Ten years ago, folks scoffed when the prior generation Colonnade Hurst Olds crept over the asking price of this one, $3500, and anyone with some patience and room to store this ’79 probably won’t regret it. But that’s just my opinion. What do you think of this 350 Rocket-powered, Hurst-shifted W30?
Not so bad, just watch the rear frame, as they are prone to rusting out, causing the bumper ro sag.
Too late! This one has the tell tale sign of the broken body mount bolt into the trunk on the drivers side. Won’t be long til it snaps behind the wheel. Seller took pictures underneath, just not of anything useful.
Definitely agree with you Todd about maintaining the stock appearance of the engine. But the internal parts are a whole other ballgame!!!
A sad, tired, leftover from the days when American car quality was near its lowest point. The fact that it is even in the shape it is, tells you it was handled carefully for a long time.
A nice reminder of the era, and something to gaze back on and wonder….Why?
Er, not “ro sag…” to sag…and yes, most of the 70s were dark days for the General….
I like it but I had a 78 cutlas back in the day !
I know the late 70s were a waste
on performance with low ponies :-(
If I had the room would rehab the body with the welder and go back with black where it’s painted white and keep the gold ! Then swap the intake and carb and beef up exhaust and possible forged pistons !
I had a 79 Cutlass Brougham that covered 178,000 without and issue and then died. If I could find a decent car like it, I’d buy it even though I have no more room.
As a child I knew Jack “Doc” Watson the Father of the Hurst Olds (friend of his son) He was a great brilliant man and brought great things to the automotive world
I will always love those Hurst Old’s no matter what year
In 1979 this wasn’t too shabby, which ain’t sayin’ much. Cars like this for me are a reminder of how much automobiles have improved since then. They are also a reminder of what can happen when the automotive industry gets over regulated by big brother too quickly. 🚽
Yeah things like improving mileage, pollution reduction and better safety features. Pfffft. Who needs those?
My cousins friend had one of these his parents bought for him in 1979 when he was 17. His was black and gold with black vinyl interior. I remember sitting in the back seat getting a ride in it weeks after he got it. He destroyed that car with in a couple years. It ended up getting stolen and all the hurst stuff was taken along with the wheels. The last time I saw it it was rusted sitting on four black steel wheels with flat tires. This is why kids should have beaters as first cars.
Not at all the price is right
I agree with the person who said if he could find another one he’d buy it. Join the club. I had a 79 that died with 168,000 miles and wish i could find another one.