Many enthusiasts searching for a classic to park in their garage will look favorably upon those from dry regions. There is a danger that UV exposure will bake paint and interior trim, but it offers an excellent chance that their new purchase will be rust-free. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Tony P for spotting this 1979 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds W-30 because, with it located in East Valley, Arizona, it appears to be as solid as the day it left the factory. The seller has listed the Olds here on Craigslist with an asking price of $20,500.
After a three-year absence from the market, Oldsmobile released a new Hurst/Olds for the 1979 model year. It based its latest offering on the Cutlass Calais, offering buyers a choice of two color combinations. Of the 2,499 cars produced, 1,334 buyers selected Ebony Black with Gold, while 1,165 chose Cameo White and Gold. The seller confirms that our feature car received a high-end repaint in its original combo, but not when this occurred. However, the lack of flaws and deterioration suggest it has led a sheltered life since the work ended. There is no evidence of patchiness or checking due to UV exposure, and the panels are laser-straight. The seller doesn’t mention past or existing rust issues, and I would be surprised if there are any since this Olds has spent its life in its current location. The glass and trim are impressive for their age, with the same true of the beautiful Super Stock III wheels.
Oldsmobile followed a single drivetrain combination for the 1979 Hurst/Olds, equipping every car with a 350ci V8, a three-speed TH-350 automatic transmission, and power-assisted steering and brakes. It is worth noting that although it is classified as a muscle car, this Olds emerged during the height of The Malaise Era. Therefore, the power and torque figures of 170hp and 275 ft/lbs aligned with buyer expectations for the period. However, the Hurst/Olds lacked nothing in city traffic and could cruise all day on the open road with the needle pegged at 70mph. The seller states that the transmission is freshly rebuilt and that the vehicle features a new exhaust and new tires. The car has 86,000 miles on its odometer, running and driving perfectly. That makes it a turnkey proposition for its new owner.
Scrolling through the supplied photos reveals an interior that is a surprise packet for a car of this vintage that has spent its life in Arizona. It hasn’t become baked or sun-rotted, and there are no aftermarket additions. It isn’t perfect, with the console lid warped, a mark on the passenger seat, and the rearview mirror residing on the floor. However, there are no rips or tears in the cloth or vinyl, the carpet is in good condition, and the car retains its distinctive Dual-Gate Hurst shifter. The buyer receives an interior equipped with air conditioning, a tilt wheel, a remote driver’s mirror, a functioning clock, and an AM radio. The limited photos make it impossible to tell whether the list extends to power assistance for the windows or locks, although I suspect that the windows might be.
The supplies photos in the seller’s listing suggest that this 1979 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds W-30 needs nothing, and is ideal for enthusiasts seeking a high-end driver that can provide immediate motoring enjoyment. The price sits at the top end of the market, and it will be fascinating to not only gauge whether you feel the figure is justified but also whether we have readers who might consider pursuing this Olds further. It has only been on the market for a few hours, and it will be interesting to see how quickly it finds a new home.
Unfortunately with the bottom falling out of the collector car market (along with cars in general really), this’ll be a tough sell at the ask.
It’ll be interesting to see how things shake out. We’re coming off a long heyday of collector vehicle values, which seemed like they’d never stop climbing. That is changing fast, as any of us who’ve tried to sell anything lately can attest, LOL! Bad if you own and want to sell. Probably good if you want to acquire something, though right now, I’d wait.
So, 2001 Lexus, you say the bottom is falling out of the collector car market. Are you Howard with yet another new moniker? With all due respect to Howard, I jest because Howard has been beating that drum for a long time, but I just don’t see it.
15 years ago, 15K would buy a super nice example of most old classics, save for the usual high-dollar cars like a 63 splitty and the high-dollar Euro cars. Now, these jokers want 15K for a 63 Montclair with rust, or a VW Microbus that needs restored.
I have my CL and FB feeds dialed to old cars under 10K, and you wouldn’t believe the junk they want 10K for. From what I see, the classic car market is not tanking whatsoever.
Send me some of these cheap listings!
LOL no, not Howard. I just know what I see. I see asking prices still high, of course, but things are not selling. This tells me a price adjustment will be coming.
To be fair, it’s not really just classic cars. It’s pretty much across-the-board. I think a lot of this has to do with high interest rates. Some of it has to do with a hangover from the frenzied days of the pandemic and its huge markups.
I kind of agree with both sentiments. According to the asking prices we are seeing, the market is as strong as ever, but according to completed sales, the market is definitely depressed from where it was. I think that seeing the collector car market as “strong” is something akin to smoke and mirrors. The price are so unrealistic that it gives the impression of a robust market.
Nice car, very clean & no noticeable interior damage. Mirror on the floor? No big deal & as long as it is off, put in a 2nd generation auto dimming one.
I notice there appears to be a power window switch hiding behind the steering column but I don’t think it has p/l or maybe they’re hiding behind the wheel.
Clean underhood & appears to need nothing more than a detail.
I’d shoot for $15k.
Good looking cars. And pretty great performing cars for 79′ too.
Dr Olds delivers again. 🏁
While I will readily admit that this is a fairly pleasant looking automobile, I’m afraid that the only thing “Dr. Olds” delivered was a car that would struggle with a well-tuned Pinto. Still, this thing would make a fairly nice Sunday cruiser as long as one didn’t let the W-30 decals transport them back to 1970 when the W-30 442s were a force to be reckoned with. (Oh, I almost forgot, it is priced optimistically to put it mildly.)
Nice find Primo.
How is this a 442 again? Maybe a four barrel carburetor and dual exhaust and what else? Well it’s got four tires. The front drive Olds Calais that was rebadged as a 442 could at least claim four cylinders, four valves per cylinder and dual overhead cams. That engine for all its problems was some advanced engineering. This? It’s cool kind of but not 25000 dollars cool. JMO
The car is not a 442. It is a Hurst Olds.
As a 2 time 1979 Olds Cutlass Calais owner (first car and current car) I consider myself a semi-expert on these, and my critical eye noticed a few things that should discount this unit from the high end of the market price. First, the wheels are wrong for a 79 Hurst Olds. It should have unique 5 spoke gold tone cast aluminum wheels, rather than the Olds SSIIIs that are on it. The repaint is two-tone, but there should be a parallel gold stripe on each of the gold panels (small stripe separated from the gold by a small strip of white. There should also be a gold accent stripe that follows the body line on the rear quarters. There should be Olds rocket medallions behind the front wheel wells. The interior has been redone, and not particularly well. The fabric is similar, but not the original pattern, and the black faux suede on the sides should be camel vinyl. There should also be chrome trim around the plastic seatbacks and a chrome strip in the middle (top to bottom) of the console running front to back. There are “unobtanium” pieces missing from the interior trim – the plastic covers for the ends of the door pull strap, and there should be chrome Cutlass Calais script below the door pull straps in the velour panel. The dash, especially the instrument surround, are notorious for cracking on these. I believe there is a crack just below the AC vent in picture 4 (on Craigslist), but the other pictures conveniently have that area behind the steering wheel, and most of the dash is hidden behind the pillars in other pics. The good news is there are decent dash covers available (not carpet, but solid type) and non-cracked instrument surrounds can be found on-line and repainted. The car does look like an original 79 Hurst Olds, the engine is definitely an Olds (the other engines in the Calais that year were diesels or 305 Chevy), and the front nose badge and hood ornament are the correct ones for a Hurst. I note the heater core is disconnected, so it must have had a leak. The heater core is actually an easy fix on these cars – you don’t have to pull the engine or the dash, so kinda silly that they haven’t fixed something that easy. The missing interior trim pieces may take some time to find in junkyards or on-line surfing. Some of these parts are starting to become more available in the aftermarket, so maybe repops will be available soon. The original pattern upholstery is not available, but a closer match with the correct colored side panels can be bought on-line now, and all vinyl and all leather in the original stitching is also available. It is a generally nice looking 79 Hurst Olds, but it is not pristine and needs some work to get it closer to “right” (assuming that’s what someone wants. Price is definitely on the high side, and the lack of the original “special” Hurst Olds wheels will be a huge deduction for the vast majority of Oldsmobile guys and gals who would be the typical buyers.
Wow! Good eyes DGMinGa. I also have 1978 Cutlass Supreme that I still have since brand new and similar to this one, except mine is Carmine red on white. Also notice the trunk lid gold paint straight from left to right. It should have a border line around with two strip lines like the ones you described on the body paint. The seller calls it professional paint.
I believe these and elCaminos were the only new A-bodies to offer a 350 V8. Unless you can somehow count the diesel.
Nothing that DGMinGA says above bothers me. What DOES bother me is that
Hurst & a stand up hood ornament & a formal rear roofline should not be seen together!