While General Motors was focusing on its new Colonnade body styling for 1973, the folks at Hurst were also busy figuring out how to make it better, at least for the Oldsmobile division. Just under 1,100 examples of the Hurst/Olds were produced for the ‘73 model year, so it’s a bit of a rarity, with this one here on eBay scoring some positives in the mechanical department. Not as encouraging is the body, which will require a few rust repairs for the next owner to contend with. However, this cool Olds is mostly complete, and probably well worth the effort needed to make it look like new again. This H/O is located in Miami, Florida, and can be purchased now for $6,900, but the seller is also willing to listen to offers.
Of the Colonnade-era Hurst/Olds offerings, only the 1973 model came standard with a 455 engine. This big size was also optional in 1974 and 1975, but the 350 became the base component for those two years. The Rocket 455 under the hood here is reported to be the original powerplant, and since an air conditioning system is present, that confirms it’s the tamer 250-horsepower L75 U-code. Also available was the V-code motor, known as the L77, which added 20 HP, but buyers had to sacrifice the comfort of A/C to get it. The seller states that this engine has already been rebuilt, and says that the Olds runs and drives well.
One of the more noticeable Hurst differences between the 1973-1975 cars is on the sides, as the 1973 H/O used a much smaller opera window than could be found on the standard Cutlass S. The glass size here was increased in 1974, but eliminated entirely for the ‘75 model. If I were the shop owner in charge of pulling that vinyl off the top, I wouldn’t be looking forward to finding out what’s underneath, as it appears that rust has taken over much of this area. There’s also significant roof corrosion around the upper edges above the windshield and driver’s side door, but the seller says the replacement metal is in the trunk, so hopefully, most of what’s needed to make the repairs here will be included.
H/O buyers in 1973 had their choice of a white or black body, both of which featured gold accents. The seller doesn’t provide many specific details about the exterior, aside from noting that the owner ran out of money before he got to the sheet metal. While most of the panels appear fairly straight, the passenger-side quarter isn’t looking too promising, so it’ll be up to the buyer to decide whether a repair or a replacement is the better option for this section.
It’s not exactly aesthetically pleasing, but most of the central interior components are still present, including those functional swivel buckets and perhaps the coolest steering wheel design ever found on a GM. Some excellent news is that the seller claims the frame remains solid, so the platform might not require very much attention. For the period, I feel Hurst got this one right, and hopefully, someone will invest the time and money here to return this car to its former glory. Are you envisioning this 1973 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds as a worthwhile project?
Too many sixes in the asking price. I wish they would provide a picture of the tree and field this was parked under in the ad.
Great write up Mike. I didn’t know that the 455 was standard in ’73. And I didn’t know about the two different versions, L75 and L77 with the one not being available with AC. I’m guessing it had a more agressive cam? At least in ’73 they were still trying. This is a rare one and personally I hope It gets restored. I can imagine it brand new, with those swiveling seats, it must’ve been something else. Once again, thanks for the research Mike and the great write up too.
Thanks so much! Another feature I love about the 1973 Cutlass is the taillights, as this is the only year from the fourth generation where they’re sunken down into part of the body and rear bumper.
Me too, I agree, they have a classic “Oldsmobile ” look and style to them. I lean towards the ’76 and ’77 as my favorite, but on the ’73, definitely my favorite tailights out of the group.
More like winding down. You definitely could still get some performance motors in 1973. The L77 Olds, the Stage 1 Buick, the SD-455 from Pontiac, the 340 and 440 Magnums from Chrysler, the 351 CJ from Ford, and the 401 from AMC. By 1975, all of those were gone. AMC kept the 401 but you could only get it in police cars.
Look at some car brochures from 1973-74. The performance engines are usually mentioned only in a footnote, if even at all. Public tastes had clearly shifted by then. It may sound impossible to believe now, but there was a time period – 1972 to maybe 1981, where muscle cars were not desirable at all and you could get them dirt cheap. Gas prices were one reason, but there were social factors also.
The other reason was Insurance prices no social reasons among my Hotrod buddies
Yes , insurance premiums were a big factor also. 1974-81 was the best time for hot rodders in history. You could get a 1960s muscle car for less than a couple grand because outside that niche market, and high school kids, nobody wanted them. Prices started to climb after that as the baby boomers came into more money.
$6,900 worth of junk (IMHO).
It is in bad shape, which is sad because it is so nicely optioned and with the 455. If it’s that badly rotted on top, how bad is it rotted underneath? God only knows how much work it is to repair/replace the roof metal. It may not be worth it, and the collonades aren’t as desirable as the 68-72s are. I wish it could be saved, the seller just has to hope someone who really wants it finds the ad.
this is the best looking out of all the colonnade years. what hurts this is the rust in the roof. no way around it the roof needs replacement ant being a 73 going to hard to find a clean doner. you will need to go west for sure. at least it has the 455 in it and most of the specific parts seem to be there. from what the pics show this needs you could to spend 25-40k to put this back to as new condition. which in today’s market will put you under water. real shame somebody let this hurst get to this point. the olds dealer i worked for had a black 73h/o with a 455. that thing would really haul for what it was.
I’m sorry hairyolds68 but your atleast 30 grand short of bringing this car back unless you’re capable of doing ALL the work yourself and yea I mean 55 to 70 grand, easy.
It COULD be beautiful once again but you better plan on keeping it another 50 years to recoup your money and by then you won’t be able to find gas for it anywhere.
For half that price I’d buy it, take the drive train out and use it in something else and sell the car to someone that could part it out.
I would have thought that a 270 horsepower 455 cubic inch engine would be tame enough to run air conditioning. I know that a lot of the solid lifter cars from the 60’s and early 70’s could not.
As I have said for years, the aftermarket has totally ignored GM 73 to 77 cars. Except for a few parts, nothing is out there. Sadly, you will be with the Titantic restoring this one. NOS parts virtually non-existent.
This could be a really nice car, but needs a lot work. It might be too far gone to justify a restoration. It’s in that rare space where it is too nice of a car not to restore, but the cost of doing so might not make it practical.
“This listing was ended by the seller on Sat, Jan 3 at 11:44 AM because the item is no longer available.”
I see evidence of being near the ocean…I have to wonder what the underside looks like. Too few pictures, no VIN…It’s only 6900, but even at that price, and from what I see, I’d need to know more, and it really should be up front.