I remember that our hometown paper had a little daily section with events that happened on that day 20 and 30 years ago. It was interesting to read about WWII and other major events that happened two and three decades earlier. It’s hard to believe that the 1980s were already over three decades ago now. This 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass/Hurst is 35 years old already, older than a decent percentage of Barn Finds readers are. It can be found here on eBay in Jonesboro, Arkansas. There are a few bids and a current price of just over $2,100 but the reserve isn’t met.
The photos are cut off for the most part but the seller gives a phone number and I would bet that they’d try to send a few more photos to any serious bidders. It’s hard to tell the condition of a vehicle when the photos don’t show the whole thing but from what is shown, this looks like a pretty nice car. They say that it’s a southern car which I’m guessing means that the typical northern rust damage wouldn’t be an issue but only a personal inspection will tell.
There’s a scrape/ding there on the right quarter panel and I would hate to try to match that 35-year-old silver paint. Maybe some creative massage technique (on the car, I mean) would work and then trying to buff out the black mark, who knows. Oldsmobile made the Hurst/Olds sporadically between 1968 and 1984. They were reintroduced in 1983 for the 15th anniversary of the original cars in 1968 and they were based on the Olds G-body Cutlass Supreme which was still rear wheel drive. From what I understand, the 15th-anniversary cars in 1983 were so popular that Olds had to bring them back again for 1984. Of course, two decades later the whole company went away, unfortunately.
There aren’t many interior photos and you can see the gnarly steering wheel, missing radio, and other issues. The big deal here is that funky shifter. Here is a YouTube video of another car in action showing how it works. And you thought that your kid’s calculus homework was complicated. The seller says that they aren’t hooked up – I’m not sure why but add that to the to-do list.
The engine should be an Oldsmobile 307 cubic-inch V8 with around 180 hp. I know, that’s a far cry from the 1968 car with 390-hp in a 455 V8, but for the early-80s it was decent power. The seller says that it does run which is always good. Have any of you owned a Hurst/Olds of any year?
This one is pretty grungy. So if you want to get nuts, bolt in the 455 V8 from the 1968 car with 390-hp.
hard to tell if real h/o, missing chrome STOCK air cleaner, who knows on the plaques on hood header, dash. Tailfin is NOT correct, they have a joint at the curve. They LOOK like a trans am fin from same time BUT not the same. Those end pieces notorious for going AWOL
Buyer should inspect closely that it is not just a clone (you can put the shifter into any cutlass , well any g-body for that matter
Plus, the headlight surrounds are supposed to be black instead of chrome
The Oldsmobile Cutlass was the best selling car in America more than once. One year, I believe, was the year before this one – 1983.
By 1988, and the onslaught of front wheel drive, you couldn’t give them away. We had 2-1987’s sitting in the showroom forever!
Car is ok around current bid but I hate that ‘Reserve not met’ thing. Why not put it out there to know what they’re looking for and whether you’re wasting your time or not on a car.
It is a bit to realize it’s been 35 years since my high school graduation, it really was a strange decade, as for the cars things got better later in the decade, at least motivation wise.
I like the look of these now, except for the fake pro stock shifter called the lightning rods, hahaha, and one of these would make for a cool street cruiser. I don’t know why but even back then I visioned W31 power in one of these. When I told other kids my age about it they had no idea what I was talking about.