CC Cohort William Rubano found and posted a car that is not exactly a common sights on the streets. This 1983 version of the Hurst/Olds was the 15th Anniversary of the first Olds/Hurst, a specially modified Cutlass/442 coupe that had a modified 455 Rocket V8, of which only 515 were built. Compared to the 1968, this 1983 version had a much smaller engine but was a bigger seller, with 3001 units sold, despite a hefty markup.
Here’s the original, which managed to get around GM 400 cubic inch maximum for intermediate cars, because Olds implied that Hurst installed the bigger engine. In truth, they were built on the same line as all of the 442s. Its 390 hp 455 was teamed with a THM 400 automatic and of course a Hurst Dual-gate Shifter.
Of course the big engines were a distant memory by 1983. A modified Olds 307 sits behind the front fascia of this car, rated at 180 net hp, and 245 lb.ft. of torque. It works through a THM 200-4R four-speed automatic with Hurst’s “Lightning Rod” shifter. 3.73 rear gears and dual exhausts made for decent performance during these difficult times. Car and Driver tested a similar-equipped 1985 Cutlass, and achieved a 9.1 second 0-60, and 16.6 second 1/4 mile t 83 mph. Top speed was 113 mph. Today even the cheapest economy cars would walk away from this H/O.
Production was planned for 2500 units, but demand upped that to 3001. In 1984, 3500 units were sold. But that marked the end of a long collaboration.
The rumble from its twin exhausts go a long way in making this an attractive collectible period piece.
Note: a rerun of an older post.
Seems to be in good condition, but I’d think being a special edition with only 3,001 produced, the owner would have gotten it and locked it up in a climate controlled storage. Then driven it sparingly to car shows.
But then again, that’s not my way. I prefer to drive my cars.
Nice car but they aren fast anymore, they built quite a few, how many survive?
Headline writer made a big mistake— there were 3,001 ’83 Hurst/Olds built, not 515. As noted in the first paragraph, 515 is the Hurst/Olds production total in ’68.
True, that’s my doing. It’s updated now.
It’s a little absurd to have a 15th anniversary of a package that was only on again off again produced in those 15 years. Nevertheless they do look cool.
I worked as a mechanic for a Oldsmobile dealership at the time we sold your of the Husrt Oldsmobile. They were nice and the exhaust made it sound like a performance car. I reality it was a small engine with not much power to spin out the tires,a 2004R transmission that was weak but a great set of rear end gears. Something just flashy for GM to produce which many really liked the car.
I have always thought (and still do)that these are some good looking cars. Too bad they didn’t have the performance to back up those tough looks but then again this was in ’83 when performance took a back seat except for a few cars. Thank God that I happen to own another G Body that came a little after it, the Buick Grand National.
I just finished restoring my brother inlaws 1984 with a moon roof.
One of about 100 made
Those ‘Lightning Rod’ shifters were about the most hokey things ever thought of, at least for a street driven car. They were Hurst’s take on the successful Lenco multiple lever shifters of the time. The problem was that, unlike Hurst’s Dual-Gate ratchet shifter, the multiple lever shifter for an automatic did not translate well to the street (Lencos were used with manual transmissions), with a big issue having to be resetting all the levers back to the start position after each use. That was no problem on a drag car but quite a pain for a street car.
But what was worse was that was, in actual operation, the Lightning Rod shifter as installed in the Hurst/Olds did…nothing. A Car and Driver review stated that the transmission would still shift at the regular shift points, whether you pulled the levers or not.
In effect, it was really kind of the ultimate musclecar marketing gimmick in that it was all show and absolutely no go. Maybe in the earlier, high-horsepower days, things might have been different. But with the weak sauce 307 in the Hurst/Olds, there was simply no point.
I’ve owned one since I was 19,(original owner)62000 mile.car.was hit by Hurricane.Sandy,I refused to let it go so I pulled the motor and put in a 455 365hp olds motor out of a 72.motors in and it mounted to my 200tranny with was worked by Select Performane and will handle 1000hp.Got the motor in,headers on(which needed to be cut and modified to bypass the frame(some idiots cut that instead)put a cam and chain kit and electronic distributor and ignition,should be making 435-450hp and maybe ill dial it up to 500,ill be smokin them up in about a month or so but ill definitely roll it out for my 62nd birthday and relive my teens.just gotta do some break and suspension work first,lol
We have a grey Hurst like this ( inherited) and have no idea what to do with it!
A true inspiration to a slightly younger generation. It’s guys like you that keep my hope alive in this existential extension chord, chronic overachiever-era. Provided by unacknowledged, hardy and robust minds/shoulders, certified to stand on kind of fellas. LEE, won’t you let me take that off of your hands please?
People think of the mid-to-late 1970s as the malaise era but actually the malaise slopped way over into the 1980s. In the mid 1980s 0-60 in 9.1 would have felt downright decent for a personal luxury couple with sporty pretensions. By contrast, my 1979 Lemans with the 3.8 V6, purchased in 1989, did it in about 15.5. That Cutlass would have seemed mighty fine to me in those days.
My first car as a teenager.I loved that car.Really would be nice to bring it back like they did the charger from dukes of harzard.I would buy one and relive my teenage years all over again. In slow motion tho..lol.