Text by Patrick Bell.
Today, we have a short feature on an unknown Oldsmobile dealer in 1974 that had two Hurst/Olds models on display. I see what look like palm trees in the photos, and the black car does not have a front license bracket, which leads me to guess this was somewhere in Florida.
The Hurst/Olds was a collaboration between the two companies that produced special edition models in select years between 1968 and 1984. In 1974, they were based on the Cutlass S and for the first time were available in two models; the W-25 with a 350 cubic inch V8, and the W-30 with a 455 V8. They were limited in production, with 1800 total; 1420 W-25’s and 380 W-30’s. Hurst Performance did the conversion at their Research Building in Ferndale, Michigan.
Two colors were available; Ebony Black or Cameo White, both with gold stripes and Super Stock III wheels. Interiors were also black or white, with the swivel bucket seats and console. This one obviously was a W-30, the rarest of the two. Out in the lot was a red Toronado.
1974 also brought the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car honor, which went to Oldsmobile four times in the 1970s (1970 4-4-2, 1972 and 1974 Hurst/Olds, 1977 Delta 88). This one appears to be a W-25, as it retained the “Cutlass S” emblems on the fender (It was the only one available in California). The red car to the left was a Ninety-Eight, and in the lower left, likely was the W-30 seen in the previous image.
Here were the unique vinyl top choices, which were meant to simulate a Targa top. The Pace Car Program required the actual pace car to be an open car, so they replaced the top with a Targa style on one unit since intermediate size convertibles were no longer produced.
As is stated, the Pace Car Decal Kit was optional on both models. As far as I can tell all it consisted of was the lettering on the doors.
Sources: www.hurstolds.com
www.wikipedia.com
Love these. I’m a big fan of the later model, smogged muscle cars of ‘71-75 or so due to both their original rarity and that there are so few remaining. These Olds models, the contemporary Buick GS, ‘73 and ‘74 GTOs, ‘75 and ‘76 Chargers (including the even more rare sport model), and several others.
Well this car is nice looking but the other similar GM cars were distasteful.
My favorite year of the 75 hurst Oldsmobile I’d love to own a 455 powered one!
A friend of mines parents Har white w30 that was wore out some guy offered them a nearly new 98 and his dad swapped it in a instant
Hurst girl Linda Vaughn at the wheel.
More like “At the window” than at the wheel. 😉
But, Yeah.
Great photos, yet tantalizing because it makes me want to step into the picture and look all around that showroom, or at least have more pictures.
The 74s were a several peg drop in performance from a few years earlier, true, but these were desirable cars at the time and still are in my book. What new U.S. car was better in 1974 or would be again in the near future? The Corvette was still a little bit stout and stouter than it would be again until at least 84. 74 was the last year for a big block Road Runner. Other A- bodies had some decent varieties available but they probably weren’t as well-tuned or sharp-looking as the Cutlass S in H/O form. And this was the best performance Olds that would be available until at least the 84 H/O.
For someone who grew up around Oldsmobiles and who has lived for the last 40+ years in Indianapolis (where Pace Car editions remain prized trophies for some people) I cannot ever remember seeing one of these. My mother was shopping for a new Cutlass in 1974 but I don’t recall one of these at the dealership she visited (unlike in 1972 when one sat proudly in the middle of the showroom). And while I have seen Pace Car editions of all kinds at local shows, and out in the wild, I have never come across one of these 74 Oldsmobiles.
I like the black/black version the best of the three choices.