1968 Hurst/Olds

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Although George Hurst had done a lot of customizing work for drag racers, the 1968 Hurst/Olds was the first production muscle car to carry his name. See more muscle car pictures.

No '68 muscle car looked more debonair, or packed a larger V-8, than the 1968 Hurst/Olds.

The Hurst part of the name referred to George Hurst, whose promotional fervor was luckily matched by the quality of his work. By the mid '60s, the former Philadelphia repair-shop owner's name was on some of drag racing's wildest exhibition cars, from the wheelstanding Hemi Under Glass to the tire-frying twin-engine Hurst Hairy Olds. And then there was Linda Vaughn, Miss Hurst Golden Shifter.

Advertisement

Muscle Car Image Gallery

But for every stunt, there was a good product, like great transmission linkages or Hurst's most-important invention, the Jaws of Life rescue tool. It was conservative Oldsmobile, however, that first put the ballyhooed Hurst name on a production car.

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Hurst's souped-up Oldsmobile 4-4-2 came with wood dashboard trim and GM Turbo Hydra-matic automatic transmission with a Hurst Dual-Gate Shifter.

The division's 4-4-2 entered '68 with curvaceous new styling courtesy of GM's intermediate-car revamp. Its 400-cid V-8 had 350 bhp -- 360 with the new Force Air option, a factory-installed induction system that inhaled through scoops beneath the front bumper. The W-30 option returned as a blueprinted 360-bhp mill backed by a beefed-up drivetrain and cost $263.

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. The 1968 Hurst/Olds turned the muscle car formula up a notch, employing the Old's Toronado's beefy 455-cid V-8 and the 4-4-2's Force Air System of ducting tubes and under-bumper inlets. It was rated at 390 bhp.

Hurst engineer Jack "Doc" Watson had built his boss a custom '68 4-4-2. The enterprising Hurst sold Olds on the publicity value of building a limited run of similar cars for sale through key Olds dealers. Whether the Cutlass S coupes Olds shipped to an outside assembly site were already equipped with the special 390-bhp 455-cid Toronado V-8 is under debate, but all the cars did get Force Air systems and Turbo Hydra-matics with a Hurst Dual-Gate shifter.

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. A black rear-deck panel and black stripes accented the "Peruvian Silver" paint job on the entire 1968 run of 515 Hurst/Old muscle cars.

The suspension used the best factory components, so handling was on a par with the lauded 4-4-2's. The 455 V-8 was no handicap; it actually weighed 12 pounds less than the 400. All cars were painted Toronado "Peruvian Silver" with black accent stripes and rear-deck panel.

Outstanding power, fuss-free performance, full warranty, and exclusivity came at $1,161 over the sticker of a regular 4-4-2. Dealers took 3,000 orders for the car, far more than could be filled. The hype was real, and the '68 Hurst/Olds marked the start of a great muscle-car friendship.

Return to Classic Muscle Cars Library.

Advertisement

For more cool information on muscle cars, check out:

  • No muscle cars were more stylish, sophisticated, or brawnier than those from Oldsmobile. See profiles, photos, and specifications of Oldsmobile muscle cars.
  • Muscle cars came in many shapes and sizes. Here are features on more than 100 muscle cars, including photos and specifications for each model.
  • Muscle cars created their own culture. To learn about it, read How Muscle Cars Work.

Check out these profiles of muscle cars, which include photos and specifications for each model:

For related car information, see these articles:

Advertisement

  • The engine is what gives a muscle car its flamboyant personality. To learn everything you need to know about car engines, see How Car Engines Work.
  • Muscle cars wouldn't have much muscle without horsepower -- but what exactly is horsepower? How Horsepower Works answers that question.
  • NASCAR race cars embody the muscle car philosophy of power. Read How NASCAR Race Cars Work to find out what makes these charged-up racers go.
  • Are you thinking of buying a 2007 muscle car, or any other car? See Consumer Guide Automotive's New-Car Reviews, Prices, and Information.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Loading...