It’s All About the NUMBERS…… By Judy Badgley

You have probably all heard the Print for sale considered to be a 1968, 4-speed reference to 1-of-a-kind or 1-off. Hurst “ Hairy” Olds car built for John Demmer. This How do these phrases relate to a At Minnesota Dragways, 1966 car looked like the production Hurst/Olds? All of our H/O cars Artist’s print, suitable for framing 68’s, but had a few racing items are special. When individual auto added to enhance the manufacturers are building performance. This car convinced thousands of cars annually Olds to build a 500-car (millions in the 70’s), that makes production run of Hurst/Olds. our cars rare and highly Although the literature for the 68 collectible, but what about 1-of-a- H/O’s shows the 4-speed as an kind? option, Demmer’s car was the Specialty cars go by many only ONE factory built that way. different names. They may be The Demmer family still owns referred to as prototypes, proposal 1. 8 x 10 $10 + $5 shipping this car. cars, promotional cars, or concept 2. 14 x 17 $20 + $7 shipping Another unique 1968 H/O was vehicles. Some were jokingly 3. 18 x 24 limited edition, ONE of the production run cars. called “wannabe’s”, meaning they numbered and signed by the Although all 515 68’s were artist $40 + $10 shipping wanted to be a Hurst/Olds. I’m available with nearly any option Send check payable to H/OCA: sure there are other names, too. 304 S. Clippert St. also available on the 442 or Many of these cars are a 1-off car. Lansing, MI 48912 Cutlass, they were all to have the Hurst Performance and same Peruvian Silver paint Oldsmobile were a great team Before cars like the Hurst/Olds scheme and black interior. before they built production / are put into production, many California racing enthusiast, streetable cars. Exhibition or months are spent on designs, Briggs Cunningham, made a promotional cars were a BIG planning, engineering and special request. Because of the attention grabber at the racetrack. proposals. When 2 manufacturers excessive California heat, he Hurst Performance used decide to team up there is a lot of wanted ONE with a white Oldsmobiles among others to red tape! 1968 was the first time interior. His request was met and promote their racing products. in automotive history 2 this 1-of-a-kind car was built. In The 1966 Hurst Hairy Olds was a independent companies combined 1983 this car was at the prime example of a unique 1-of-a- and used both names on the organizational meet of the kind car. It had twin engines, 4- production car. H/OCA in Lansing. It is now wheel drive and was a real eye Oldsmobile provided Hurst with back in California and cared for catcher when it “smoked” the cars to design and plan a by member Al Denicola. Al is tires down the track. This car was conversion. They would both planning to bring the car to updated in 1967 to look like the review the proposal and make Flagstaff and to do a story on this new Olds 442 models, by changes and suggestions. These special car changing the front-end assembly. cars are usually scraped when 68 Hurst/Olds with white interior The H/OCA owns a replica of this they are no longer needed, as unique car. Member Dennis they were built for looks rather Mothershed and MANY other than practical use. Prototype or workers spearheaded the proposal cars were built in revitalizing of this car. It is nearly every year from 1967- currently on display in the R. E. 1987. In 1967 a proposal car Olds Museum in Lansing, MI. was made with many options The H/OCA sells a print of this that were not put on the car in 3 sizes (see ad). The Hurst production car. The hide-away Hairy Olds propelled both Hurst headlights and mechanical and Oldsmobile into the spoiler were just too limelight. problematic. The first Hurst/Olds is Following the success of the 68 member. It hasn’t been seen in updating that was done on the H/O, a 69 version would be a sure several years. To our knowledge, Hurst Hairy Olds. This car was winner. The prototype for this car the 74 and 75 cars no longer exist. also the only ONE . featured an “elephant tusk” The success and popularity of 1980 also found Hurst design rear spoiler and bold the Oldsmobile Cutlass caused experimenting with some graphics. The production version Olds to decide they didn’t need modifications on the Olds was toned down and was very Hurst Performance to sell their Toronado model. Again, this is successful. We believe the cars. Proposal cars were built in ONE Oldsmobile that Hurst prototype “add-on’s” were 1976, 1977 and 1978, but no Performance converted. This car removed from the test car and the production cars resulted. was at the 2007 St Ignace car car was probably eventually Hurst/Olds enthusiasts have show and is registered for the scraped. helped preserve automotive Oldsmobile Homecoming show. 1970 saw a change in styles and history by saving these unique The owners have all of the Hurst and Olds did not agree. cars or building a replica of them. paperwork from the modifications Olds went on to build the bright Members John Rogers, Bob done by Hurst Performance, then yellow Rallye 350, dubbed as the Schiely, Glen Katterson and owned by Cars and Concepts. “Hurst/Olds that never was”. Tommy Wright have all 1981 was the beginning of a 7 There were still those that wanted preserved prototype cars from this year production run of the most a Hurst/Olds. An example of this era. These H/O cars are an popular Cutlass style in was pictured in the last Thunder important part of our heritage. Oldsmobile history. Hurst and Lightning. Somebody Performance converted ONE of contacted Hurst Performance these cars as a proposal for and persuaded the company Olds, but Olds again declined. to do a conversion on their This car was very similar to Olds. The result was a ONE - the 83 H/O design but was of-a-kind, 1970 Hurst Olds. blue with a gray bottom and Member Larry Simpson red stripe. This car was seen recognized the background in in the Lansing area for many the photo and identified the years, but hasn’t been seen track as the York US30 recently. Raceway. Hurst converted a special Hurst and Olds white 1982 Cutlass for management stayed in touch promotional use to be used by and when the opportunity to Linda Vaughn. This car had pace the 1972 Indy 500 came her signature on the front about, (A horrible accident at the 1977 Hurst/Olds prototype fender, as well as a Hurst/Olds 1971 Indy race made auto decal. Linda used this car at the companies wary of the Pacing The 1979 Hurst/Olds went into track and racing events all year. duties.) proposals went into high production in spite of itself! After At the end of the year, Olds took gear. The outrageous stripe several weeks of bickering, the the car back and crushed it. This design (paisley) and sail panel project went forward. All 2499 of car as well as Linda are ONE -of- extensions were typical of the these cars became a 1-of-a-kind a-kind. seventies, but a more cost- because they are the only H/O’s Linda’s 1982 Promotional Hurst/ Olds effective design was used. Again that were built completely at the the proposal cars (including a Olds assembly plant. OK, Delta 88) were lost. H/OCA I know what you are Editor, Jon Wessel built a replica thinking, “you can’t say tribute of the 72 prototype a few 2499 cars are 1-of-a- years ago. Maybe this car will kind”! Well, I guess that is reappear for all to enjoy. taking “literary license”! Production H/O’s were built 1980 found Olds racecar every year from 1973-1975 and driver Dick Fortman prototype cars were also built. winning at the track with The 73 prototype was owned and his 1980 Hurst/Olds. This restored by a former H/OCA car was a spin-off of the 1979, similar to the The 83 and 84 H/O’s saw the and 69 Hurst/Olds convertibles. cars and you are only interested in end of the manufacturing team Linda just didn’t look the same an original ONE -of-a kind, look that made history. These cars sitting inside a hardtop car as she for documentation. That is the were a huge success for both did waving from a convertible. only “proof” you will have of companies, but Olds engineers We believe there were 4) 68 H/O originality. were already preparing to convert convertibles and 3) 69 H/O Now I hope you haven’t been the popular Cutlass to a front- convertibles. It is not easy to overwhelmed with information wheel drive car. Many attempts determine how many of these cars and will take time this summer to were made to keep the H/O there were because it was not get your special car out and enjoy going, but they were not uncommon for Hurst to take a car it. Remember to respect the successful. home from the track and repaint it special cars of others so they can In 1985, a design referred to as differently before the next enjoy their car, too. We all have the “Darth Vader” car was built. weekend’s race. Some of these ONE goal. Enjoying our ride. This was a combined effort of cars have appeared at our Olds and Hurst, but it was not National Meets throughout the ever put into production. Member years as well. Angelo Valenti has this car and has done a lot of research to document its history. This car has been seen at our events and many other car shows. It is actually called the FE3X model and is also ONE unique car. Doc Watson tried diligently to convince Olds to produce a “Last Hurrah” Hurst/Olds in 1988. This was the last year for the rear- wheel drive Cutlass. This did not happen as a joint venture. Doc and his company, Hurst Special Vehicles ( the current Hurst Performance) created a kit that could be installed by Cutlass owners, dealerships and body shops. These cars are also ONE - Linda on a 1968 Hurst/Olds convertible of-a-kind cars in that they reflect the desires of the individual There are several important owners. Color choices were no things to remember about a longer restricted. Additionally Hurst/Olds. Just because you these kits fit on all Cutlass bodies don’t recognize it as ONE of the from 1981-1988. For this reason cars in all the books and there are Hurst/Olds cars from magazines doesn’t mean it is not that era that are known as a Hurst/Olds. If ONE of these Hurst/Olds Aero cars. unusual cars comes to a show Remember back at the take the opportunity to learn beginning of this story I about it from those that bring it to mentioned the many different the show. You might be surprised types of 1-off H/O’s? Hurst was at what you can learn. Whether it always a big presence at the is ONE of the original specialty racetracks. This was important to cars or ONE that someone built the sale of their racing products. as tribute to a car they saw and They frequently used loved enough to build a replica, Oldsmobiles as parade and these people have brought it out promotional vehicles. The most to enjoy. If you are looking at noteworthy of these were the 68 buying ONE of these different