Archived Hot Issues

Hurst/Olds in Hemmings Muscle Machines

The April issue tells the story of Oldsmobile brand managers itching for a something sporty to rev up the crazy kids during the age of Aquarius — not an “olds” but a “youngmobile,” if you will.  And George Hurst of Hurst Shifter fame came up with the idea of dropping a 455 engine into an A-body to fashion a “Hurst-ified” super muscle car.  Awesome!  But, the executive squares at GM had a rule prohibiting the use of engines larger than 400-cu. in. in intermediate-sized passenger cars.  Bean counters running roughshod over the car guys again…  Not cool.  The happy ending involved skirting the rule by having Hurst’s after-market company dropping the big-block engines into a Cutlass, making other modifications and creating the Hurst-Olds muscle car that can still tear it up today.  It’s a story of triumph over adversity that will have mass-transit-lovin’ city-dwellers aching for the open road.

On-sale:
Mar. 10, 2009
Off-sale:
Apr. 6, 2009
Bipad:
08244
Publisher:
Hemmings Motor News