Given that the 1969 Hurst/Olds incorporated functional hood scoops and a trunk lid spoiler to enhance its road presence, along with a modified paint job, it’s possible that this iconic Oldsmobile is the most well-known version.
Other modifications included a 455 ci Rocket V8 with a unique intake manifold, chrome steel valve covers, English racing mirrors, H/O emblems everywhere (hood, fenders, deck lid), dedicated 15″ chrome SSII wheels with Goodyear Polyglas tires, and a clever method of letting cold air enter the carburetor through the hood scoop.
These babies meant business, and if you’re trying to find the right spec for you today, it’s going to cost you a pretty penny. Case in point, this 1969 Hurst/Olds 455 we just found getting auctioned off to the highest bidder, rocking a replacement 455 V8.
This happens to be one of roughly 906 units built for the 1969 model year, and one of roughly 300 H/Os that came with air conditioning. That’s a good feature to have on a classic muscle car, or any car, for that matter.
The repainted white body with gold stripes, the functional fiberglass hood scoop in the style of a mailbox, the rear spoiler, the body-color sport mirrors, the chrome bumpers, the black grille, the quad headlights, the chrome bumpers, and the chrome 15-inch Super Stock II wheels with the white-letter Goodyear tires are all highlights of the exterior, as expected. Power-assisted front discs and power steering are other features of this H/O.
The interior features a Hurst dual-gate shifter, gold-striped headrests, lap belts, vent windows, a nice set of gold Hurst/Olds carpets, faux-woodgrain veneer accents, air conditioning, and a three-spoke steering wheel. The black vinyl front bucket seats and rear bench are also included.
As for what’s going on underneath the hood, that’s where the replacement 455 ci V8 resides. It was rebuilt back in 2019, according to the ad, and features a four-barrel carburetor, a ram-air induction system, plus chrome valve covers. The engine is mated to a three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic gearbox (also rebuilt), working alongside a 12-bolt rear axle with a limited-slip differential. Last, but not least, you’ve got the replacement dual-exhaust system.
The ad also claims that this car’s chassis number aligns with build #841, as listed in the Hurst 455 H/O registry. Good to know.
The question is if the 455 ci V8 replacement is producing any more horsepower than the base engine. In the 1969 model year H/O, this engine’s normal ratings would have been 500 lb-ft of torque and 380 horsepower. We’re unsure of the exact model year vehicle the engine was taken out of, though. Subsequent H/Os were marginally less powerful than their predecessors.