Hurst Olds 442 Tapestries

Perfect gift for petrolheads and auto enthusiasts

The 1969 Hurst/Olds again used the 455-cid V-8 with W-30 heads, cam, distributor, and Force-Air induction. This engine, called the W-46, was slightly detuned from ’68, losing 10 bhp. A H/O modified Turbo Hydra-matic transmission with console-shifted Hurst Dual-Gate was mandatory. As high performance raced into the wacky late ’60s, the idea of a mad scientist conjuring up ever-more-potent 4-4-2s seemed almost reasonable, and Olds advertising was rife with the image of Dr. Oldsmobile in his baggy lab coat and silent-movie mustache. In a sense, there really was such a fellow: Jack “Doc” Watson, head of research for Hurst Performance Products.

1974 Hurst Olds Cutlass 442 in our lava series on front and back

Hurst Performance 1958

At the height of the muscle car era, Oldsmobile made a deal with Hurst that worked out really well for both companies. In order to create a “halo” car, the two companies collaborated to produce special, limited edition, high-performance Cutlasses. The program started in 1968 with a run of 515 cars, and continued off and on for a number of years, with the final run in 1984, but for many fans, the 1968, 1969, and 1972 versions were the best out of the nine years these cars were offered. The inspiration for the production cars was the Hurst Hairy Olds of 1966-67, drag cars that made a huge impact – twin-engine, four-wheel-drive monsters that were really fun to watch.

Oldsmobile's Hottest Number! Surly Dr. Olds would approve.

1968 was a very big year for the 442, starting with the fact that it was finally made into its very own model. From the time that the first 442 was released in 1964 up until 1967, it had been purely a performance package that could be added to the F-85 or Cutlass midsized Oldsmobile lines. With stellar sales and growing interest in the muscle car class as a while, Olds wisely decided to put the 442 out on its own. 442 models that came equipped with the W-30 Force-Air induction system took in cold air from around these lights. The W-30 package, which had been first introduced at the end of the 1966 model year, had unique internal engine modifications that included special heads and a high output cam.

1974 Hurst Olds 442 in our fall day series on back

The 1969 Hurst/Olds again used the 455-cid V-8 with W-30 heads, cam, distributor, and Force-Air induction. This engine, called the W-46, was slightly detuned from '68, losing 10 bhp. A H/O modified Turbo Hydra-matic transmission with console-shifted Hurst Dual-Gate was mandatory. As high performance raced into the wacky late '60s, the idea of a mad scientist conjuring up ever-more-potent 4-4-2s seemed almost reasonable, and Olds advertising was rife with the image of Dr. Oldsmobile in his baggy lab coat and silent-movie mustache. In a sense, there really was such a fellow: Jack "Doc" Watson, head of research for Hurst Performance Products.