Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered

[bobbarry]

It would be interesting to compare this recent find to the vehicle documented in the magazine article and see if there are any variations, which might make it a "1 of ???" engineering exercise from Hurst.

I admit I was very skeptical based on the originally-reported details (1 of 6 factory FWD prototype for Grand National racing in '68), which didn't add up on a number of levels. Hurst-engineered project incorporating the contemporary enthusiasm for FWD, however, fits the bill for everything else we know about that era.

I would still love to see the documentation for this particular car; it would prove fascinating to run all the numbers on this project.

[1970Bluel78]

This story reminded me of the James Garner Off Road 442's. I think they were 68 also. Who made them ??

[Pulnaway]

http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63499 According to this Ron Johnson owns the car. Looks like he has done his homework as far as history/ documentation.

[1970Bluel78]

Thanks for that. My old memory is getting jogged as we speak. Maybe it was the Smothers Brothers that had the 68 off road 442 ?? And who had the 69 Rambler/Scramber off road car ??

[Pulnaway]

I know the Smothers brothers had a whole bunch of Olds drag cars over the yrs. Not sure on the possible dirt car.

[bobbarry]

Here's a good collection of those drag-cars:

http://www.69olds.com/smothers.html

No signage on the Garner car indicating their sponsorship:

http://offroadaction.ca/2009/05/20/j...bber-olds-442/

[Canuck]

In reading the various post the ROP guys got their knickers in a knot because the guy said he bought the car from a dealer. Maybe he did. The car was likely owned by Hurst and had no ties to Olds as far as ownership is concerned. They obviously stated with a stock 442 and did the mods themselves. This is no different than the 64 GTO modified by Wangers and Royal Pontiac for the Car and Driver test. That car was later sold by Royal.
If Olds had modified the car,their lawyers would have insisted that it be destroyed because it was experimental.
Its cool to see this thing still alive. Many Hurst owned cars have surfaced over the years.

Paul