Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

Neat story for the Olds folks emerges from a Corvette Forum...

Corvette forum member, in a thread about a Craigslist ad for a 1983 Corvette, to illustrate how some people don't know everything, mentions in passing his father-in-law's prototype front-wheel drive '68 442 with a 455. People nay-say and mock his claims:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1572263991-post10.html

Mention of his claim is made over on an Olds forum, where again his claim is dismisssed, and people say that this claim is worthless without pictures. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/blush.gif

http://www.realoldspower.com/phpBB2/...d1a1e47f277c35

He posts pics. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...eel-drive.html

http://s665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/81pilot/442/

Turns out this was not an unknown prototype, but actually a Hurst engineering project from 1968 that had been brought up independently before:

http://www.oldspower.com/vb/showthread.php?t=34178

Now we simply know that it still exists, and where it is. The below link has the copy of the March 1968 issue of Super Stock that has a detailed 4-page article on the car:

http://72.22.90.30/phpBB2/viewtopic....sc&start=0

Very cool that something like this comes to light.

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

i didnt believe the guy just walked into a dealership and bought it,which is the story the guy gave.

very neat car,though.

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

Super cool!!!!

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

From one of the links:

"I just find it funny that its the same kuckleheads over and over again who try rip anyone with something they never heard of a new *sshole. The guy getting the full story wrong on the car is more forgivable to me than all the guys who said it doesn't exist, couldn't be done, guy is smoking dope, blah blah."

This has been a pet peeve of mine since all of these Internet forum began. People are always so quick to jump on people about something out of the norm that they THINK was impossible. I just don't understand it. Most of us are aware of some of the more publisized "special" cars that were built over the early years for GM executives etc. I am sure that there were MANY more "special" cars built with odd drivetrains, options, etc. that are long since gone. Probably a lot of them in 4 door cars that were never considered worth saving.

This should be a good lesson for a lot of the skeptics that are always so quick to spew their vast knowledge that often have no idea of what took place back in the day.

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

I gotta agree about some of those flat-out ignorant responses from the Oldsmobile board. I really don't even follow Oldsmobiles but even I knew that Hurst messed around with these FWD into 442 conversions from old magazine articles. I'm thrilled to hear that the car survived! A lot of "self-proclaimed" experts eating their words now.

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

That's why I enjoy this board. There's a measure of respect here that doesn't exist on too many other boards. I love Oldsmobiles too, and had a few, but a couple of experts can really spoil the experience.

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

[ QUOTE ]
That's why I enjoy this board. There's a measure of respect here that doesn't exist on too many other boards. I love Oldsmobiles too, and had a few, but a couple of experts can really spoil the experience.

[/ QUOTE ]

Unless we are talking about an L89 Nova. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

this is the only front wheel drive 442 ever made.it wasnt made by GM,but Hurst.
the person that started this whole ball of wax said some pretty outlandish statements concerning the original purchase of this car ie: this car was purchased from a dealer,and is 1 of 6 made..
i called every statement he typed BS,because the car he described just didnt exist.
now,if he had just said that his father in law had the Hurst FWD 442,it would have had a little more credibility,since that car was actually real.
i find it hilarious that people want to bash a skeptical opinion when it's based on logical thinking,not rumors,or urban legend.

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

I read the thread on ROP and didn't find anything unusual, Andy - just another day. Maybe on the Corvette site it's a bit more heated?

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

Andy, The guy is the owners son in law. He is just passing on the info as he was told. Who knows what the original owner was told when he purchased the car. How do you know that the car was not purchased through a Olds dealer? Why does that seem so far fetched? As far as the 1 of 6, I'm sure his FIL told him that. He did not know it was 1 0f 1. The bottom line is the car is real and if people had bothered to ask the right questions instead of the old YFOS replys these threads would not get so blown out of shape.

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

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.

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

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

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

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.

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

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 ??

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

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

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

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/

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

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

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

I did some poking around. James Garner did own 4 Baja 500 Rambler SCrambler cars. Two 4 wheel dr and two two wheel drive. Raced in 69. Backed by AMC

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

-----There would be a very good chance that Bob Riggle, Mr.Hurst-Hemi-Under-Glass, would know something about this Cutlass. Bob did a very large amount of contract work for George H back in the day. He was instramental in the H-U-Glass build as well as the 44-two-Much and several others. Bob lives in Prescott AZ. but somehow I have misplaced his phone#. Theres probably a website somewhere that has a way to reach him, as this car seems like it might have his fingerprints on it!!!......Bill S

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

[ QUOTE ]
From one of the links:

"I just find it funny that its the same kuckleheads over and over again who try rip anyone with something they never heard of a new *sshole. The guy getting the full story wrong on the car is more forgivable to me than all the guys who said it doesn't exist, couldn't be done, guy is smoking dope, blah blah."

This has been a pet peeve of mine since all of these Internet forum began. People are always so quick to jump on people about something out of the norm that they THINK was impossible. I just don't understand it. Most of us are aware of some of the more publisized "special" cars that were built over the early years for GM executives etc. I am sure that there were MANY more "special" cars built with odd drivetrains, options, etc. that are long since gone. Probably a lot of them in 4 door cars that were never considered worth saving.

This should be a good lesson for a lot of the skeptics that are always so quick to spew their vast knowledge that often have no idea of what took place back in the day.

[/ QUOTE ]

I couldn't agree with you more. I have seen it happen here a few times this year. If the person does not post pics right away its a BS story. I sit back and read the posts, when it turns out to be a real story or car, the ones who do the trashing never say they were wrong. JMO

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

ill admit i was wrong about the car,but i still say the story behind it is BS.

the person's statement you agree with?

he sold somebody a car with a bad motor,then tried to blame the buyer for the motor being bad.the only time he comes on a board is to badmouth somebody,so he's either the pot or the kettle.
you choose.

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

This is Ron Johnson , I own the James Garner 1970 W-31 442 baja Race car, I have the complete story about the history of the car, When the car was first built it was tested at the GM proving grounds at that time it had a all aluminum 350 olds motor, That car was built and prepped for James to race it, at that time it had the best of everything the factory could throw at it including the on-off front suspension, The car is just about restored and iam going to race it at the Vintage 2010 NORRA 1000 desert race www.norra1000.com

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

Welcome Ron. Big James Garner fan. What a cool car. Would love to see some of your resto and other photos. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

[ QUOTE ]
the only time he comes on a board is to badmouth somebody,so he's either the pot or the kettle.
you choose.

[/ QUOTE ]

sounds like someone else we all know... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smirk.gif

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

ron,what's up with all those NOS w-31 parts you wanted to sell?

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

Andy i still have the W-31 NOS parts, the last 6 months have been crazy building my James Garner car, when i make some headway on this build i will take a look and see what extra parts i have, I did buy another project 1970 W-30 455 TH400, And i might have found the aluminum 350 olds motor to install in my car. ALSO Iam looking for new or used factory Olds Aluminum 350 block and geads

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

Sooo...who would like to see this car in November and hear the real story and history? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif[/img]

Bashton
MCACN Managing Member

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

I will not be there, but I sure hope the car does come out of hibernation. As to the comments from some of the other people in this thread---I maintain that many cars were &quot;built&quot; that will NOT contain paperwork because they supposedly weren't available or simply were built as design studies. I know of such a car and people tell me I am full of &quot;you know what&quot; when I mention it because the car has no substantiating documentation--- I try to tell them why it doesn't/won't. The cars that I am referring to may have been &quot;assembled&quot; by (in this case) Oldsmobile but NOT on the assembly LINE, so do they exist? Sure they do! Can they be documented? Probably not, unless someone who was there will sign a sworn affidavit. Remember guys and gals, we are talking 50 years ago, and the car business was TOTALLY different then. Just like the trumped up '64 GTO someone mentioned earlier---if Wangers had not come clean on that car, would everyone know what really happened? Did Pontiac &quot;assemble&quot; that car? YES! Did the assembly LINE assemble it? NO! Big Brother wasn't watching then like he is now.

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

Some of you may have seen my Yenko Stinger Canadian Prototype at MCACN last Nov. When I bought the car,which sat in a storage yard in Canada for 20 yrs, it was intended to be used for parts , as it did not have a Yenko number tag.A year later, Warren D. and I found in our records , a 2 page document signed by Don Yenko, exporting the car back to Canada , listing the Stinger mods and identifying the car by vin #.Yenko experts had been telling me I was full of it up til then ! Turns out to be a 1 of 1 car ,later raced by a GM Canada Exec.

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

Thought I would let everyone know, the full restoration of the 1968 Olds 442 &quot;Four-a-Nado&quot; is nearly complete and the car WILL be our first unveiling at the 2013 MCACN show at 10 am Saturday morning, November 23.

I can tell you, the presentation, documentation and the people who will be on hand will clearly tell the story of this car and its history!

Bashton
MCACN Managing Member

Re: Hurst Engineered FWD '68 Olds 442 Uncovered
 

Boy, that Rallye 350 looks GREAT!!!! I hope I have the winning ticket!!!!!