68 Hurst Olds question-

:Brow: :Brow: It didn't go to Demmer's son, it never left there. It was a converted 442 that was before the production build and used to develop the process at Demmer. May even have been an Oldsmobile test car (like many others) that was provided for the process. I think there was a pic posted on Realoldspower.com earlier this year, but there's nothing really different about that from the others. I'll see if I can find that.

These 1 of none cars pop up all the time and usuually can be traced to a conversion. In this case before the production run and by the company that did it. The Hurst Olds convertibles used for Linda Vaughn for promo were also that way.

Super neat cars! Wish they'd have done them in different colors, like Scarlet Red with the black stripes, with a 4 speed, and a 67 400 engine...... Yeah...............

 

Since I am very seriously thinking about buying my 68 H/O back, I've done some research on the production number of these cars.
From what I could tell, when the production number of 515 is listed, that was the number of cars for public consumption. Of course, I have a list that showed that Olds Engineering got 2 of the cars back from Demmer.
Boy, Dave - that must have been a fun demo car - by that I mean demonstration, hopefully not demolition!

Demmer car nos. 123 and 393 went right back to Olds; 123 went to Product Delivery and 393 was listed to Olds Engineering.

Besides the 515, there was the intial conversion, which had that goofy brake activated wing and was a black with gold stripes post coupe.
Then there was the first prototype, which buick64203 mentions that I thought went right to the Demmer family. This should be the 4spd car, post coupe. (Dave seems right on with what he states about this car.)
When I saw the car at the Olds 100th in Lansing in 97', the car had 3x2bbls and the engine was painted blue. I heard that the Demmer's were getting 2 cars, but the 2nd one (also a 4spd) was flipped off of the car carrier and was destroyed.
Then finally there is the convertible, which supposedly still exists and I had been extended an invite to see, but the guy who own's it doesn't return my calls. So I have 515 +4 "special" ones. I wonder if that first conversion is still out there? See the Hurst Olds club site (hurstolds.com) for pictures.

 

Jason, is this it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:1968_Hurst_Demmer.jpg

Devon

 

Joe Z,

Demmer and Olds Engineering were very intertwined back then. I think it was their car that was used to develop the W30 package in 1966. Too many eyes, ears, and loose lips to do internally.

I guess I don't really know what constitutes a genuine Hurst...or any other specialty car like this. Conversions at Hurst, Engineering garage, Demmer all count? How about a conversion in my garage? I always believed in the number that were built on-line in the program. That was just over 500, 515 works for me, too including the preproduction pilots, tet cars, etc. Guess that's how 508 Ramrods in 1968 grew to be 734 or is it larger again this year? Dr Decal still has action selling Ramrod decals. Can't believe of the ones left they need new fender decals every year. Mine still has the originals on it.

Speaking of that, I never liked the white RR decals on my car. The pin stripe is black, interior is black (tires are black, etc.), and the white decal seems out of place. So....I bought a black set from the dealer back when it was new with the plans to change from the white to black. Little more stealth that way. But never put them on and they're still here in the original GM envelopes from Olds. Kinda think they might not look so good now....... afraid to look. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Never heard why all the on-line built cars were automatics. Had to be some discussions on that. Even the Rallye 350 offered 4 speeds. The stick shift W30's were the fastest ones and all the 68 Ramrods were 4 speeds..o No:

 

Guys there one on ebay now..

blue motor too and a little history in the wirte up

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968...ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

 

No bids on the 68 H/O on e-bay yet.

Dave, you're right cause you were there!
My good friend (who owns the H/O I might get back) bought a 68 F-85 back in 1986. It was his first car. He bought decals for it and put them on just for fun back in the late 80s. It is a Lansing built car - and knowing what he knows it would be EASY - o.k. - maybe do-able to fake a Ramrod.

I just saw a Yellow Cutlass S hardtop that is owned by some guy named Tony out of northern IL - he was at our local (Mundelein, IL) cruise in. Not every day I see a Ramrod. I think it was legit.....o No:

 

That's Bob Strohgill or something like that. That's definitely not the original motor, but should be a killer combination with the E block (65-67 442 400) and Ka heads (big valve replacement for service for many high performance 455's). I have the perfect motor for it right here, a 68 Toronado W34 from aircleaner to the oil pan. Plans(dreams?) are to someday go through it and put it in my 68 W30. Just change the intake and exhaust manifolds to the right ones and go for it.

Pretty steep starting price for a car that needs everything. Most of his cars are from New Mexico and are rust free.

 

The HOCA has the 515 original VIN #'s that they were able to recover from Demmer a few years back. As for the convertable and others I do not know. They were able to verify mine as Demmer #440 and determine it was delivered to Steel City Olds in Birmingham AL. Karl Sarpolis told me he has the original shipping paperwork for my car from Demmer to Steel City. There is at least one and maybe two Motion H/O's also rumored to exist.

The E-BAY car is a clone IMHO....the shifter is mounted incorrectly, just about everything Hurst specific is missing. The descripition is a joke....Only Hurst cars had M in the VIN???

 

It would be interesting to run the VIN on that car against Karl's list.

 

I have a copy of the registry somewhere.....Karl will only release the VIN #'s of cars that are in the registry. You have to send him your numbers and he will tell you if it is the real deal or not, then adds your car to the registry if real. Only about 130 real H/O's listed in the copy I have, not 200+. I'd have to see if this one shows up or not. A look at the cowl tag, tranny tag, and a few other choice parts would tell me what I want to know also. It sure looks like this car had a blue interior and possibly a blue exterior. Screaming clone to me, maybe a VIN swap at best.:blast: :blast: I'd ask for more pictures before bidding.:spank: :spank: :spank:

If I remember correctly the 4 speed car is listed as #1 or 2 in the in the registry. I'd have to dig it out to make sure though..............................................

 

I would RUN soooo far away from that H/O on EBay, I'd redlight on the way out !! ou:

$18k for that heap ? No f'in way.

 

there have been many MANY issues with that ebay seller of the H/O. "roll the dice and take your chance" as Col. Jessup would say

 

"......and God Bless." Actually, I bought a lot of really nice parts from him for my other 68 back when he ran the no reserve, $9.99 auctions. See he doesn't do that anymore.