(Photos by Joe Grippo) – We told you it was coming and bam…here it is! The first ever Hurst Nationals were held last weekend at Carlisle and until someone tells us any differently we’re going with the fact that this was the biggest gathering of Hurst vehicles in one place in history. It was super fitting that the show happen in Pennsylvania as it was the ancestral home of the company and its founder George Hurst. The Hurst name, to this day, more than a half century later is synonymous with performance and quality.
The company was involved with lots more than Oldsmobiles as many of you are likely aware. Mopars, Pontiacs, Jeeps, and other vehicles carried the Hurst name and the special Hurst touch. The company broke ground in the 1960s by selling the first every aftermarket forged wheel and it continues that tradition today with a great wheel line of its own.
George Hurst was a transformational figure in the worlds of hot rodding and drag racing. The company’s shifters were must have products for anyone who wanted to truly go hard and run fast. A small company that started making motor mounts evolved into a massive entity that was producing a vast array of products including brakes. There was the life saving equipment, the famed Hurst Jaws of Life that he pioneered as well.
These are amazing cars, built from one of hot rodding’s greatest legacy names. Dig it!
Click the images below to expand them and then scroll to see them all –
Cool stuff! I didn’t see the early 80s blanck/red/silver cutlass with the “lightning rods”. Was there one there?
NOT ONE 68 H/O OR DID WE NOT GET A PHOTO OF THE FIRST YEAR H/O THAT STARTED IT ALL?
I know, no love for the silver/black Hurst Olds?
What’s the back story on the “Golden Web” ’69 Olds?
The Golden Web was a car built in Pennsylvania back in the early 70’s. The new owner had a bunch of old pics of the car pulling the front tires on the street! Sounds like it was pretty notorious back in it’s street racing days. The new owner found the car in a garage in Texas and took it back to his home state of Minnesota. The drive train has been gone through, but the rest is going to remain as you see it. On his way to the Hurst Nationals the new owner was able to take the car to the original builder, who had not seen the car in 40 some years. Sounds like a pretty awesome reunion.
Man, you guys are tough. I was there for the Chrysler Show , I ran through the Hurst deal as an afterthought, I only shot what was there aside…
Truth be told, it was a disappointment. I was there Saturday and it was barren. The vendor outside was even complaining. Hopefully it is better next year
Yeah I was there also. The biggest disappointment was that the Hemi under glass didn\’t make it. Bob Riggle had some excuse for it being the transporters fault. Linda Vaughn was missing due to medical issues(hope she is doing well). Hopefully next year will be bigger and better.
My 1977 Executive Diplomat II RV has floor plates that say “Hurst” under the gas and brake pedals. I believe they are original. Anybody else ever see them? I can find none for sale or even featured in an “I love my car” writeup.