(Photos by Joe Grippo) – We’re back with the second and final Joe Gripo gallery from the 2017 and inaugural Hurst Nationals. The thing that you realize when you go through these photos is the fact that the Hurst name and touch fell on an incredible array of stuff over the years. Jeeps, the Rambler Scrambler, Oldsmobiles through the 1970s and 1980s, the Camaros, Mustangs, and Challengers, of today, and the list goes on and on.
The OEM world has changed a ton since the 1960s and Hurst had a TON to do with it. The specialty editions of cars that OEMs themselves produce these days are a derivative of the work that Hurst did with his company starting in the 1960s. Nearly 60 years ago, George Hurst had a vision and the execution of that vision made him a huge star and a household name, especially if you loved cars. Much like the rockstars of the era, his stuff has aged very well.
Click the images below and then scroll through with the arrow keys to see them all –
Very nice of you to lead with the 300 photo.
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.
The SSJ Grand Prix is stunning. I honestly think that the 73-76 “colonade” era cars were the nicest of the Hurst/Olds. They just require some underhood change-ups to back up the looks. In today’s parts climate, swapping in an injected 400-ish inch Olds that makes a solid 400 hp, adding rear discs, a 700R4, and a few other suspension mods, and you’ve got a pretty nice modern GT that you could eat up a lot of miles with.
That’s an interesting re-purposing of a B-body Comp Plus shifter to row the automatic in the primered Chrysler. Great wheels on that rig, too.
Here’s a question I have yet to hear an answer to. Does anyone know the history of the Hurst Pistol Grip shifters on 70-up Mopars? Were they a Chrysler design that Hurst built, or did Hurst come up with the design and shop it around Detroit?