1983-84 Hurst / Olds
Let ’ s be clear . The 1983-84 Hurst / Olds are not fast cars . Their small-block V-8s deliver a satisfying feel of torque , and they ’ re great cruisers , but they ’ re not about to embarrass any muscle car-era W-30 cars between stoplights . And that ’ s just fine .
The appeal of the 1983-84 Hurst / Olds models is their G-body styling , which was the last of GM ’ s traditional bodyon-frame rear-drive intermediates , and their special-edition styling cues . Simply put , they were great looking cars that appealed to two generations – the original muscle car jockeys and the Gen X enthusiasts who grew up after them .
The 1983 H / O was designed to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the original , 1968 model . Only
3,001 examples were built ( 201 sold in Canada ), all of them black with a silver lower body and red dividing stripe . Each came off Olds ’ assembly line in Lansing , Michigan and was shipped about 45 miles away to secondary manufacturer Cars and Concepts for the conversion . The Hurst Olds returned in 1984 with a silverover-black paint scheme that was essentially a reversal of the first-year model . The only real product difference was the change to a larger , 8.5-inch rear axle . Production increased to 3,500 units .
Performance-wise , every Hurst Olds packed a fourbarrel-fed , 180hp 307ci engine , a Hydra-Matic 200-4R overdrive transmission and a 3.73 rear axle . Along with its 180 horses was a solid 245 lb-ft of torque . It was a combination good for 16-second quarter-miles and 0-60 sprints of about
9 seconds .
1976- 78 Ford Mustang II Cobra / 1978 Mustang King Cobra
After the halcyon days of the Mustang ’ s first generation , storm clouds massed with the introduction of the Pinto-based Mustang II in 1974 . Only four short years after a customer could walk into a Ford showroom and pick a Boss 429 , Boss 302 or Cobra Jet-equipped model , the 1974 Mustang wasn ’ t even offered with a V-8 ( except in Mexico ). The public was not thrilled . Nor did they clamor for the second-generation car like they did the first .
Something had to be done , and in the finest tradition of the Seventies , that “ something ” was tape stripes . With the assistance from GTO marketing guru Jim Wangers ’ company , the Cobra II was introduced in 1976 . It was offered in V-6 and V-8 models , so outright performance wasn ’ t its forte , but a healthy aftermarket helped enthusiasts squeeze a little more juice from their lackluster engines . With no pretensions that it was a high-performance car , the Cobra II was an attractive package that was made more popular by its frequent placement on Charlie ’ s Angels . Thousands were sold during its three-year run . And while the Cobra II was popular with its period graphics package , the 1978-only King Cobra took the concept to the extreme , with a huge , expressive hood graphic , a large front air dam and other unique appointments – including a hood scoop graphic that glimpsed the future : “ 5.0 .” There were 4,318 King Cobras sold .
Mustang IIs have always struggled for respect , but thanks to Gen X enthusiasts who embrace them , the Cobra IIs and King Cobras are gaining increasing favor among collectors .
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