*For Sale: NOT A BUICK....HOWEVER A VERY SPECIAL OLDSMOBILE. Here is a spectacular opportunity for someone to own a 1972 Hurst / Olds Indy 500 Festival Pace Car Convertible. The perfect "Fathers Day" Gift. This 1972 Hurst / Olds Indy 500 Festival Pace Car Convertible is without a doubt one the best ones in existence. I have yet to see one nicer. It has been pampered and owned by one of the largest Oldsmobile Private Collectors. Just two years after pacing the Indy 500 with the 442 Oldsmobile partnered with Hurst Performance Products to produce the 1972 Hurst/Olds Official Indy 500 Pace Car. This was the first time in the history of the race that an aftermarket performance manufacturer had been part if the Pace Car action. Driven by Indy veteran Jim Rathmann, the official car`s 455 V-8 produced 300 horsepower, while production version, comprising of 130 Convertibles and 499 hardtops was rated at 270 bhp. Equipped with the Turbo-Hydramatic 400 transmission and 3.23:1 gears, all cars were painted Cameo White and given Black interiors with Strato Bucket Seats, Console and Hurst Dual Gate Shifter. In addition, they were fitted with unique fiberglass Ram Air hood with hold-downs and reflective Gold Pace Car graphics. Today, fewer than 50 of the convertible pace cars are known to exist. The W45 code on its Cowl Tag and Build Date indicates that this car was one of the 54 Festival Parade Cars. Used for parade and display purposes before the race, this vehicle was driven by Committee Director Robert Kiley Jr. for track duties. Specifications: * Balanced and Blueprinted 455 cubic inch engine rated at 270hp. * Turbo-Hydramatic 400 transmission with 3.23:1 gears. * One of 54 used at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. * 1st Place Oldsmobile Club of America National Winner. * 2017 Muscle Car and Corvette National Gold Concours Winner - 974 Points. * Factory Air Conditioning. * Rally Sport Steering Wheel with Tilt Column. * Rally Gauge Pack including Tic-Toc-Tac. * Indy 500 dash plaque. * Original 1972 Hurst/Olds Press Kit. This 1972 Hurst Olds / Indy 500 Festival Pace Car Convertible was used to measure and build the 1972 Hurst / Olds Revell Kit Model. The car has been fully restored to its 100% Factory Specs, it retains all of its original sheet metal and interior components. It has fewer than 500 miles since completed. The car was meticulously restored....however never pulled off the frame. This is a Frame On restoration. Keeping the integrity of the car and maintaining it`s originality. What needed to be restored, was restored. The car has remained in private collection with the same owner for 12 years. Original mileage is 32,000 Car is located in the Chicago Suburbs. Contact Dan Vasic for private showing (630) six nine nine five five seven eight. $140K
I see this car has the round "Festival 500" decals. It appears that this was a "Festival Car" which is one which was provided by Oldsmobile (and Hurst) BEFORE the Indy 500 race and delivered to the Indianapolis 500 Committee (usually a week or two early) for parade duty and driving all the "higher-ups" and famous people around to all the festivities during the week leading up to the race - it's a BIG deal in indy for at least a week before the race. The actual track cars (actual pace cars) were much more modified and there were usually two of those. So, the "Festival Cars" were actually used for the festivities and probably were actually parked at the track during the race. And, since it is one of the convertible versions, it very likely had some prominent person or two sitting in it during the parade. I had a '74 Hurst/Olds W-30 Festival 500 car and see one in the first pic in the background on the left. These are rolling billboards. There are no white-lettered tires in the world which can divert attention from all the body graphics and lettering.
Ken, You are Spot ON! The 1974 Hurst/Olds is among my favorites. She is currently on display at the Gilmore Museum.....if you have never been. I Highly recommend it! Here is the episode with Dennis Cage featuring the 1977 OLDS Delta 88 Pace Car and the 1974 Hurst/Olds W-30 Pace Car.
Beautiful car Dan and excellent work on the restoration (I wouldn't expect any less). I vaguely recall seeing it @ MCACN but probably didn't realize (or forgot) how special of a car it is. As an aside (I'll delete if you want), '17 was my 1st year going and for anyone who hasn't been, you're missing out. It's sensory overload. In '18 I really made it a point to stop and read all of the display boards. Some are the regular stuff but many explain some unique history/facts of/ about the cars. We're fortunate to have an early/cheap direct flight out on Sat. morning and back Sat. night - I can do the whole day with flights, parking, ground transportation, food, & show entrance for $200. After '17 I said I'd never miss that show again. Unfortunately it wasn't in the cards last year but I expect to be there again this year. Well worth the trip.
Yes it is....when we came back from having dinner with Linda Vaughn. We were all completely shocked to see what was happening to the "Shifter Car".....and these were Oldsmobile people.....Not Cool! Dan
I hate to even "like" that post. I remember that whole incident and that they were Olds people.. What in the world were they (not) thinking (or drinking)?
They were DEFINETELY drinking.....the next morning they were all like dogs with their tails between there legs. I still cannot believe that weekend?