Hurst: A Legendary name in Hot Rod History Lives on in Modern Chrysler and Dodge Muscle Cars

August 2020 • By Tony Thacker, vintage photos Bob McClurg    

When the Great Book of Hot Rod History is written the name George Hurst will be right up there near the top.  Described by his one-time business partner Ed Almquist as “a womanizer, alcoholic and egomaniac,” George was equally “a mechanical genius, a promotional wizard and an optimist.” Indeed, George Hurst was larger than life and his legend lives on with various modern muscle cars baring his name.

In the late fifties, to drum up sales of an engine mount, George took an 11,000-mile sales trip sleeping in his car and eating candy bars. The trip resulted in $100,000 worth of orders and established a brand that quickly developed into the legendary Hurst  ‘Twin Pattern’ shifter that employed both ‘H’ pattern and straight-line shifting in one unit. The shifter was quickly adopted as a non-factory branded item for the Super Duty Pontiac. Hurst was, as they say, off to the races. 

Gentleman’ Joe Schubeck fielded a Hurst dragster, and beautiful, scantily clad Linda ‘Miss Hurst Golden Shifter,’ Vaughn cruised the drag strip in a gold-colored Pontiac with a nine-foot shifter.  These hugely successful publicity vehicles were followed in 1965 with the ‘Hurst Hemi Under Glass’ a back-motored, wheel-standing Plymouth Barracuda. The Hemi Under Glass is best known for its crazy antics at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and its almost last ride with legendary driver Bob Riggle and Jay Leno.

The Hurst Hairy Oldsmobile was powered by two supercharged, injected, nitro-burning 425 ci Olds, each driving an axle. Photo Bob McClurg.

Hemi Under Glass was quickly followed by the ‘Hurst Hairy Oldsmobile’ in 1966 that was be powered by two supercharged, injected, nitro-burning 425 ci Olds that each drove an axle. The Hairy Olds was outrageous and cemented the Hurst brand.

Modern Hurst Performance vehicles tend to look like this Hellcat Wide Body Challenger by GSS. They are loaded with features specifically chosen to celebrate the originals such as the same Peruvian Silver Metallic paint.

While today’s muscle cars that carry the Hurst moniker are not quite as outrageous as those of 50 years ago, they are, nevertheless, cars you dream of owning. Take, for example, the Hurst Heritage Chrysler 300-H by GSS-supercars.com.

Like the original, the new Chrysler 300-H wears its Hurst Gold proudly. A Challenger Hellcat inspired hood incorporates a functional central cold air intake that ducts air directly to a Flowmaster Delta Force low-restriction air filter. Further mirroring the Hellcat hood, functional heat extractors release hot air. Complementing the intake is a Flowmaster American Thunder cat-back dual exhaust system that’s capped off with large 4-inch diameter Hurst logo exhaust tips that accent a Euro spec Chrysler 300 SRT rear diffuser.

Unlike the original muscle cars, today’s performance cars are expected to handle as well as they accelerate, and the Chrysler 300-H doesn’t disappoint. Fitted with 20 x 9 and 20 x 10 inch Hurst Stunner wheels shod with 275/40ZR20 and 315/35ZR20 Nitto NT555 G2 directional tires, this combination works in harmony with the Hurst Stage 1 lowering springs. Not only does the Chrysler 300-H handle more like a sports car than a sport sedan, it has a killer stance that accentuates its aggressive good looks.

Inside, the Chrysler 300-H mirrors its exterior with Katzkin custom Pearl White Tuscany glove-soft leather that features the legendary Hurst logo embroidered in the seat backs. Other interior accents include Hellcat brushed aluminum pedal pads and dead pedal, Chrysler 300-H bright doorsill accents, Hurst logo plush carpet mats and a unique serial number dash plaque that identifies this car as one that is truly special.

Despite rumors of the Chrysler 300’s demise, Steve Beahm, the head of FCA passenger cars says that’s not true. Nevertheless, production of the Hurst Heritage Chrysler 300-H by GSS is limited to just 50 numbered vehicles.

If four doors are not your taxi then check out this Challenger by GSS that celebrates the ’68 Hurst Olds 442—the opening salvo for what became the long running series of Hurst branded vehicles. Based on a Hellcat Wide Body, the Challenger is loaded with features specifically chosen to celebrate the originals such as the same Peruvian Silver Metallic that made them so distinctive 50 years ago. Likewise, the gloss black paint that covers the trunk lid and subtly wraps the rear glass, just like the original ’68. Ditto the lack of a rear spoiler.

Even with a supercharged Hemi, performance benefits from a Flowmaster Delta Force Cold Air Intake that gets its fresh air directly from the Mr. Norm’s Demonic Hood. A Flowmaster Outlaw cat-back dual exhaust system provides the perfect low restriction soundtrack.

The Challenger also gets an upgrade in the wheel and tire department courtesy of Hurst Stunner style wheels CNC machined from billet forgings. In fact, the rear wheels are a whopping 12-inches wide and are fitted with super sticky Pirelli PZero Corsa System Assimetrico tires: 305/35ZR20 at the front and 345/30ZR20 out back.

No real Hurst Heritage muscle car would be complete without a genuine Hurst Shifter, and the Challenger is no exception as there is a Hurst chrome shift arm fitted with a T-handle. There is also the customary Hurst Shifter Warning Label mounted on the console that reminds you to “shift as hard as you please, but don’t break your arm.”

Today, the Hemi powered Challenger is the only modern muscle car in production with the kind of no-nonsense attitude and authenticity it takes to honor the original. Like the original Hurst Olds 442, the Hurst Heritage By GSS Challenger is reasonably affordable, it’s brutally fast, and quite frankly, there’s nothing like it on the road today and only 50 serial numbered cars will be built,

For information on how to obtain one of these vehicles contact www.GSS-Supercars.com or call: 760-612-6365.