69 H/O Verts'

[DENALI]

Hello
Newbie here, looking to clone a 69 H/O convertible. I will probably have lots of Q's as i go, but for now i have just one......
Does anyone have any pictures of the 69 H/O convertibles with the top up? I am trying to determine if they had the gold center stripe on the convertible top. I have found a couple of pictures that would lead me to believe that they, or at least one of them, had the stripe on it. Thanks

[svnt442]

Info from this site: http://www.rodsandwheels.com/emagazi...ory&toc_id=388

Specs for the 1969 Hurst/Olds
The Hurst/Olds of 1969 featured a 455-cubic-inch V-8 engine with a special camshaft, heads and distributor. It also featured a Turbo Hydramatic 400 transmission that had been modified for maximum performance. The car also had a unique Hurst Dual Gate shifter and console. Its hood scoops were functional, giving it the “Forced Air” induction capability as well as an air cleaner that was operable by vacuum.

The tires used were Goodyear G60-15 tires with special seven-inch rims. These rims were made exclusively for the Hurst/Olds models. The car also featured a custom hood scoop, a rear deck spoiler, and racing mirrors. It had custom paint, Hurst/Olds emblems, and distinct striping to give it a look of its own.
More interesting facts about the Hurst/Olds
Originally, production was planned for 700 models, but a little more than 900 were actually produced. All models for this year, except convertibles, were based on the 4487 Olds model (442 Holiday Coupe). The cars were modified to meet Jack Watson’s specifications at a company called Demmer Engineering in Lansing, Michigan. The cars went from Demmer to the Olds dealer.

The Firefrost Gold color used to paint the exterior of the Hurst/Olds was only available on these models for 1969. The Hurst/Olds emblems were made of plastic, were copper-coated, and then painted. The convertible models had a gold stripe just like the hardtop models, but painted on the white convertible top.

There are also a few minor differences in some of the 1969 models. One is the paint color for the hood scoop interior inlets. Some of these were white, and some were painted black. Some of the cars had a gold stripe that continued along the front of the hood scoop exterior, some did not. Also, Hurst/Olds buyers were offered a dash plaque that was engraved, but not all buyers sent in for their plaque. So, some models will have the plaque, and some will not.

[stevengerard]

are any of the 69 H/O convertibles around, I thought there were only a few made and not even sure if they still existed. I saw a clone of a convertible at the Mecum auction in St Charles last year in October. A quick search shows it was bid up to 27k but didn't sell. Take a look at their site and see if you can find an image, one did not come up in my search - it was nice looking

[DENALI]

Thank you! That is one site i had not came across in my searching. It confirms that indeed there was a stripe on the top. I wonder if there is anything anywhere documenting the dimensions of the stripe.... Also I wonder how one would go about the proper procedure for painting the stripe on a convertible top to where it would adhere appropriately.

[Bluevista]

Originally Posted by DENALI

Thank you! That is one site i had not came across in my searching. It confirms that indeed there was a stripe on the top. I wonder if there is anything anywhere documenting the dimensions of the stripe.... Also I wonder how one would go about the proper procedure for painting the stripe on a convertible top to where it would adhere appropriately.

That's cool they had that stripe, I never knew.
I searched around a little and saw an old b/w pic of one with the top up and it had the stripe for sure.

Are you going to put the giant Hurst shifter on the back too?
Must of been a bear having to have two people to drive the car?
Poor Miss Linda had to ride back there standing up to shift gears.

I would imagine that stripe is the same width as the trunk stripe if the hardtops are like that?

You would have to use a vinyl paint/dye that's flexible for the top and can also be used for exteriors. I would prep the way the paint instructions say to do it.

I was checking out this product a while back for a vinyl top I was thinking of doing, it seems like it should be pretty flexible and they also do color matching.

http://www.parasolinc.com/Products.a...uctID=VARIKOTE

[Jamesbo]

I would GUESS [since I never seen one of the 2 60 H/O drop tops in person ] that the dye you would use on your head rest would work on the top. I had some Firefrost dye mixed up at a local paint store for my headrest and was pleased with it.

A few years ago, I was told by a big time Olds guy that he was offered one of the 69 H/O drop tops for [are you sitting down] $500,000

I have no idea if that is true or B.S.

I was going to build a clone to drive but quit. If ya need any 69 H/O parts, you're welcome to what I have left.

[Aceshigh]

Originally Posted by DENALI

Thank you! That is one site i had not came across in my searching. It confirms that indeed there was a stripe on the top. I wonder if there is anything anywhere documenting the dimensions of the stripe.... Also I wonder how one would go about the proper procedure for painting the stripe on a convertible top to where it would adhere appropriately.

svnt442 and Gearheads are very knowledgeable and have been helping me as well.

This is one of my compadres from Nastyz28 fellas.

[442much]

Originally Posted by DENALI

Thank you! That is one site i had not came across in my searching. It confirms that indeed there was a stripe on the top. I wonder if there is anything anywhere documenting the dimensions of the stripe.... Also I wonder how one would go about the proper procedure for painting the stripe on a convertible top to where it would adhere appropriately.

The car on the site is a 70 not a 69. The information I've read is that there were 3 1969 H/O convertibles. There were supposed to be 68 442 convertibles (used for promotions in 1968) and refitted with 1969 body panels. So in effect, not really 69 H/O convertibles.

[svnt442]

The picture is of a 1970 Indy pace car, but the article is not just talking about the H/O, but 442s in general. It then goes into the description of the 69 H/O.

[69ho aurora]

Originally Posted by 442much

The car on the site is a 70 not a 69. The information I've read is that there were 3 1969 H/O convertibles. There were supposed to be 68 442 convertibles (used for promotions in 1968) and refitted with 1969 body panels. So in effect, not really 69 H/O convertibles.

Not true about 68s being reskinned as 69s. While that was done with some drag cars (i.e. like at least one of the Smothers Brothers cars), the 69 H/O ragtops started life as regular 69 442 converts. I've seen both of the regularly acknowledged cars during the 80s and made the mistake of not trading my just finished car for one of them in '86 or so. They have 69 VINs. I also traded messages with the son of the 3rd owner (after Hurst and Atco dragway) of one of the 68 H/O ragtops (the gold and black one).

I also believe there was a 3rd 69 ragtop. The one that seems to be missing was actually the 1st convert, the one shown at the press introduction at Tavern on the Green in Central Park with 2 hardtops. It had a power antenna (the other 2 didn't) and the intro was long before the build dates of the 2 other cars...

[DENALI]

My inspirational photo, except with a correct white top ......

[Hairy Olds]

Al wasn't the story about the stripe on the top was that it was sewn on?

[DENALI]

Originally Posted by Hairy Olds

Al wasn't the story about the stripe on the top was that it was sewn on?

I would really like to hear more details on that......

[69ho aurora]

Originally Posted by Hairy Olds

Al wasn't the story about the stripe on the top was that it was sewn on?

I believe it may was, but I don't have a source for that other than fuzzy memory from back years ago.

I don't believe the later 2 cars had the stripe. The early car also had the white pinstripes on the headrests while the later ragtops didn't have that. I've got photos of 69 ragtops with 3 flavors of the shifter platform too. Just the shifter, with a line-lock button, and also with a smaller second lever (reverse lockout???)

The only 69-era photos I've seen of the ragtops with the top up and the top of the roof visible are of the early car (look for the power antenna and/or the hood scoop 455 logo with the sold black background in the middle of the "5"s).

The 2 cars I saw in the mid-80s did NOT have the stripe on the top. At that point, one was in rough shape and had I think the original top (not positive) with no stripe. It still had original paint (with a very weathered pearl over it) and still had marks in the paint on the deck lid from the platform suction cups. It also had faded gold carpet and the spiders on the rims had been painted gold. A few other changes had been made (steering wheel and shifter), but there was no question it was the real deal (protecto-plate and much more).

The second car had already been restored (I saw it in 1987) and did not have a stripe on the roof either (which I presume had been replaced during the restoration). The owner knew what he had and spent quite a bit on the restoration (for those days). I can't imagine he would have left the stripe off if it had it in the first place.

[DENALI]

Originally Posted by 69ho aurora

I believe it may was, but I don't have a source for that other than fuzzy memory from back years ago.

I don't believe the later 2 cars had the stripe. The early car also had the white pinstripes on the headrests while the later ragtops didn't have that. I've got photos of 69 ragtops with 3 flavors of the shifter platform too. Just the shifter, with a line-lock button, and also with a smaller second lever (reverse lockout???)

The only 69-era photos I've seen of the ragtops with the top up and the top of the roof visible are of the early car (look for the power antenna and/or the hood scoop 455 logo with the sold black background in the middle of the "5"s).

The 2 cars I saw in the mid-80s did NOT have the stripe on the top. At that point, one was in rough shape and had I think the original top (not positive) with no stripe. It still had original paint (with a very weathered pearl over it) and still had marks in the paint on the deck lid from the platform suction cups. It also had faded gold carpet and the spiders on the rims had been painted gold. A few other changes had been made (steering wheel and shifter), but there was no question it was the real deal (protecto-plate and much more).

The second car had already been restored (I saw it in 1987) and did not have a stripe on the roof either (which I presume had been replaced during the restoration). The owner knew what he had and spent quite a bit on the restoration (for those days). I can't imagine he would have left the stripe off if it had it in the first place.

Interesting information and much appreciated! Looks like either way could be correct then. Would be a nice touch with the stripe but probably not that big of a deal then if not.
Does anyone have any details on the platform and how it was constructed and mounted as well as the overall height of the "shifter"? Thanks

[WTony]

Iv got a bunch of 35mm photo's of one of them. The guy had it at the 97 and 02 nationals in Lansing. I think his name was Kelly, from Iowa somewhere? Got photo's of the protecto plate and other documentation that was displayed with it.

The story I was told was that there were actually 3 of them built. When the first 2 were finished, one was wrecked during a test drive, so they built a 3rd. The wrecked one was then destroyed. Dont know how accurate that story is but thats what I had been told.

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by WTony

Iv got a bunch of 35mm photo's of one of them. The guy had it at the 97 and 02 nationals in Lansing. I think his name was Kelly, from Iowa somewhere? Got photo's of the protecto plate and other documentation that was displayed with it.

The story I was told was that there were actually 3 of them built. When the first 2 were finished, one was wrecked during a test drive, so they built a 3rd. The wrecked one was then destroyed. Dont know how accurate that story is but thats what I had been told.

That's pretty much the story I've always heard as well.

[442much]

Originally Posted by 69ho aurora

Not true about 68s being reskinned as 69s. While that was done with some drag cars (i.e. like at least one of the Smothers Brothers cars), the 69 H/O ragtops started life as regular 69 442 converts. I've seen both of the regularly acknowledged cars during the 80s and made the mistake of not trading my just finished car for one of them in '86 or so. They have 69 VINs. I also traded messages with the son of the 3rd owner (after Hurst and Atco dragway) of one of the 68 H/O ragtops (the gold and black one).

I also believe there was a 3rd 69 ragtop. The one that seems to be missing was actually the 1st convert, the one shown at the press introduction at Tavern on the Green in Central Park with 2 hardtops. It had a power antenna (the other 2 didn't) and the intro was long before the build dates of the 2 other cars...

Thanks for straightening me out on that.

[HurstOlds1775]

Denali, I have over a hundred reference pictures for parts etc if you need any for your project! Here is where I get beat up by the list!!!! There may have been a fourth convert car made, after I collected all my info there are to many differences in each one. There were definitely three, one with a rear power ant and the other two cars had visor mirrors and mast antennas. I have found variances in the rocker stripes in these cars so a fourth may have been made without the N34 steering wheel. It's hard to see in the old pictures. I will post the pictures when I am sure. Also one in the Midwest had decals on the quarter panels that read "CAR CRAFT ALL STAR DRAG RACING TEAM 1969" and all the division NHRA decals as well on the fenders. I am almost finished with my vert and had researched for many years before I started. You have to know what you are talking about after hanging around with George and Phil Berejik for years growing up!! Anyway I found a ruined H/O and added the stock parts to my August of 68 assembled car with 66,000 original miles and a 50 paint code with 930 buckets. A Demmer shifter, wing, hood scoop marked PROTO on the underside, mirrors, etc. were added. Also an OH tranny, a completely stock Lansing 455 that I was told came from a prototype car, factory rims, and NOS emblems with the black paint between the H and the O and the divider. Every detail that I know of has been added even the Ram Air Can with only one side for the breather on the prototypes and the converts only. Check out the June of 69 Motor Trend pictures to see what I mean about the breather. So good luck and this forum has been a great reference for me during my project as well.

[1969Hurst]

As far as I know 3 have been verified, could there have been a fourth, not sure, always possible. The power anntena car was the one that was ruined, the two left have the mast annena's, one is in Iowa and one is in California. The one in California will be up for sale soon, is at a car broker outside of Frisco and is in ok shape and has the correct vin for one of the convertibles and I believe it is the one Al saw in the 80's. Attached is a recent picture, again, not in the prestine shape.