To anyone who would like to respond, I have an Opinion Question to the group collectively. I have 3 sets of NOS genuine Hurst Hatch kits for the 78 to G-Body Cars. These were the aluminum anodized ones you could buy to have put on your Cutlass, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Buick Regal. They have a smaller opening than the factory Fisher T-Tops and as a result you can place in a brace bar running from the windshield to the back window. I even have one of those brace bars.


I bought my 2 tone black/silver 79 Cutlass very inexpensively last year. Granted I've put other needed bucks into it, I'm really contemplating the thought of getting a set of these Hurst Hatches installed on the car.


I was wondering what everyone thought, is this something that's a decent idea (open air driving, a RARE option that virtually unseen, I have ALL the needed parts, the car would more than likely be more valuable but that's not certain) or, would it just be too problematic (need to find a custom shop to get them installed which will be expensive, eventually they will probably leak, the structural integrity of the car would be compromised).


I have a gold anodized set of these on my 79 Hurst Olds so it's not like I don't know what I'm in for here. A big trick would be for me to even find a shop with any know how on installing them, that in and of itself would be a heck of a chore.


So what do you think, run for the hills or go for it.

 

Since you already have a 79 Hurst that has them installed why would you spend the money to have the kit installed on another car? IMHO, you should try to sell them.

 

That's an easy one, and in retrospect I should have mentioned this, thanks: the Hurst is a Show Car, wherein the Black/Silver 79 I drive as a 2nd vehicle. In fact the black one is on my regular auto insurance policy so I can drive it without the usual restrictions you have on a Classic Car policy.


Thank you for asking that, glad that point came out; this is a de facto Driver.

 

How much would it cost to have the Hurst hatch installed on your black/silver 79? At what point do you spend so much money that you would want to put classic car insurance on it and it would become a show car also?

 

Both good points, I just may have an answer to that first question soon. As far as the 2nd goes, never. I take this car to shows but I consider it to be driver class. get in, have fun, enjoy the ride and repeat. And, to be comfortable while doing that. To that end I've installed power seats and thanx to Maxjunk Cruise Control will be in it soon. This is the car I drive wherever, whenever. Except in the winter.

 

This task is D.O.A., I just got a few estimates, this gig was above my pay grade. Nuff said there, thanks. Should have scoped it out first. I'll be sure to do that next time I get a notion like this. Look for these Hurst Hatch sets to be up for sale soon. I'll let someone else have all that fun.

 

If the price of having it installed is too high consider signing up for an auto body course at a local vo-tech. Let the staff know you're taking the course with the intent to install he Hurst hatch.

I painted my 71 98 by taking an auto body course and it was much more satisfying than paying someone to do it. Plus, it was cheaper. Most vo-techs offer these classes in the evenings so students can do it around a work schedule.