Another thread got me to thinking about this.

When were Hurst shifters first put into Oldsmobiles?

 

Here's my guess for first factory installation: 1966, possibly late 1965 442 with 3 or 4 speed stick. Shifter had 4-4-2 embossed on the lever instead of Hurst.

Expanding on it, here's my trivia question -

What was the first Hurst Dual/Gate shifter application? hint- it WAS for an Oldsmobile and will probably surprise you.

Let's get really deep- who built the 65-69 442 3-speed transmissions?

 

65 HD 3 speed 442s had a Hurst first. That Hurst was attached to a Ford 3 speed trans, which was GMs Heavy Duty 3 speed. The shifter handle had HURST and 442 stamped on it.

 

Err, I'll guess 68 H/O

 

68s had D/G too. But it was several years earlier than that.

 

First Dual/Gate application was the 61 or 62 f-85.

 

I knew I should have excluded you!
Of course that was right, but *when* was that? (Here a pics of one you're referring to)
I believe '65 3-speeds were the only factory Olds Hurst manual shifter handles to have the whole word "HURST" on the handles.

 

Beat me to it! Actually thought it was '63, but I don't remember it being just an F-85 offering. Offered by Hurst, but not a factory installation regardless.

 

2-15-65

 

That's about it!

 

I'm confused here [I know what's new]
I thought we were talking "dual Gate" as in "His and hers" automatic shifter.

 

Here, us old'uns will help each other out:
I first posted about Hursts in general, but the first Hurst was a manual shifter.

Then Raider threw in another question, but it was about Dual Gate automatics.
He likes to confuse us!

 

What was I right about the second question? When was the first "his and hers' used?

Or did I get disqualified for answering the second question before the first?

I need a nap.

 

Yep the dual/gate has been around since the early 60s.
It was shown in a ad for the dual/gate attached to a f-85. First called His and Hers shifter because there was a lock for the right side of the shifter.
The left side was for her the right for him.
I didn't start to be a factory installed option until the 66 Pontiac GTO.
I think it was 66.

 

I'm still confused

When was the first dual gate used in an Oldsmobile? I guess technically a 68 H/O isn't a factory installed dual gate.

 

Slightly off topic maybe...but

Does anyone know why the Pontiac type Dual Gate is a completely different mechanism from the Olds(& subsequent later variants)??? Always been curious.

 

That's where Raider is being really tricky.
He didn't day "factory installed"

 

Double check yer info. My flyer shows it as first available for 1963 Starfire and Grand Prix with floorshift Slim Jim, then a couple months later Hurst offered it for Mopar floorshift Torqueflite which was available only in Sport Fury, Polara 500 and Chrysler 300. The remainder of Chrysler Corporation automatic cars were on pushbuttons until 1965- another victim of government contract standards.

I don't see how it could attach to a 61-3 F85 console, as small as the HydraMatic selector dial is on those.

I had a Slim Jim D/G a few years back but could never bring myself to cut my Starfire's console to install it. Sold it to a Pontiac guy who wanted it for a 64 buckets/console Bonneville convertible.

 

I will have to check my facts on this as I'm recalling it from memory. I always could be wrong and frequently am. I do recall seeing something on the 63 Starfire using the Dual/Gate.
The f-85 I recall did not have a factory console just buckets.
Thanks for getting my brain working Glenn.

 

Excellent work guys! Nice bulletin, CW!! That really nails the initial date for the DG.
You're sending me scrambling into my archives, as I know I have some on it too.
I guess the only big question left is when and in what was the first *factory* DG.

 

It's called keeping the ol' brain cells sharp! I find it works really well with young trainees at work.

One of them used to get really fretted with me. Our supervisor liked to have training sessions at 3 AM when the whole crew was near comatose. Sometimes the droning would put me out. Supervisor would notice and throw out a question to me and I'd rattle off the answer with my eyes still closed. Used to tear the kid up- "How the hell does he do that?!" Boss says, "I expect you to be able to do that someday."

CW, that's great Hurst paper. Mine is the parts counter version with a very young Linda Vaughn in a mink stole on it.

And it's weird that Hurst made these things for Slim Jim equipped cars. As wacky as a Slim Jim could be on its 1st shift, makes you wonder how effective a ratchet shifter really was with them.

 

Well, I went digging expecting to find an ad with the DG.
But I found a stash of Hurst stuff form the '60s and in it was *3* different foldout brochures for the DG, 2 from '64 and one from '66. I'll scan and post them.

Went into the Hurst Heritage book to find that the first Hurst shifter offered by an automaker was a 3-spd in '61 by Pontiac, but only as a dealer offering.
'63 Pontiac had the first factory units.

Not sure the book is *totally* accurate as it says the DG lost it's key in '69. It lost the key before that.

 

Would be cool to see one in an Olds.
*Almost* makes me want an auto trans........

 

 

Here's another one!

 

And this one from 1966

 

I like the ratchet shifter that looks like a normal shifter...

I think it was made by hurst ...

 

As shown in my previous posts. Applications for both Pontiac and Olds, but the first ones were factory installed in neither.

 

Hurst handle picture.

 

70-72 floor hump

 

My 71 non console car has a straight shifter. It looks like it must be wrong. You can see the shift ***** all end up in the same spot.

 

I should have been more specific. It was not a Factory option when it came out in '64. Dealer option on Pontiacs, yes