When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
How many 69 H/O cars have a Hurst Performance Protec-O-Plate matching their vin? It also has a California registration for Airheart Products Inc. ( Frank and Robert Airheart of Hurst Airheart brakes) Frank was Vice President of Hurst Airheart Brakes until 1972 and has passed away in 2021. Bob also passed away and was involved with Hurst/Cragar/Sema in sales. I purchased this car in December 1989. The story back then was the first 10 cars were given away to Hurst CEOs and Execs. This was to be the number 8 car. Checking into numbers posted on H/O page it lists it as way higher than first 10 cars. ( Listed as #149) I have protect-o-plate and Calf registration etc. What do you Olds people think of this? True or just a story on first 10 cars given away?
UPDATE:
I joined the Hurst Olds Club.
Got tons of information from members here, H/OCA, FB and tracing owner history.
First 10 cars reserved for Hurst Associates and the next 15 cars reserved for Hurst Representatives.
All 25 cars would have had Hurst Performance Protecto Plates.
The numbering was done by Dash Plaque Numbers.
My car is 1 of first 10 cars Dash Plaque #8, Demmer #149.
Also learned I have last of the next 15 Cars Dash Plaque #25, Demmer #67.
Protecto Plates were important after all.
Thank you everyone.
Last edited by MGBill; Jan 9, 2024 at 09:26 PM.
Reason: Good news....Hurst did in fact reserve 10 cars
Sent info to them on this 69 H/O, but I am still waiting for a response from when I sent info on my 1974 Cutlass/442/possible H/O a week or more ago. ( I am not a member so may take awhile) I have owned four 1969 H/Os and I do not agree with all info that is posted. First 69 I purchased in 1974 and was second owner. Dash Plaque was 318 and written on under side of scoop was 318 by hand, written in wax pencil. (Vin# 344879M392757 ) None of my H/Os had grey upper air cleaners-they were flat black. ( Two originals , 1 Ford upper, 4th car didn't have one ) Still have 3 H/Os and the complete engine from the 4th.
The H/OCA provides the services we can to club members only. General public is outside of our scope. Every H/O owner should join, there are a lot of benefits and the dues are very, very small in terms of cost.
The H/OCA provides the services we can to club members only. General public is outside of our scope. Every H/O owner should join, there are a lot of benefits and the dues are very, very small in terms of cost.
A web site that doesn't reply to legitimate "Contact Us" requests is a poor customer experience and doesn't entice people to join. At a minimum a response should be sent stating that we will help if your a member.
Kurt Karch the 1969 Hurst Olds Adviser on HurstOlds.com did send me an e-mail on my questions regarding the first 10 cars given to Hurst Execs in less than 24 Hours.
I was a member of Journey with Olds and Hurst Olds Club way back in the day. ( Think I still have a stack of Old issues )
A web site that doesn't reply to legitimate "Contact Us" requests is a poor customer experience and doesn't entice people to join. At a minimum a response should be sent stating that we will help if your a member.
You are welcome to join the club, volunteer to help with the website, and recommend the changes you see fit.
Originally Posted by MGBill
Kurt Karch the 1969 Hurst Olds Adviser on HurstOlds.com did send me an e-mail on my questions regarding the first 10 cars given to Hurst Execs in less than 24 Hours.
I was a member of Journey with Olds and Hurst Olds Club way back in the day. ( Think I still have a stack of Old issues )
Thank you Kurt for your speedy response.
I am glad Kurt got back with you. We had to officially limit the information given out to just club members due to people with attitudes like shown from v8al here, where people think a 100% volunteer ran club is obligated to provide services to members of the general public where they seem to expect club personnel to have an obligation to provide physical lookup of information same day just because they own a Hurst/Olds.
Dash plaque numbers don't really mean much except you'd be the 318th person to mail in the card to get their car "registered" with HPRC to expand their customer base. So if 318 was written on the scoop, it's either a fluke coincidnence, or someone did that AFTER the plaque was made and sent. Dash plaque numbers have no bearing on when the car was produced or converted. Absolutely none. As the numbers stand anyway, I'm guessing 318 was nearing the end of the dash plaque production anyway. I could be wrong, but I haven't heard or seen anything higher than the 300s on dash plaques.
The VIN and Demmer number are the only numbers I prescribe to as far as giving them any weight for verification purposes. The fact that low number dash plaques were made for cars 149 and 67 mean that they weren't concerned with which car got produced first, just the first 25 dash plaque numbers were assigned to "giveaway" cars. In fact, simply speculating, I don't think anyone but Demmer's billing department gave a rat's butt back in 1969 about which Demmer number a car was. Which again, while the documentation is cool in and of itself, the dash plaque doesn't mean much in the overall scheme of things. Hurst obviously designated the first 25 dash plaques be used on the first 25 cars they gave away to execs, etc., but without regard to the actual production order, which is certainly evident by the VIN and Demmer numbers.
It was their circus, thus their clowns. However they wanted to do things was pretty much up to them.
Dash plaque numbers don't really mean much except you'd be the 318th person to mail in the card to get their car "registered" with HPRC to expand their customer base. So if 318 was written on the scoop, it's either a fluke coincidnence, or someone did that AFTER the plaque was made and sent. Dash plaque numbers have no bearing on when the car was produced or converted. Absolutely none. As the numbers stand anyway, I'm guessing 318 was nearing the end of the dash plaque production anyway. I could be wrong, but I haven't heard or seen anything higher than the 300s on dash plaques.
The VIN and Demmer number are the only numbers I prescribe to as far as giving them any weight for verification purposes. The fact that low number dash plaques were made for cars 149 and 67 mean that they weren't concerned with which car got produced first, just the first 25 dash plaque numbers were assigned to "giveaway" cars. In fact, simply speculating, I don't think anyone but Demmer's billing department gave a rat's butt back in 1969 about which Demmer number a car was. Which again, while the documentation is cool in and of itself, the dash plaque doesn't mean much in the overall scheme of things. Hurst obviously designated the first 25 dash plaques be used on the first 25 cars they gave away to execs, etc., but without regard to the actual production order, which is certainly evident by the VIN and Demmer numbers.
It was their circus, thus their clowns. However they wanted to do things was pretty much up to them.
Yep, I concour....
They reserved the first 10 Dash Plaque numbers for Hurst Exec's and numbers 11 thru 25 for Hurst representatives and 26 thru 30 for Oldsmobile, regardless of when they were built. George Hurst had plaque #1 but his car is Demmer #8. Bill's Airheart car, although it is Demmer # 149, was reserved for Airheart as a Hurst Exec as Dash Plaque #9.
It seems if you were the very first 'normal Joe' who purchased a 1969 H/O and ran to the maibox to send in for a dash plaque, you were then assigned # 31 as the first general public issued dash plaque number.
They reserved the first 10 Dash Plaque numbers for Hurst Exec's and numbers 11 thru 25 for Hurst representatives and 26 thru 30 for Oldsmobile, regardless of when they were built. George Hurst had plaque #1 but his car is Demmer #8. Bill's Airheart car, although it is Demmer # 149, was reserved for Airheart as a Hurst Exec as Dash Plaque #9.
It seems if you were the very first 'normal Joe' who purchased a 1969 H/O and ran to the maibox to send in for a dash plaque, you were then assigned # 31 as the first general public issued dash plaque number.
That is some really great history. Thanks for sharing.
That is some really great history. Thanks for sharing.
Indeed...
I apologize ahead of time for 'redacting' info below... listing of the dash plaques that Hurst was keeping, I'm sure others have seen the following as well.
Not that I don't trust ones here, but with the possibility of fraud, I don't want others stumbling upon it and grabbing info and or addresses for whatever reason. Even as much to grab a name and create a fake dash plaque. I've seen a share of fake dash plaques, don't want to give anyone the ammo to try to create one with a verified name. I'm sure I'm being too paranoid, but so be it.
