Well I decided to jump back into the Olds Muscle Car world after 30+ years. In the mid-late 80's owned a 73 442 and then bought a 70 442. These were difficult to keep running as daily drivers and life priorities led me into other directions. I satisfied my need for a good performance car with a Pontiac G8 and then a CTSV. Which brings me to 2016, I have spent most of the year searching Craigslist nationaly for mostly 69 rollers with the idea of building a resto mod (body from the 69 Olds Convertible and everything else would be modern) took me in many directions as I looked at a few cars and they just didn't feel like the right one. One day I saw a 73 Hurst Olds for sale within a resonable drive and at a very reasonable price. Took the ride out and two days latter had it towed to my shop. Thats it I had my starting point and started to diassemble the car with a goal of having a frame off restoration completed within 10 months (I own a truck body shop - work on Fire Truck Bodies, I have the space, tools and manpower). Shortly there after I saw a 1972 Hurst Olds Pace Car Edition for sale in Albany, NY and decided I had to have it, resulted in some nice conversations with the wife who is also my business partner. Well last week I took the 13 hour drive from Chicago to Albany and trailered this girl back. She is 95% complete and nearly all solid on the metal (which is great considering it sat outside for a good deal). The car has been parked for at least 15 years and still fires right up. So my Frame off on the 73 HO is on hold and the 72 HO frame off has begun. I will post pics as the process moves along and will have MANY questions for the group as well. Very excited to be an Olds owner once agian and always felt the Hurst Olds were the best of Olds Muscle Cars (69 HO being the Unicorn). My goal is to find a Hurst Olds from the first 6 years made (68, 69, 72, 73, 74 & 75) in a "Need for Restoration" condition and do frame off restorations on these. With the goal of having them as my private collection (which I intend to drive as much as weather will allow). Thanks for reading this and sorry for the book I wrote future posts will be much shorter.

Last item is if any member in Northwest IL would like to come visit my shop we are located in Elgin, IL. Always have 7-10 Fire Trucks in house and currently doing a paint refurb on Radio Flyer (Worlds Largest Wagon) company name is Kards Inc (have a facebook page).

 

Two of my favorite year Hurst/Olds. Nice to see them restored, especially the '72 model since not many made that year. If I was closer, it would be nice to see the shop and the trucks.

 

Have a fire truck as well (marketing truck) and had the body wrapped today. Still have to paint the cab and decal it should be completed in the next 7-10 days.

 

Looks like you definitely have the room! Should be a couple of really nice projects.


Might just take you up on the offer to drop by next time I am in town. Used to live right up north of you in Algonquin. Still get back all the time for family and work obligations.


Jim

 

Welcome Kards ( what do we call you LOL?)looking forward to reading your book!! LOL... great space!! and who doesn't like fire trucks, I myself am partial to the old power wagon, brush trucks myself, ( world war 2/korea era I am guessing) anyway welcome to the site


Eddie

 

My name is Paul Kardaschow (Kards - was just so much easier for people to pronounce). We also have this fun little wagon in house for a full restoration in anticipation of their 100 year anniversary

in 2017.

 

Jim (70wcar) doors always open.

 

Great cars! Can't wait to see the progress Paul! By the way what do you shoot for paint?

 

Sikkens BT650 for the fire trucks (feel its the best in the business) and AutoBasePlus for cars. Used to be a PPG shop and cant ever see us switching. Great Paint and even better service! Did a full repaint on my 2009 CTSV in the spring and it turned out great.

 

Welcome, nice cars and trucks. The wagon is neat to.

Here is a 75 Hurst. Probably a little far away and little too rough. But I thought I would throw out some temptation.

http://easternshore.craigslist.org/cto/5753643316.html

 

Ctosiflying - GREAT BUILD ON 69 HO VERT. Unicorn car

 

That 75 would be a good candidate, looking for W-30. Think the only year I would be open to a 350 would be 74. Would like to do a Targa Top on a 74 but not cut up a good W-30.

But this is the type of car I would be looking for $2000 or less for 74 and 75. Will probably look to start buying again once I get close to wrapping up the 72 resto.

 

Ha! I knew it. I was a Sikkens paint rep for 13 years up until two years ago. Great product! Screwed up Company to work for. Lol

I switch to Axalta and they also have some great products. Great company to work for. Ironically....
My Hurst Tribute is all Sikkens!

 

I love the Skikkens and LKQ folks in my area, they took serious care of us and their paint has been amazing. Send me the Sikkens codes for the 69. Honestly will end up doing something on 69 either original HO or Clone.

What I heard through the grapevine is that Europe runs the deal and they are ok with the non existent marketing in the US. Drives the US folks crazy.

 

Fenders have rust at the both of panel, will look to repair them. The rest of the fender is solid







Removing dash and all wiring, labeling anything I can.



Truck is looks great a few spots to address



Steering column is left and interior is removed



lots of solid metal

 

Looking to have the body off the frame in the next few days. Then start blasting all of the metal.

 

Wow, very impressive and nice work so far. Thanks for saving this very rough '72 H/O, especially since there cannot be many left from the already small batch built that year.

 

Looks like a big project but it appears you've got a nice start on it and a good space to work in. I've never seen a car w that much exterior surface rust looks daunting

 

Great progress!

 

Body is off the frame.

 

Making good progress. Exciting project !

 

Thanks for the feedback..... really seemed to stall a bit when taking the dashboard and contents apart. After that I have been rolling, motivated to start blasting parts this week.

 

Very cool. I work for precision body works in elgin. I live right on rt 31 ., bout 2 blocks from the shop where i work lol.

 

Paul, very nice work, wow, moving along! Stalled? you don't know the meaning until you see my project LOL.. snails are in the passing lane on my project LOL...


great work looking forward to updates.

 

Stop by anytime and I will show you around the shop.

 

Wrapped up blasting the frame today, will touch up some welds and have it epoxy primed and painted this week. Looking to have a rolling chassis within the next 2-3 weeks. The body was blasted and will start the metal work after the frame is completed. Restoration is moving along.

 

Nice .

 

Wow. You're making great progress with H/O. Nice to see another one saved. Can't wait to see the '72 and '73 completed.