Jack “Doc” Watson joined Hurst and became a pivotal figure within the company, which led to many performance projects with Pontiac. Over the years, Hurst also partnered with Oldsmobile to build special 442s known as the "Hurst" Olds, with AMC to build the wickedly effective SC Rambler, and with Chrysler to create a number of Super Stock cars as well as the 300H. He also helped build one of the most memorable exhibition cars in drag-racing history, the Hemi Under Glass.
No other company or individual had as big of an impact on so many aspects of the automotive industry as George Hurst. His performance parts were some of the best ever, the competition cars won many races, and the muscle cars that bear his name were some of the best of the era. Scores of interviews, in-depth research, and exceptional insight from veteran magazine editor Richard Truesdell and co-author Mark Fletcher have created a great book. In this softcover edition, Hurst Equipped: Revised and Updated Edition captures the complete story from the production cars and race cars to the performance parts.
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Chapter 1: Humble Beginnings: Birth of a Performance Empire
Don Lane and Bill Campbell Join Hurst
A Couple Early Conversions
A Partnership Made Official
Accidental Innovation
Barely Hanging On
Chapter 2: Turmoil and Triumph: Hurst’s Growing Pains 1959–1963
The ANCO Alliance
Hurst Performance Products Floor Shifter
The Wangers Connection
Hurst Shifter Hospital
Racing Promotions
Chapter 3: Shifting into High Gear: Hurst and Campbell Establish an Icon
Facility Expansion
Chapter 4: In the Heat of Battle: Hurst Competition Cars
Hurst Floor Shift Special
Hurst Shifter Special
Hemi Under Glass
Hairy Olds
Baja Boot
Goldenrod
Chapter 5: AMC Gets Serious: American Motors and Hurst Join Forces
1969 Super Stock AMX.
1970 Super Stock AMX
SC/Rambler
1970 Rebel Machine
1971 Hurst Jeepster
Chapter 6: A Legend is Born: Hurst Teams with Oldsmobile
One Thing Leads to Another
1968 Program
1969 Program
1970 Program
1972 Indy 500 Pace Car
Performance on the Decline
1974 Program
1975 Program
1976, 1977, 1978 Proposals
1979 Program
1982 Proposal
1983 Program
1984 Program
1988 Aero Program
Conclusion
Chapter 7: Mopars with a Twist of Hurst: A Match Made in Performance Heaven
Competition Heats Up
Tarozzi and the Test Mule
Mr. Norm’s 1968 Dart GSS
Hemi Darts and Barracudas
The 300H
Chapter 8: The Hurst Marketing Machine: Making History
Hurst Ads
A Passion for Racing
The First Hurst Girl
GeeTO Tiger Giveaway
Miss Golden Shifter Program
Chapter 9: Hurst Performance Company: Missed Shifts and Rebirth
Hurst Innovations
Hurst Goes Public
One-Off Vehicles
Chapter 10: Inside the Doors of HQ: Business Changes
Management Shift
Sunbeam Buys Hurst Performance
Allegheny Acquires Sunbeam
Chapter 11: Changing Hands and Changing Times: An Era of Transitions for Hurst
Tribute Cars
B&M Acquires Hurst
Afterword: Hurst Legacy
Index
Jack “Doc” Watson joined Hurst and became a pivotal figure within the company, which led to many performance projects with Pontiac. Over the years, Hurst also partnered with Oldsmobile to build special 442s known as the "Hurst" Olds, with AMC to build the wickedly effective SC Rambler, and with Chrysler to create a number of Super Stock cars as well as the 300H. He also helped build one of the most memorable exhibition cars in drag-racing history, the Hemi Under Glass.
No other company or individual had as big of an impact on so many aspects of the automotive industry as George Hurst. His performance parts were some of the best ever, the competition cars won many races, and the muscle cars that bear his name were some of the best of the era. Scores of interviews, in-depth research, and exceptional insight from veteran magazine editor Richard Truesdell and co-author Mark Fletcher have created a great book. In this softcover edition, Hurst Equipped: Revised and Updated Edition captures the complete story from the production cars and race cars to the performance parts.
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Chapter 1: Humble Beginnings: Birth of a Performance Empire
Don Lane and Bill Campbell Join Hurst
A Couple Early Conversions
A Partnership Made Official
Accidental Innovation
Barely Hanging On
Chapter 2: Turmoil and Triumph: Hurst’s Growing Pains 1959–1963
The ANCO Alliance
Hurst Performance Products Floor Shifter
The Wangers Connection
Hurst Shifter Hospital
Racing Promotions
Chapter 3: Shifting into High Gear: Hurst and Campbell Establish an Icon
Facility Expansion
Chapter 4: In the Heat of Battle: Hurst Competition Cars
Hurst Floor Shift Special
Hurst Shifter Special
Hemi Under Glass
Hairy Olds
Baja Boot
Goldenrod
Chapter 5: AMC Gets Serious: American Motors and Hurst Join Forces
1969 Super Stock AMX.
1970 Super Stock AMX
SC/Rambler
1970 Rebel Machine
1971 Hurst Jeepster
Chapter 6: A Legend is Born: Hurst Teams with Oldsmobile
One Thing Leads to Another
1968 Program
1969 Program
1970 Program
1972 Indy 500 Pace Car
Performance on the Decline
1974 Program
1975 Program
1976, 1977, 1978 Proposals
1979 Program
1982 Proposal
1983 Program
1984 Program
1988 Aero Program
Conclusion
Chapter 7: Mopars with a Twist of Hurst: A Match Made in Performance Heaven
Competition Heats Up
Tarozzi and the Test Mule
Mr. Norm’s 1968 Dart GSS
Hemi Darts and Barracudas
The 300H
Chapter 8: The Hurst Marketing Machine: Making History
Hurst Ads
A Passion for Racing
The First Hurst Girl
GeeTO Tiger Giveaway
Miss Golden Shifter Program
Chapter 9: Hurst Performance Company: Missed Shifts and Rebirth
Hurst Innovations
Hurst Goes Public
One-Off Vehicles
Chapter 10: Inside the Doors of HQ: Business Changes
Management Shift
Sunbeam Buys Hurst Performance
Allegheny Acquires Sunbeam
Chapter 11: Changing Hands and Changing Times: An Era of Transitions for Hurst
Tribute Cars
B&M Acquires Hurst
Afterword: Hurst Legacy
Index