We featured several of Lindemann’s reviews here on Street Legal TV before, but this one of the ’68 Hurst/Olds has got to be one of our favorites.
Usually, Bud would start the review from inside the studio with an opening of his initial thoughts and summation of either the particular model and sometimes, even the entire brand of whatever car he reviewed that week, with a narration of his voice reviewing the car while a colleague of his actually did the testing on the track.
But this episode was different. Instead of Bud sitting in the studio discussing the driving dynamics of another example of the usual muscle-era sedan he often reviewed, he went to the test track himself to get a closer look of the H/O, and to meet the man who actually developed it; Jack “Doc” Watson.
For the first few minutes of the film, we get the background development history of the ’68 H/O, such as engine specs (390hp/510ft-lbs), production numbers (515), and few fun facts such as how Olds was the first to be fitted with the then new Goodyear Polyglas tires from the factory. Doc also drops a hint about another Hurst/Olds car that was currently in the works at the time. We assume it was simply the ’69 H/O he was referring to.
The two automotive legends share a few laughs about the car while Bud interviews Doc with what looks to be a melted candle, but we’re pretty sure it’s a microphone. All joking aside, the souped-up Cutlass didn’t disappoint in the performance tests, as the 5.3 second 0-60 and ¼-mile time of 13.24 at 107 purely speak for themselves.
Bud had nothing but good things to say about the limited-edition Olds, and who are we to discredit him? So if you have about nine minutes to kill, check out the posted video below and listen to the awesome soundtrack of the 455’s high-lift cam as it idles up to the camera.