1974 · Oldsmobile · United States
1974 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds: Back to Indy, with a 350 Option
The Hurst/Olds paced the Indianapolis 500 again and offered a 350 for the first time: 1,800 coupes, 380 of them with the 455 W-30.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
This record's own dek states that the Hurst/Olds paced the Indianapolis 500 again and offered a 350 for the first time, with 1,800 coupes built, 380 of them with the 455 W-30. This record's own overview states that the Hurst/Olds Club of America records 1,800 Cutlass coupes, 1,420 with the 350 and 380 with the 455 W-30, that 46 of them were used at the Indianapolis festivities, and that other Hurst/Olds-trimmed vehicles were built for the event: 42 Delta 88 convertibles, one Cutlass four-door for speedway president Tony Hulman, official pace cars, and six Custom Cruiser wagons.1,2
This record's own overview states that the 4-4-2 continued as the W-29 package on Cutlass and Cutlass S coupes, and that a tertiary account says the four-speed was dropped for 1974 with power steering and Turbo Hydra-Matic becoming standard. This record's own production notes state that no citable source gives a 4-4-2 production count for 1974, and that a widely repeated figure of 245 Cutlass and 6,959 Cutlass S coupes is held as an unpublished lead. This record's own production rows also carry two host-body totals, 50,860 Cutlass S G37 coupes and 16,063 Cutlass F37 coupes, shown for scale only and separately scoped from the Hurst/Olds figures.3
This record's own engines section documents the V-code 455 W-30 with dual exhaust, a Hurst/Olds option built in 380 examples, and the K/M-code 350 four-barrel, built in 1,420 examples and required in California, with K denoting single exhaust and M dual exhaust. This record's own prices section documents factory prices of $3,550 for the Cutlass S coupe (G37), $3,453 for the Cutlass coupe (F37), and $3,745 for the Cutlass Supreme coupe (J57), the host bodies for the 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds packages, all read row-aligned from the Standard Catalog's production table.1,4
This record's own production rows document that the 46 Hurst/Olds festival coupes split into 31 with the 350 and 15 with the 455, that a Cutlass four-door was built in Hurst/Olds trim for speedway president Tony Hulman, that 42 Delta 88 convertibles and six Custom Cruiser wagons carried Hurst/Olds trim for the event, and that the club history's all-units total across every one of these categories is 1,851. This record's own conflicts section addresses the number of official pace cars directly: the club history counts 2, while the club's own spotter guide counts 3, one a replacement after an accident, and this record shows both without reconciling them.1,2
This record's own identification section documents the Hurst/Olds VIN pattern 3G37 plus an engine code (K, M, or V) plus 4M plus a six-digit sequence, body tag ST 74-3AG37 LAN, and detailed drivetrain identification: 455 cars carry block casting 396021F or 396021FA painted Oldsmobile blue and a Turbo Hydra-Matic tag of OX, while 350 cars carry block casting 395558 painted Oldsmobile gold and a Turbo Hydra-Matic tag of LC. This record's own specifications section documents gold rims on all Hurst/Olds coupes, 15-inch wheels on 455 cars against 14-inch on 350 cars, a Hurst Dual-Gate shifter on 455 cars against Oldsmobile's standard shifter on 350 cars, and a vinyl roof with a simulated roll bar in the contrasting color.1,1
This record's own options section documents the 4-4-2 package's special suspension, handling components, and markings on the coupe body, noting the factory brochure gives it no code while a tertiary account calls it W-29, alongside AN7 swivel bucket seats and a 19X black floor console carried on Hurst/Olds body tags, and dealer-optional Hurst tachometer, pace-car lettering and decals, and special chrome tailpipe extensions. This record's own unpublished leads flag an uncited claim of 230 net hp for the W-30 455 and 180 hp for the 350 alongside a 92-car parade-car count that does not match the club's own festival-fleet breakdown, a claim this record does not adopt.1
Fact sheet · 1974 · United States
The numbers
1974 Oldsmobile Cutlass 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds — The Hurst/Olds paced the Indianapolis 500 again and offered a 350 for the first time: 1,800 coupes, 380 of them with the 455 W-30.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-23.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
- Hurst/Olds coupes 1,800: 1,420 with the 350 and 380 with the 455 W-30.1
- Oldsmobile's 1974 catalogue lists the Rocket 350, Turbo Hydra-matic, power steering and front disc brakes as Cutlass standard equipment, and the 4-4-2 package (coupe) with special suspension and markings as an option.
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurst/Olds Cutlass coupes1,2 Hurst/Olds · Colonnade Cutlass S hardtop coupe (AG37) · 350 or 455 W-30 · not stated by source | 1,800 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurst/Olds with 3501 Hurst/Olds · Cutlass coupe · 350 4-barrel · Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 · not stated by source | 1,420 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Hurst/Olds with 455 W-301 Hurst/Olds · Cutlass coupe · 455 W-30 · Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 · not stated by source | 380 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurst/Olds coupes used at the Indianapolis 500 festivities1,2 Hurst/Olds · Cutlass coupe · not stated by source Subset of the 1,800. | 46 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Hurst/Olds festival coupes with the 3501 Hurst/Olds · Cutlass coupe · 350 4-barrel · Indianapolis 500 festival fleet Subset of the 46 festival coupes; the club says the 31 and 15 make up the 46. | 31 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Hurst/Olds festival coupes with the 4551 Hurst/Olds · Cutlass coupe · 455 W-30 · Indianapolis 500 festival fleet Subset of the 46 festival coupes. | 15 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cutlass four-door in Hurst/Olds trim for Tony Hulman, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway1,2 Hurst/Olds track car · Cutlass four-door (club history: Cutlass Salon four-door) · Indianapolis 500 festival fleet | 1 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Delta 88 convertibles in Hurst/Olds trim for the Indianapolis 5001,2 Hurst/Olds track car · Delta 88 convertible · not stated by source | 42 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Custom Cruiser Hurst/Olds wagons for press, photographer, medical director and day care1,2 Hurst/Olds track car · Custom Cruiser wagon · not stated by source | 6 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| All 1974 Hurst/Olds-trimmed vehicles2 Hurst/Olds incl. track cars · not stated by source The club history counts 2 official pace cars; its spotter guide counts 3 (one a replacement). See conflicts. | 1,851 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cutlass S coupe (G37), all engines and packages (4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds host body)4 Cutlass S · 2-door Colonnade coupe (G37) · not stated Row-aligned reading from separate OCR cells (see the dossier). Host-body total; not a 4-4-2 or Hurst/Olds figure and not to be added to the rows above. | 50,860 | not stated (catalogue production total), model-year | Reported |
| Cutlass coupe (F37), all engines and packages (4-4-2 host body)4 Cutlass · 2-door Colonnade coupe (F37) · not stated Row-aligned reading. Host-body total; not a 4-4-2 figure. | 16,063 | not stated (catalogue production total), model-year | Reported |
No 4-4-2 (W-29) production count was found in a citable source; the Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 gives 4-4-2 counts for 1975 but not for 1974.
The club says the 1,800 coupes split 1,420 (350) and 380 (455 W-30), which partition the 1,800; and that the 46 festival coupes split 31 (350) and 15 (455). A widely repeated 4-4-2 figure (245 Cutlass and 6,959 Cutlass S coupes) is held as an unpublished lead.
The two host-body rows (Cutlass S and Cutlass coupe totals) are shown for scale only and are separately scoped from the Hurst/Olds rows.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Factory price, Cutlass S coupe (G37)4 | $3,550 | factory price (catalogue 'Factory Price' column), base car before options; row-aligned reading, 1974 model year |
| Factory price, Cutlass coupe (F37)4 | $3,453 | factory price (catalogue 'Factory Price' column), base car before options; row-aligned reading, 1974 model year |
| Factory price, Cutlass Supreme coupe (J57)4 | $3,745 | factory price (catalogue 'Factory Price' column), base car before options; row-aligned reading, 1974 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| V · 455 V-8 W-30, dual exhaust1 455 cu in · Rochester Quadrajet 4-barrel | Hurst/Olds option | 3801 Reported | |
| K/M · 350 V-8 4-barrel (K single exhaust, M dual exhaust)1,2 350 cu in · Rochester Quadrajet 4-barrel | Hurst/Olds; required in California | 1,4201 Reported |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 (455 cars) / 350 (350 cars)1 | Hurst/Olds | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
4-4-2 package (coupe), including special suspension and handling components and markings | — | Not yet sourced |
AN7RPO |
Swivel bucket seats (Hurst/Olds body tag)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
19XRPO |
Black floor console (Hurst/Olds body tag)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Hurst tachometer on the console (optional on all Hurst/Olds)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Pace-car lettering and decals (optional; ordered before production or dealer-installed after the car was built)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Special chrome tailpipe extensions (optional)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
11 |
Cameo White (Hurst/Olds)1 | Not yet sourced |
19 |
Ebony Black (Hurst/Olds)1 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
950 |
Black vinyl with gray cloth inset, swivel buckets (Hurst/Olds)1 | Not yet sourced |
957 |
White vinyl with gray cloth inset, swivel buckets (Hurst/Olds)1 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheels, Hurst/Olds1 | gold rims on all cars; 15 in on 455 cars, 14 in on 350 cars | Hurst/Olds coupes |
| Roof treatment, Hurst/Olds1 | vinyl top with simulated roll bar in stainless trim, roll-bar section in the contrasting colour (white top with black bar, black top with white bar); quarter-glass reduction panel | Hurst/Olds production coupes |
| Shifter, Hurst/Olds1 | Hurst Dual-Gate on 455 cars; standard Oldsmobile shifter on 350 cars | Hurst/Olds |
Identification
- Hurst/Olds VIN
- VIN 3G37 + engine code (K 350 single exhaust, M 350 dual, V 455 W-30) + 4M + six-digit sequence; body tag ST 74-3AG37 LAN.1
- Hurst/Olds drivetrain identification
- 455: block casting 396021F or 396021FA painted Oldsmobile blue, heads KA, intake 412753, exhaust manifolds X 412287 / Z 402294, dual-snorkel air cleaner, Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 tag OX. 350: block casting 395558 painted Oldsmobile gold, heads #8, intake 411990, exhaust manifolds 411961 / 398704, Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 tag LC. Distributor 1112889 (HEI) or 1112195 (standard ignition); Quadrajet 7044559 (7043250 or 7043255 California). Converted by Hurst Performance at Ferndale, Michigan, after Lansing assembly; the club holds no VIN list for 1974 production but has a complete list of festival cars.1
Where the sources disagree
Identification
Read a 1974 Oldsmobile VIN
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Same model year
Also in 1974
- AMC AMX The final Javelin AMX: 4,980 built, with the Go Package's cowl induction dropped and a production run that stretched into November 1974.
- AMC Gremlin X and Spirit AMX The Gremlin X gained a 'hockey stick' stripe. The 304 V8 remained available, but no X or V8 counts for the year were found.
- AMC Javelin The Javelin's final year: 22,556 non-AMX cars on a production run extended into November 1974.
- Buick Riviera Colonnade pillared roof; 20,129 built, 1,698 with Stage One and 4,119 with the GS handling option.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX The last year a 455 Stage 1 could be had in a Buick intermediate Gran Sport; 3,355 were built, 478 of them Stage 1.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The SS was gone; the new Laguna Type S-3 coupe carried the Chevelle's performance image, with a 235 net hp 454 still on the engine list.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Spirit of America Nova (RPO Z51) offered on the Custom hatchback per the source. Enthusiast-compiled production: 390,537 cars; Super Sport 21,419.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS Colonnade-era El Camino; Chevrolet's 1974 data pages define the RPO Z15 SS option for the El Camino Classic. Team Chevelle's production totals give 51,223 El Caminos built, 4,543 of them with SS equipment.
- Dodge Challenger The last original-era Challenger shared a catalog with the Dart; the 360 replaced the 340 as the optional engine and production ended in April 1974.
- Dodge Charger The last B-body Charger before the 1975 personal-luxury redesign, with 5-mph bumpers, carried-over powertrains and an SE that accounted for 30,957 V-8 cars.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon The 360 replaced the 340 in the Dart Sport, and Flory's production table counts 3,951 Dart Sport 360s at a $3,244 base price.
- Ford Maverick Grabber Grabber production fell to 23,502 by Classic Industries count.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT continued on the 1972-76 Ranchero; 11,328 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird Sixth-generation personal-luxury Thunderbird; the record holds the production total and the luxury-group option prices only.
- Ford Torino The 1974 Torino grew again and added the Gran Torino Elite; the Gran Torino Sport survived only as a formal-roof hardtop, with 23,142 built.
- Mercury Cougar Outside the muscle focus: 91,670 Cougars for 1974 per Wikipedia's table.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The final year: Barracuda and 'Cuda hardtops with a standard 318 and a new optional 360, and 11,734 built before the line ended.
- Plymouth Duster 340 and 360 The 245 net hp 360 replaced the 340 in the Duster's best sales year: 3,969 Duster 360s among 281,378 Dusters, with Twister, Gold Duster and Space Duster packages priced separately.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite In 1974 a GTX nameplate came with the Road Runner's optional 440 four-barrel, TorqueFlite required; Mueller's Muscle Car Source Book counts 386 of them.
- Plymouth Road Runner The last Satellite-based Road Runner; production roughly halved from 1973.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am A new nose and the last Super Duty: 10,255 Trans Ams, 943 with the SD-455.
- Pontiac GTO The last original GTO: a package on the compact Ventura with a 200 hp 350; 7,058 built.
- Pontiac Grand Am A revised nose and 17,083 built, only 342 with a four-speed.
- Pontiac Grand Prix The 455 remains the SJ engine as Grand Prix volume falls to under 100,000.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans With the GTO moved to the Ventura, the LeMans GT package became the intermediate performance choice, backed by 350, 400 and 455 V8 options.