Hurst wheels were produced from early 1965 to mid 1969 by George Hurst and the factory was located in Warminister, Pennsylvania. Factory named the "Dazzler", they were the strongest aftermarket wheel ever manufactured at that time. They were constructed using a forged steel rim with aircraft grade aluminum center spokes. The removeable chrome trim ring, center cap, and special lug nuts made these wheels quite attractive. Each wheel was serial numbered and had a lifetime guarantee.
Unfortunately Hurst Wheels were expensive to buy new and relatively few sets were produced. Engineering and manufacturing costs priced the wheel out of the reach of most consumers. A cost comparison at the time shows that a buyer could purchase the popular 5 spoke Crager S/S wheel for about 1/2 the price of a Dazzler. Financially they were a flop and it is doubtful that George Hurst ever recouped his investment but you still have to hand it to the guy--until the end of production he refused to compromise the quality and strength of his wheel.
Although it is commonly believed that these wheels were factory installed on GTO's by Pontiac, this is not so--they were designated by GM as being too heavy to meet their specifications. It was through an ad agency campaign that featured both the Pontiac and Hurst wheel that they became a desired accessory for GTO's and to this day they remain the "Holy Grail" of the GTO set. A couple of these ads can be seen below.
Hurst Wheels were also produced in bolt patterns other than the small GM. I first became interested in Hurst Wheels in 1979 when I purchased my 65' Mustang, which had a full set of 4 installed. My wheels are known as the early style because they require special spring clips to retain the trim ring. My center caps are the standard "button" style, but 2 other variations of center caps exist and were available at an additonal cost. One is a "spinner" design, and another is a "bullet". Each of these caps can be seen below.
In addition to the selection of center caps, other options were available to tailor the wheel to the individual buyer such as the availability of polished or anodized matte finished spokes, flat or round spoke beads, and a choice of a fully-polished or semi-polished trim ring.
Used Hurst Wheels, especially the original trim parts, are difficult to find and often expensive to purchase. For a small pattern GM you should expect to pay around $3000 for a complete set of 4 with trim rings and center caps. Other bolt patterns are not as desireable and can be purchased for around $1000 a set. Good quality reproduction button center caps and stickers that are virtually like the originals are available through various GTO aftermarket parts suppliers. Decent reproduction retaining springs can also be found in the aftermarket. Although the outer trim rings have been reproduced (and will set you back about $200.00 each), the original trim rings are made of a good quality steel that can easily be repaired and rechromed.
Another interesting variation once available is a hub cap made to look like a Hurst Wheel. Today, original Hurst Wheel memorabilia is as desireable as are the wheels. Items such as original advertisements and toy GTO's featuring Hurst Wheels are constantly being traded on eBay.
If you have any Hurst Wheel parts that you would like to part with, please contact me at the link found on the main page. I am currently looking for a single 14x7 wheel with the Ford 4 1/2" pattern.
