During the muscle car wars of the 1960s and ‘70s, various performance brands offered upgrades to cars that became famous in their own right. While many of these companies were largely limited to drag racing, the popularity of the sport led auto enthusiasts and kids to know who they were as well. Hurst Performance was one such brand, and for the way they stirred the imaginations of young diecast fans, they are the Model Car Hall of Fame Supplier Brand of the Year for 2024.
Two cars in particular, the Hemi Under Glass Plymouth Barracuda wheel stander, and the Hairy Olds dual-engine, quad-drive dragster stand out. They were not really suitable for actual driving in a practical sense, as the Cuda tended to flip backward onto its rear slicks, and the Olds was almost impossible to keep in a straight line. But to drag racing fans, they were a hoot to watch. And for model car fans, they were and continue to be well represented in different scales.
Hurst was also prominent in Oldsmobile and Rambler factory hot rods, with wild graphics and badges alerting the public to the performance upgrades installed therein. More recently, Vipers, Camaros, and Challengers kept the dream alive.
The Hurst logo was a favorite among kids of a certain era, plastered on their lunchboxes or school notebooks or diecast car carrying cases. Hurst was even represented in miniature form along with other logos in model car kits and Kenner SSP racers. Even if kids didn’t know what exactly the company did, the brand mattered.
The Hurst brand remains active as part of Holley Performance Brands (Another sticker kids loved!) For their continued excellence, Hurst is our Supplier Brand of the Year for 2024.
The Model Car Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany, on January 30, 2025. Thanks to everyone at Spielwarenmesse for having us as a part of their event.
