Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS, 2014

Location: Auburn, Indiana

$70,000 - $80,000 USD | Not Sold

Addendum

Please note that this vehicle has an open recall contained within its CARFAX. Please contact one of our Car Specialists if you have any additional questions about this vehicle.

This is car #1 of limited production run, and provides you the opportunity to own the first car that Doc Watson produced in the "W" series.

Jack “Doc” Watson had an early passion for automotive development that spurred him to create aftermarket products and specialty vehicles during his 50-year career. Among his accomplishments was the development of the first Hurst Oldsmobile in 1968 and co-inventing the Jaws of Life rescue tool. Mr. Watson, who had been working with inventor George Hurst on various General Motors programs, began working for him full time.

Before his Hurst days, Doc worked with fabled Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov who, along with Ed Cole, was called the father of the small-block Chevrolet, and Castelletto Dolza, better known as John Dolza, who developed the thinwall, rocker-ball rocker-arm assembly for the small-block Chevrolet. Doc worked with GM and developed "Super Duty" groups within each division.

In 1968, General Motors had a rule. No engine larger than 400 cubic inches could be installed in any intermediate body. That included GTOs, Cutlasses, Chevelles and Skylarks. But George Hurst had a 455-cid V-8 installed in a 1968 Olds 4-4-2. He found the swap to be easy, and ironically, the 455 weighed less than the 400-cid engine it replaced. Doc took George's idea several steps further and added special paint, a Hurst shifter, some engine modifications and a walnut dash appliqué.

The Hurst/Olds was thus born, and today is among the most highly-prized of all musclecars. The first Hurst/Olds had 390-hp and featured a Toronado-only color-Peruvian Silver accented with black stripes and a black trunklid. The first 4-4-2s also got the Toronado's 455 with a lumpy cam, big-valve heads, and modified carburetor and distributor. Also in the package was the W30 Ram Air system and red plastic front inner fender liners, which were the idea of John Beltz, an Olds engineer, whom Doc approached about building the Hurst/Olds.

The Hurst/Olds conversions from plain-Jane Cutlasses were handled by Demmer Engineering in Lansing. Demmer had about 30 days to convert the planned run of 500 cars. Olds had thousands of orders and couldn't fill them. The final number of 515 cars was built to accommodate a Lansing-area Oldsmobile dealer that demanded more Hurst/Olds’. Being the success it was, the first Hurst/Olds cemented a highly successful relationship between Hurst Performance of Warminster, Pennsylvania, and Oldsmobile. In 1969, Hurst/Olds sales nearly doubled, to 912 hardtops and two convertibles.

Among his contributions to Hurst’s company was his operation of the Hurst Aid support trailer, with a complete machine shop, at racing events. Mr. Watson earned the nickname “Shifty Doctor” for his mechanical prowess as he helped racers get through tech inspection free of charge, his son said.

Mr. Watson’s experience also included creating 87 niche-market special vehicle programs and managing the building of more than 137,500 special vehicles.

Doc's greatest accomplishments were his involvement in the development of what is now known as the Jaws of Life tool, named for his father’s initials J.A.W.

The W Edition Camaro being offered is reported as being custom built by W Machines Technology of Auburn Hills Michigan, Each vehicle was overseen personally by Doc, according to those who wrote its historical significance; as well as each car being registered and recorded.

Below is the owner’s complete listing for this special “fully loaded” 2014 Camaro

6.2-liter 16-valve V-8 with 420-hp

Six-speed automatic transmission

Custom Hurst shifter

Console with gauges

RS/SS optioned

Air conditioning

Power windows, four-wheel disc brakes, CD/MP3/Nav/radio with steering wheel controls

Power seat

Hidden headlamps with halo rings, LED taillights

Heads-up display (HUD)

Cruise control

Tilt steering wheel

“The list is endless”

Custom "W" machine upgrades include:

"W"-machine design utilizing proprietary white with gold and clear paint application

Front air splitter

Rocker panel aero cladding

Rear lower valance

Rear blade wing

Gold painted engine cover/intake housing

20-inch five-spoke custom gold Hurst wheels

Pirelli P Zero performance tires

Performance engine enhancements

Strut tower brace

W-machine badging

Engine identification badging

Custom seat embroidery

Console plaque

Custom Hurst gear selector

Custom rollbar

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