Oldsmobile hit homerun after homerun with their F85/Cutlass series, even earning top sales honors in 1977. But I have to tell you that if I cover another ’70-’72 Cutlass I might have to strangle myself. Always popular no doubt, there are just zillions still in existence and it’s hard to say or add anything to their established legacy. So, with that thought, let’s take a look at an early F85, a 1962 model to be exact, and see what started Dr. Oldsmobile’s spectacular mid-size run of success after success. Located in Torrance, California, this original-owner F85 Coupe is available, here on craigslist for $4,500.
The F85 came in four varieties in ’62 with a Coupe (hardtop) such as our subject car, two and four-door sedans, a convertible, and a four-door station wagon. The Coupe model, as Oldsmobile called it, was reasonably popular realizing a production volume of 32K units out of a 94K F85 total. This particular car is said to be rust-free though it does show some evidence of minor surface rust, likely the result of 62 years spent in the southern California sunshine. From what can be seen, the body appears to be straight and the trim is all present – including its original wheel covers.
The listing is sparse in detail, but one statement made is, “was running when parked 26 years ago“. OK, so does that mean, “heck, it should start right up”, or “forget it, it has been sitting too long”? Open to interpretation I guess. The engine in question is a 185 HP, all aluminum 215 CI “Buick” V8 operating through a three-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission. It is said to have experienced 70K miles of use but your guess is as good as mine as to whether or not this unique little engine can be easily rekindled.
The bucket seat interior, from what can be seen, still looks pretty good. The red vinyl upholstery is showing one seam split in the driver’s seat backrest and the top of the rear seat backrest is disintegrating, likely due to years of sun exposure. Interestingly, the bucket seat arrangement did not necessarily include a center console as there isn’t one in place. Olds literature from 1962 mentions the console as an option.
Ostensibly, this is the car that started Oldsmobile’s mid-size revolution (OK, it was the predecessor ’61 model but the generation is correct), one that still stands as a pretty substantial motoring achievement today, eighteen years after Oldsmobile closed its Lansing doors for good. Some of that success was built on GM’s divisional independence, an Oldsmobile was not a Pontiac or a Chevy, an Olds was an Olds. Now, from a current appeal perspective, it’s hard to say if there will be any interest garnered for this car in the way that it would be for say, the follow-on ’64-’67 edition. Regardless, the California provenance and the aluminum V8 engine, along with its seemingly sound overall condition, make this a car worthy of consideration, wouldn’t you agree?
Great car, I’d love to have and get it driving again. I imagine shipping would run me 2500, so that kinda spoils the financials. Someone will grab this quickly.
Self-strangulation may be a bit dire, but hey…
Yes, I’ll admit it, it’s a bit over the top.
JO
These are great little cars.I had a neighbor who had two
of them,both 2 doors,one in a light Purple color,which I think
looks good on these.The other was a light Metallic Blue,with
a White painted top.
My Great Aunt also had one (’62?).It was a 4 door,also
in that light Metallic Purple color.I’m sure she bought it new.
An Olds was an Olds except when it has a Buick motor. Yet the 215 was a great little motor, so much so Rover of England bought the manufacturing rights to it and used it in several of their models (as a 3500).
Well, that’s true, but the “feel” of each division’s cars was unique to the brand; it included, but also transcended the powerplant.
JO
Even though they were basically the same engine, I think I’ve heard that the Olds version has Olds-specific cylinder heads with more bolts and maybe some other differences.
Yes – that is correct. The cylinder heads and intake were unique to the Olds. The block was still a Buick 215 block.
If I remember correctly, the Buick 215 was different than the Olds 215. I think the Olds may have had more head bolts.
From Hemmings, and I usually find them to be pretty accurate, sounds like the same engine.
JO
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/buick-215-cu-in-v-8
oops it’s been deleted.
Now if this had the 215 turbo in it…..
I had one of these. A great little car. Hard starter in cold weather.
Yeah, I’m not so eager to start in cold weather, either!
A customer drives a 4 door version to our store. He’s had it for over 50 years. Still in great shape. His 3 dogs patiently wait inside for his return.
Does anybody remember an article back in the 70’s about putting this little engine in a Vega Camback? The story was two elderly sisters like the Vega but needed more power to pull a small trailer to Alaska. The mechanic used this engine with original Vega frontend because of the light weight. I was in high school and read the article in the library so before 1975. I’m pretty sure the Vega was new.
Pontiac had some very innovative engineering in their version, Olds, not so much except for the aluminum engine. Probably a good thing.
These lightweight and reasonable HP(for the day) little V8s found there way into aviation use also and they worked fairly well at it.
I have owned 2 very low miles 1962 Buick Skylarks which were much more attractive as the coupes were true 2-dr hardtops! Sold the 2nd one in 2006 after winning one best in class at an all Buick show, and invited to be included in a special indoor display at the 2005 All-GM meet in Carlisle PA. Drove my w/o a hiccup to both events and back to Richmond VA! Should have kept that last one with only 20k and original everything! Factory Pink interior including pedals, seatbelts and floor mats!
I have owned 2 Buick Skylarks of this generation as well. Wish I had seen yours at Carlisle. The pink interior (and I assume exterior as well?) was known as Camelot Rose. I have only ever seen this color on a Buick Special sedan – a car I wish I had bought but passed up.
The exterior was a deep brownish burgundy and a white painted top. Camelot Rose is correct, and due to the year of the car and that color name, we named her “Jackie O”! I had a couple of Buick Specials too, one used in a local (Richmond) movie made on the Kennedy’s. Give me a way to show some pics if ya want. Carguysx2 @ gmail,com.
I love these barnfinds articles. The writers are very good. Knowledgeable but not intrusive. Thought provoking always. That said its a great car. I wouldnt over restore it. Keep whats there. Its like my ex wife cheap and easy. I did have experience with the 1963 buick specials with that same motor.in convertsble. Smallish wheels the car has a European feel. The engine in my opinion is awesome. Light powerful. Betcha a decent gearhead has it running in an hour.
One comment – this is NOT a hardtop. It’s a post coupe. See the photo of the interior w/the driver’s door open – there’s a B pillar. A hardtop was available though. The interior looks pretty decent on this!
You are correct.
Within the ’61-’63 F85 series, Olds did not have an actual “hardtop”, but Buick did. The only true postless hardtop made by Olds was the ’62-’63 Jetfire.
That was created by welding a Buick hardtop roof to the F85 convertible to create the look.
Love it! Lots of potential and you’d be driving a car most have never seen.
I had a 61 as my first car in 1968 in Highschool. Ran great for so they made a a year then the rings went. My Dad and I rebuilt it in his garage. Broke lots of bolts trying to tear it down but finally got it done. I sold it to a friend and bought a 1965 Formula S Barracuda for $800 from an guy that was in Vietnam at the time. His Dad was selling it for him. My Dad had a 1965 Valiant so was a pretty cool pair in the driveway. Love to have that Barracuda back. It was a stoplight to stoplight beast in the Lansing Mi, area for years. Oh by the way my girlfriend at the time had a 62 F-85 convertible then. Lots of Oldsmobiles in my area.
My Dad had a’62 F85. Light green inside and out. I remember him telling me they were fast and nimble with that lightweight V8 , used as a getaway car by some.
He only kept it one year, found it too light .
Understandable since he’d come off a ‘58 Olds 88.
Next car, a ‘63 Chev Impala.
strangulation because of a cutlass,,? I would do it if I saw another rusty mustang
Yes, invokes the same feeling.
JO
It is a Cutlass f85 had a bench seat cutlasses had buckets I had one in high school at $82,000 Miles camshaft went flat on one cylinder and the transmission went out at 95,000 Miles transmission problematic and check the water jackets on the engine make sure they haven’t turned week paste lack of Maintenance changing the coolant causes irreversible problems
It’s technically an “F-85 Cutlass” – see the attached.
JO
I think maybe the Cutlass was the sporty edition.
My memory of my Dad’s was that it was just an F85 , and it had a bench seat up front ,no buckets.
If you look at the picture of the engine compartment you can see how easy it is to steal one. The coil is real accessible up front, and the junction block on the passenger side fender well has a nearby connector for the starter which can be separated and touched to the junction.
Had about a dozen of these – used to overheat them towing junk. Bought one from the Washington DC police auction for $12.00, ran great, AC blew cold.
Wiping away a nostalgic tear.
Did you steal all 12? Or just a few? You seem to have it down. :)
Left a decent one with my dad while in the Army. He and my mom went shopping, came home and car was missing. Car was located later in the neighborhood. Years later learned the next door neighbor kid used to take the car occasionally- learned from him the trick. He didn’t know I kept a spare ignition key in the air cleaner
With Rover’s acquisition of the license from GM, this engine was not only found in Landrovers and Range Rovers through about 1996, it was found in the Triumph TR8, Morgan +8, and most notably from my perspective, the MGBGTV8 from the mid-70s. In fact, the engine bay and engine mounts in all rubber-bumper MGBs (’74.5 – 80) are designed to fit this engine. The MG factory did not build many of them – about 2800 IIRC, and they were never offered in North America, and the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973 rather killed them before they could get a foothold in the market.
In fact, this V8 could achieve 28 mpg (IIRC), which compared favorably with MGB’s usual cast iron four. Also, the BOP/Rover V8 was lighter than MGB’s four. Another advantage: that 215 was eminently tunable. Even factory iterations ended up around 4.5 liters – or was it 4.9? They could be tuned to over 300 hp. And I understand that they remain quite cheap to rebuild as they share some internal parts with the SBC.
In addition to the MGB factory V8s, there is a sizable coterie of North American MGB owners who have made this very attractive conversion. There are several transmission choices. It’s a win-win-win engine for many vintage British car guys.
My parents had one of these but a convertible. Same color scheme as this one. I like this body style, the grill is beautiful. I’m glad it is across the country or I’d be really tempted. I’ve seen one made into a pro touring car and that’s what I’d want to do with this one.
It is so cool to see a Q on a California plate.
They never used it after the black and yellow series.