- Seller: Wes J
- Location: Columbia, Pennsylvania
- Mileage: 102,000 Shown
- Chassis #: 621M33190
- Title Status: Clean
Oldsmobile introduced the Cutlass to its model range in 1961 and immediately scored a sales success. Initially only offered in 4-door Sedan and Station Wagon forms, the F-85 Convertible joined the range in late 1962. Our feature car is one of those drop-tops and can be considered a genuine survivor. It would benefit from a cosmetic refresh, but it is a rock-solid candidate in excellent mechanical health. It recently received some significant and documented maintenance work, but health issues prevented the current owner from seeing this restoration to its conclusion. Therefore, he has listed the F-85 with us at Barn Finds Auctions.
While total F-85 production for 1962 was 94,568 cars, only 3,660 buyers selected the Convertible variant. That makes this a relatively rare vehicle deserving care and attention to regain its youthful good looks. The original owner ordered it in Provincial White with a matching power top. This is a classy combination, and although it now looks tired, returning the Olds to its original form should not be a significant undertaking. The panels have accumulated a few minor bumps and bruises, but none are bad enough to justify steel replacement. There are visible small areas of surface corrosion, but this gem has no penetrating rust. That means the grinder and welder can stay hidden away in the cupboard. The current owner replaced the top, one frame bow, and the top pump. This is documented via invoices, and the top now operates as it would have in 1962. The trim is in good order for a survivor-grade classic, and there are no glass issues.
Powering this Olds is the sweet 215ci aluminum V8. It sends its power to the road via a three-speed automatic transmission, with power steering lightening the driver’s load. The engine capacity might be modest, but it is best not to underestimate this V8. It produces 185hp and 230 ft/lbs of torque, which is enough to launch the Convertible through the ¼-mile in 18 seconds. That might not sound astounding, but it was impressive for a compact model produced during that era. The seller purchased this Olds earlier this year and was planning on its restoration. He notes that a previous owner replaced the brakes, shocks, tires, fuel tank straps, body mounts, plugs, plug wires, points, distributor cap, and various suspension components. An underside inspection revealed new freeze plugs and no fluid leaks, suggesting the engine may have received some TLC. The seller added carburetor and complete radiator rebuilds to the list, including a new thermostat and coolant. He cleaned and undercoated the fuel tank, performed a full service, and installed a new battery. The image gallery below includes documentary evidence, and the result was worth the effort. The V8 kicks into life at the first turn of the key. It produces no smoke or odd noises, and the car drives perfectly. Potential buyers can consider this classic a turnkey proposition.
The F-85’s interior is tidy for a driver-grade vehicle, with no issues requiring immediate attention. There is visible wear and tear on some Blue vinyl upholstered surfaces, with the worst being a tear on the driver’s seat back. This has appeared on a seam, and repairing the problem might be challenging. A valid approach would be installing high-quality slipcovers to hide the fault and provide protection from further deterioration. There is some slight damage to one rear side trim and some repairable separation on the pad. The wheel is crack-free, and the carpet appears to be nearly new. Some painted surfaces require a refresh, but leaving the glovebox door untouched would be wise. The owner includes documentation confirming it was autographed by racing legend Mario Andretti years ago, and the signature is still legible. The shift lock button is inoperative, as is the odometer. The speedometer needle bounces, and the radio takes its time warming up. However, none of these problems are insurmountable, and none require immediate attention.
This 1962 Oldsmobile Cutlass F-85 Convertible ticks many boxes enthusiasts seek when selecting a project candidate. It is a rock-solid vehicle that is complete and unmolested. It is roadworthy, meaning they can perform the restoration as time and circumstances allow, and it is a rare classic. It deserves a chance to shine, and I can sense the owner’s disappointment that he cannot see the restoration to fruition. You could grab the baton and run with it by submitting a bid, and I believe it would be worthwhile. One thing is sure: You are unlikely to park beside an identical vehicle at a show or a Cars & Coffee. That makes it worth serious consideration.
Bid On This Auction
DSav18 bid $10,000.00 2024-01-02 09:59:17
wwwjpat bid $7,200.00 2024-01-02 08:09:56- DSav18 bid $6,000.00 2024-01-01 13:45:55
Earl McMillen bid $5,500.00 2024-01-01 12:58:39- DSav18 bid $5,000.00 2023-12-30 16:16:32
- Earl McMillen bid $4,500.00 2023-12-30 08:08:03
- DSav18 bid $4,000.00 2023-12-28 00:51:54
David Emon bid $3,000.00 2023-12-25 12:51:47
Ali sharif bid $2,500.00 2023-12-25 03:09:23
Grubbygreg bid $1,962.00 2023-12-24 11:23:17
There was a Buick Special version of this car with the same small aluminum V8,coupe on the lot.Basic transpo the other lot attendant bought for cheap after someone t-boned his boss 302 Mustang.I bought a 66 Newport for $600 when gas was cheap.Late 80’s, good ole days for me.
Is the selector on the column or console?
here’s shifter and console
Selector on console.
I like this olds appears to be in decent shape. Would be a nice top down summer cruiser. You could drive it while restoring. I thought those aluminum V8s were problematic and that’s why they only were used by GM for a few years. Well I did some research and found out that was not the case GM sold the engine and the tooling to Rover and Rover produced them for many years. GLWTA
One of GMs most shortsighted moves was selling the tooling of the 215 aluminum block V8 to Rover in the early sixties. It would have been a fine fuel efficient motor for its compact and mid sized vehicles during the early seventies gas crisis. Plus the turbo version would have fit well in its sports coupes and pony cars.
Your post got me thinking, and I had a brain shower (not a full-fledged brainstorm, but I digress). Imagine if GM had stuck with it, and put the BOP 215 V8 into the H-Body cars (Chevy Monza/Buick Skyhawk/Olds Starfire/Pontiac Sunfire) instead of the iron-block 262 they ultimately got instead. Ditch the iron cylinder heads it originally came with in favor of some aluminum heads, maybe with DOHC heads in place of the OHV valve train, electronic ignition and EFI.
The GM beancounters always seems to throw in the towel just before, or worse, just as the engineers have a chance to work the bugs out of new technology. The BOP 215 V8, the rope drive transaxle, the DeLorean OHC I6 and it’s decendant, the Vortec 4200 (LL8) I6 engine and the Fiero, they were all cancelled after relatively short production runs just as they were hitting their stride. The Fiero comes in for particular criticism, because if GM had gotten the car right straight out of the gate, instead of asking the early customers to act as the development engineers, they might have handed Toyota it’s head on a plate. Instead, Toyota ate both GM’s lunch and dinner, the Fiero was dead and buried by 1990, and the MR2 lasted from 1984 to 2007 over three (3) generations! Game, set and match, Toyota!
Amazing. Thanks for all the pictures.
They left some out I think, over 100 taken. Still, can’t say don’t have enough. If something missing let me know.
What is the reserve price?
Sweet little car: 60s style without 60s size. Went to see one of these with my Dad when I was a kid; he bought a Rambler instead. Oh, well.
The convertible top installation looks very sloppy. Granted it takes some time to do the job neatly. I have done it twice over the years on 1960’s cars and the result was far better than shown here. Just takes some time and a lot of trial and error.
The top was installed fine, not adjusting it to be used with a functional top motor with a solid window instead of plastic was the fault. Installed with Plexiglas window which wasn’t fitted to the convertible boot. Thus hung up on back seat back and bent the rear bow when I installed the top motor. Photo was before I replaced bow and adjusted where the window went down. Is now corrected, that’s why showed photos with top totally down.
Im wondering if there is a BIN price(?)
There’s ALWAYS a buy it now price, it’s called be the last one raising your hand. Sorry not to be smart. Am retired wholesaler at the largest auction in the world, Cox’s Manheim Auto Auction, 12 miles from me. If hadn’t herniated a disk in back putting that pump in I would be getting it ready for Spring Carlisle Auction. All people looking here are smart enough to do research.
So, Only have been around 6 sold in the last 5 years. Ebay has one for $25K
Autotrader 2, $27K and 39K, Hemmings 1 $39K. American Classic has sales records of $9200 low, $25,900 Median, and $38,000 High.
So that being said, I’ve done the hard stuff of mechanical and verifying value of Mario Andretti’s involvement, only needs minor interior and paint to make it a classic upscale driver/show car. Not a Mecum car, but could be without too much investment.
So, to answer your question, something around $12,300. I’m open, but know what this car can be.
I got alot of attention as it is this summer. As for engine, strong and add 13″ tires, you can figure the rest.
My parents had the same exact car but with a red/maroon interior. I was 9 when they bought it and thought it was so cool that we had a convertible.
215 JET FIRE V8 aluminum block & could be had with special Jet Fire option a water & Alcohol injection kit vacuum.operated that fit under carburetor.
Good for 15-20 HP
i believe the water alcohol was used to control detonation when the Turbocharger was used on the engine…it would develop 215 hp then but had a 10 to one compression ratio…..so it needed the water /alcohol ….corvair used a vacuum retard on the distributor and a low restriction muffler and a low compression engine to do the same….I dont think Pontiac had a turbo on its tempest 194 4 cylinder but i did see Mickey Thompson used a 4 bbl manifold and a turbo on his pontiac land speed record cars…..the aluminum v8 was an option on the Pontiac rope drive tempest however, and so maybe the turbo was in the option books.
It was not an option on the Tempest or Buick Special. Only in the Jetfire was the 215 turbocharged.
You are correct. Water/methanol injection was to control detonation and used only with the turbo charged 215. That motor was used only in the Olds “Jetfire” which was a 2 door. The injection itself was only available with the Turbo & did not “add 15-20 hp”. From what i have read, the 215 was sold off because it was expensive to make and the 225 V6 motor was substituted.
Had turbo’s. Jay Leno just highlighted one, exhaust identical to mine, same sound but a little quicker.
Any particular reason there are no pics with the top all the way down? A shot with the boot in place would look good.
Here are couple of Pictures w/ top down. Is cold so top and boot not real easy to work with, snapped a few so you can see. Never looked before, 2 snaps missing.
Not sure if coming thru, will send to site and have them update.
The radio problem is it has tubes and they take a while to warm up. No instant on like later car radios common in cars of this era. One of my friends had one of these and I loved to ride in it..A very fast little car. I’d add double master cylinder and maybe disk brakes.
The Olds sister to my Mom’s ’61 Buick Special, this one got some extra goodies, like the console and floor shifter. No mention if the 215 V8 has a two-barrel or a four-barrel intake. If you want an upgrade to a four-barrel intake, Edelbrock makes one for relatively short money, and there’s always the option of TBI instead of a conventional carburetor. The Olds version of the 215 V8 allegedly has an extra bolt or two in the cylinder heads, for a little extra strength, according to Wikipedia. The ad mentions a three-speed automatic, which I suspect may be in error, because AFAIK, these only came with two-speed automatic gearboxes, either a Buick Dynaflow or ST300. If anyone else can confirm if this has a three-speed slush box, please let me know.
Olds used the Roto5, or “slim jim” 3 speed hydramatic.
Thanks for validating
Thanks for the update. Good to know! This was back when there were actual differences between the General’s divisions, other than trim and option choices..
The top was replaced before the new pump was installed. The window (glass) had replaced the plastic one and no one checked operation. The window was hitting the back seat and not going into boot. That’s when the bow was damaged. I had not replaced the bow/adjusted the window when the pictures were taken so was only demonstrating that the top did work and better view of interior. Will put down and take pictures.
Also, is a 4 barrel carb. ergo the low production numbers.
Definitely a 4bbl air cleaner. The heads are also different between the 185hp 4bbl and the 155hp 2bbl. 10.25 compression on the 4bbl.
It would need to come with a good divorce attorney in the trunk, alas.
I had a 62 and it did have a 3-speed automatic. It was a neat little car !
David,
Hmm, AC/DC put it well, “Dirty deeds done dirt cheap”..
I owned a 66 Pontiac Tempest two door hardtop with the 230 DeLorean OHC I6 and the two speed Tempest torque automatic. Buick and Oldsmobile had their own names for the same air cooled two speed automatic transmission, not to be confused with the Chevrolet Powerglide which was a different design that they used in their intermediate models. I actually had the transmission go bad so I went to the junkyard for a replacement one for $45 and installed it in an afternoon. The DeLorean OHC I6 was a smooth running motor but in typical GM fashion they dropped it after its 66-69 Pontiac only run. I always thought they should have lopped off two cylinders and used it in the Vega instead of its ill fated aluminum block 2.3. It would have saved them a lot of headaches plus years of a brand reputation that’s difficult to build back.
IIRC, the Vega engine was a “slant” design, to clear the Vega’s low hoodline. The DeLorean six, was pretty tall, due to the valve cover that also carried the camshaft, so it might not have fit under the Vega’s hood, even shortened by two (2) cylinders. The DeLorean six was a cast iron block, so even if shortened, it would have been much heavier than the Vega’s aluminum block, doing nasty things to both the Vega’s handling and it’s already weak unibody structure.
Aluminum as an engine material isn’t inherently bad, but like any material, you have to account for the limitations of the material to take full advantage of the material’s beneficial properties. It’s not like GM didn’t know how to build aluminum engines, since both the BOP 215 V8 and the Corvair flat six were made from aluminum, but like so many things at GM, the bean counters kept the engineers from doing their job, and in the process, cost GM money in the long run, while pinching pennies in the short run! The fact that the CEO of GM was always an accountant, and the President was always an Engineer until recently, shows where GM’s priorities lay, and it wasn’t with the Engineers, that’s for sure! GM was essentially a bank that happened to sell cars, rather than a car company, since the GM finance division GM Assistance Corporation (GMAC) made more money than the car making operation for years.
The limited edition Cosworth engine was also aluminum and more of an upright design that fit nicely under the hood. Its spark plug boots are vertical as opposed to ones on the 2.3L which are angled on the left side. GM also could have used one of the European Opel engines to save some development costs. They were rugged and reliable in the Buick Opel 1900/Manta models that were sold here.
My dad had a 1967 and 1969 Firebird with the OHC-6. He also opted for a straight 6 (presume sourced from Chevy) in his 1971 and 1976 Firebirds. All great looking cars that were still capable of some performance + driving thrills without having to stop at the filling station every few days.
I love the Olds.
Is there a hidden switch that operates the top up and down?
I looked closely at the dash but did not see anything.
Yes, under dash on left side under light switches. left/right switch, works fine.
other side
I have an f85 olds convertible, but runs nice. It has a bigger rust problem than yours. Would you consider trades?
location?
Click on the link in the original story, you’ll get a Google map to the location. FYI, it’s in Columbia, PA, about 21 miles SE of Harrisburg, PA, on the east bank of the Susquehanna River. The link is under the first picture the car, with the seller’s name, the VIN number and the mileage.
I don’t know if any pics were left out or not, I see around 140, this seller has nothing to hide. A good detailer could do wonders with this classic.
Thanks, Robert that’s where I’m at. The question was where was Bruce Rohn at. He’s the one interested in trading for his car. As for your input about GM and they’re exploits with aluminum blocks, your right, if let engineers do their jobs, was a great product. This happens to be one of them.
I’m sorry I’m not following this morning. What’s the significance of the signed Mario Andretti advertisement at the end of the photo gallery? How much value does that add to the final $$$ bid?
If you look at the signature, then also at pictures of glove box, and letter of verification that Andretti did in fact sign the glove box. Let’s see, as only 5 or so have been sold in the last 5 years, what are the odds that there is even another Cutlass f85 convertible sporting that piece of history? Just something else making it stand out from, wait, there aren’t any others sporting that at cars n coffee or car shows.
Good luck with your auction sir. Are there pictures of the rear window area and rear bow now that they are fixed? Is the rear window glass or plexi or neither?
Sorry for delay, was raining and didn’t want to uncover car then have to put in garage till top dried. Here is picture of rear window area that bow was replaced in. Can’t see if from inside, but you can compare initial pictures and see difference. Also included are receipts for bow and the bow repair receipt (not cheap, but Gibbles is probably the best on the east coast). Also checked, window is labeled tempured glass. Any other questions, drop me a line.
Only accepts one photo at time.
Cost of the bow. You can see it seperate in the trunk/parts picture.
Josh,
How do I contact member Bruce Rohn. He initially wanted to trade cars, but mine sold. Would like to see if he wants to sell his? Auction over and not responding to reply request
Wes Johnson