The Oldsmobile Jetstar was a two-year model built-in 1964-65 to target the high-performance market. It was based on the upscale Starfire but with fewer amenities than its brother. It had the Starfire’s potent 394 cubic inch “Rocket V8” that drove plenty of horses to the rear wheels. The paint is original and in need of attention along with parts of the interior, but otherwise, it’s a car the seller says can be driven anywhere. Located in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and available here on eBay, the bidding has reached $6,100 with a reserve still in play. Or you can pass-go to the Buy It Now button for $10,000. Thanks to our pal local_sheriff for sending this tip our way!
The Pontiac Grand Prix was the car that Oldsmobile wanted to compete with, so the Jetstar I was created to sell in the same price range. As such, it was only offered as a 2-door hardtop using a squared-off roofline and concave rear window also borrowed from the Starfire. A lot of things that may have been standard on the Starfire were optional on the Jetstar, but at least bucket seats and a center console were part of the deal. Sales of the car for its first year were 16,000 units, about a quarter of the number of Grand Prix’s that Pontiac moved out the door.
At 53,000 miles, the seller’s ’64 Jetstar I looks to be solid. Certainly, the paint needs to be redone, but there is little if any evidence of rust. There’s a tiny dent in the rear bumper that could be overlooked unless the next owner is striving for perfection. The interior has held up well, with the upholstery showing no real issues but the door panels and carpeting will need some refreshing. The car was well-equipped when new, including factory air conditioning, which we assume still works properly. Oddly, though, the car was built radio-delete, so I guess the original owner didn’t want to listen to the Beach Boys while driving.
The 394 V8 was rated new at 345 hp and we’re told it runs well. A floor-shifted automatic transmission was checked off on the order sheet. There is no mention if any parts of the drivetrain have required any disassembly. However, the radiator has been replaced with a shiny new unit. The ‘64 edition of the Jetstar would only wear its sheet metal for one calendar period as all the big Oldsmobile’s were redesigned the next year. 1965 would be the last for the Jetstar I as sales would drop by 60 percent. Buyers were confused by its similarity to the Starfire and Oldsmobile already had another car called the Jetstar (Jetstar 88).
Hagerty pegs top dollar for the Jetstar I at $20,000, as this car doesn’t seem to command the same interest as the Grand Prix, which might go for twice as much money. But if you’re an Oldsmobile fan, want a full-size muscle car, and one that you don’t want to see five more of at a car show, this Jetstar might provide a good foundation to start from.
Thanks Russ for nice write-up about an offbeat classic. I like that sort of thing.
And I would be perfectly fine with the radio delete…If I hear Hotel California one more time I’m gonna scream.
You can check out anytime you want….
But you can never leave . . .
Didn’t Raid use that line in ads for their Roach Motel trap?
The Olds Jet Star was also built in 1961,62, and 63. I had a 1962 Olds Jet Star. It was built on the F85 frame and had special engine and equipment
No, the Jet Star was not built in 1961, ’62, nor ’63. You are thinking of the compact Jetfire, which was turbo-chargned and built only in 1962 and 1963.
There was no Jetstar in ’61.There was the turbocharged Jetfire for ’62-63 but no Jetstar for either of those years either.
Two years ago a buddy had this same car except black with a white top and interior. Sharp looking car but needed a lot, including paperwork. I could have bought it for $1000. Haven’t seen him in a long time due to Covid I should give him a call and see if he still has it.
What a nice surprise…
It is nice not to see a Chevelle, Mustang, or Camaro for once, this is not run of the mill at all. If you can get into this right, a nice paint job and you are all set. My parent’s friends drove a lot of early to mid-sixties Olds and Buicks, but my Father was Ford only. I can handle Hotel California, good harmonies and guitar riffs, but if I hear We Built This City by Starship, someone is going to get hurt. Very cool car indeed.
I owned a 64′ Jetstar 1 in the early 1980s. Light blue with a white and black interior. Roll down windows, no air and it did have an AM radio. It was in great shape (a nice driver) and the 394 was stout. My issue was the slim-jim transmission. Several times to the shop for a rebuild. Once it was dialed in, the car drove well. It was quick for the size and weight. I have never seen another one in the flesh. It is nice to see this one.
You are lucky to have owned a Jetstar1 – IMHO another underrated ’64 GM fullsize design. Not many are familiar with this model. Being a stripped-down Starfire just about everything that came standard on the Starfire cost extra with the Jetstar1.
However that also meant standard trans was 3spd manual, meaning the Jetstar1 was the only fullsize Olds with the 440ft/lbs version of the 394 available with a manual transmission. Probably rare as rocking horse poo as I’d think most buyers would opt for the Roto-Hydramatic that caused you so much trouble…. If anyone have ever seen a 3spd manual Jetstar1 I’d like to know whether it too had a console shifter?
Still remember sitting in the backseat of my dad’s Jetstar on the way to Texas and seeing the St. Louis arch from the highway still being built.
My first car. A red 64′ Jetstar 1. Got it in 69′. a little over 50,000 mi and the transmission slipped, and the 394 began burning oil. It was a lemon. Traded it in after 6months on a 66′ Impala SS.
My dad looked at one of these, bought a 64 GP instead. That turned out to be the worst of his five new Pontiacs, ’60-’65.
Let me guess. The transmission.
Beautiful looking car. 1964 has always been my favourite year for Oldsmobile. Assuming everything is there, and its body is solid, this would make an awesome restoration project.
A Mrs. Holt down the street had one, in Saddle Mist. She was the wife of one of the local town merchants. I don’t think she drove it more than a few thousand miles a year.
First muscle car, no. max wedge moose’s are the first sixties era muscle cars, J2 Olds first 50’s
“Radio delete” from the factory maybe, but at some time there was a radio somewhere since the remains of an aftermarket antenna exist on the right front fender.
Not one good overall picture of the car!
Once again I’m priced out. Maybe 10 grand is the new twenty five hundred! That aluminum radiator would give me pause. Its not there because its shiny :) Sweet car otherwise.
Don’t expect to be able to buy a (seemingly) rust free 60s 2dht at 2.5K in ’21. I do agree the seller was too optimistic with his BIN, however reserve wasn’t met at $7.100. This is the kind of listing where it could be sensible to sit on the fence for then to drop seller an offer after the auction is off
First car was a ‘64 Dynamic 88 with the 394. Wicked fast, my brothers dubbed it the Rocket Sled. Previous owner was clocked when running late for his shift on the line at Oldsmobile at 128mph. Don’t know if that was legit, but found the speedometer would sometimes stick if you went over 90….