Many enthusiasts want a 1960s car, maybe a Le Mans or Belvedere, perhaps a Cutlass. But there’s a world of choices beyond these ultra-familiar nameplates. These are cars as stylish as they come, like this 1963 Oldsmobile Starfire. One look at the fins adorning the rear profile of that long body and you’re hooked. If you think you’d like to make a play for the car, you can find it here on ebay, bid up past $8,000 with four days left in the auction. The winning offer on this no-reserve auction will have to turn up to Sanford, FL with shipment options. We thank TJ for putting us on the trail of this interesting offering.
The color doesn’t hurt the appeal of this looker, at least not in my opinion. It’s not muscular red, but rather a two-tone with white over champagne, which the current owner describes as a one-year availability. The paint quality is yours to figure out, and you’ll have other things to address before this goes to an Olds show, like the creased and dried-up seating surfaces. In addition, some interior work is called out, including need for carpet and a headliner, and you can see other issues including a missing driver’s armrest. In short, the car is one of those ninety-percenters, where someone just ran out of interest/time/money to push is over the finish line. That leaves room for adding value for the person who plucks this one, especially if the price stays within current range.
If it’s not muscular, what is it? Big, and powerful. The engine is a 6.5-liter V8 (that’s 394 cubic inches, in terms more familiar for the day) which has a claimed 65,000 miles. It is said to be running, stopping, and driving, but there are no words about a rebuild or the fitness of the car to make a highway run. The ad says that this is an optional high-compression engine. Interesting that there’s no image of the power plant, though there is a shot of stuff in the trunk. If the engine choice statement can be verified, this is the Olds Sky Rocket version of the 394, with 10.25:1 compression, a four-barrel carb, and 330 horsepower with 440-ft.-lbs. of torque.
So what do you do? You figure out the quality of the work already done, do the math for what’s left to take care of, and hightail it to Florida. After putting a few things right, you lope home on the nearest interstate, putting this car in its natural element on the way to wherever your extra-long garage might be.
Must be Pink Champagne.
I kinda like the color. Makes it look somewhat smaller than it really is.
I agree that car couldn’t look bad in any color. Cadillac had one similar they called a it, Wood Rose
Don’t live too far from Sanford
These are beautiful cars that can move pretty well. They ride and drive very nice. Perfect cruisers.
When I was 16, I drove my boss’s ’62 Starfire to “chase” replacement parts for cars he was servicing in his garage. To say these cars “moved pretty well” is to damn them with faint praise. They were as fast as anything on the road.
This needs a touch of interior work, with missing arm rests and carpet gone. And since it’s a Florida car it will need to be thoroughly checked for rust. Also, the Starfire was Olds’ high performance full size car and they all came with the high-compression 394.
Seems that the arm rests are in the trunk .
There was no optional engine for the Starfire. It only came with the top of the line 394/345hp. Mid-range torque was nothing short of amazing on these engines. My Father traded in his 57 210 2 door post on a 64 Super 88 sedan. The first time I stepped on the gas of that Olds I left a patch of rubber on the ground (I was used to driving that 6 cyl PG 210). Needless to say he was not happy. It was a while before he let me drive it again. I wish I had that car.
lol you Dad that in front of your Dad? I I know the feeling I was on a date with my girlfriend in my Dad’s Grand Prix Nice car, 73’ I’m 16 years old she’s 15 and I wanted to show off in front of my friends who was drinking beer on the corner, so I open the 4bbl it was nice but by the time we hit the corner clipping 70mph and climbing in a 35-40 zone and when we reached the corner there was my Dad he was walking our Dog. I turned around then pulled up real slow and careful and all I saw was him pointing go home your mother will take the girl home. And don’t ask for the car but he gave in. I think he understood how his son had to enjoy the hell out that car. Got a million stories on the Grand Prix and my Dad.
ClassicP, the thing was that was the first time I drove the Olds. I was used to driving that six and to floor board it was normal practice. Not the same with the new car.
Looks like a jet ! I just love that dashboard! Even looks like a cockpit inside with the throttle control on the floor! Yeah, that’s my kind of car alright. It’s definitely worth buying – if I had the money. Good luck with that cruiser! Nice article.
As a 10 year old kid, in ’65 the old man bought a ’63 Olds, 98, 4 door. He was always a couple years behind a new car. Naturally, AS kids, you think your dads car was the coolest. My brother and I always hoped for a Starfire on his next purchase, but came home with another 4 door, 98. The 394 was one tough motor, ULTRA HIGH COMPRESSION,required PREMIUM, DUDE,,said so on the air cleaner,, but my old man was too cheap to pay the extra 4 cents, and ran it on regular with no apparent damage. Even his “Italian tuneups”( keeping the gas pedal floored in park until it cleared out, as me and my brother held our ears expecting a piston to come through the hood) didn’t seem to hurt it either. I think the Starfire was Oldsmobiles last gasp at the gentlemans cruiser, and that Monza type later was just a joke, but the 60s Starfires were top of the line. Regardless what division you went with, back then GM had all the angles covered, and just the nicest cars. When I hear someone touting the praises of some newer car, I chuckle and think, pal, you’ve never been in a ’63 Starfire and probably never will.
I was a passenger in my late friend’s ‘63 Starfire. What an automobile that was! She would fly when he pushed her. My pal had bought three Starfires over the years as he went through cars like a five year old boy with toys! Guys with “hot cars” would pull up at a light beside him revving up. He’d dust them and stop later. They couldn’t believe he drove a stock Oldsmobile! Quite an automobile!
Nothing wrong with a NinetyEight Luxury Sedan. My friend’s dad bought a brand new 66’ it had the 425 nice car and the reason I love Oldsmobile. Dad had a 65’ Impala SS I can still remember that new smell of that interior
If it’s the same engine as in the ‘64 (which I’m pretty sure it is), it’s the 345 HP Starfire motor. The SkyRocket motor was the 4 barrel 394 that was optional in the 98 and Dynamic 88.
Brings back fond memories of my buddy’s 64 Olds 98 that was the envy of the whole neighborhood. Beeeutifull cruiser and that little old 394 picked up the weight of this boat and kept up with any Cadillac on the raod!
Even though I like the Pontiac Grand Prix from this era, I still think this is one beautiful car. I wouldn’t mind having this in my driveway. It seems like the Stingray, Buick Riviera, and the aforementioned GP got the attention for the new for ’63 GM cars.
Starfires had 345 horsepower. They were quite fast for their day, even with the dreadful Roto-Hydramatic three speed transmission.
I owned a 63 Catalina, and it shared many of the same interior styling cues that this cruiser has. Nice car.
Stunning, and the color os cosmic!
Love the color. One of my favorite land yachts. When I was a weee small lad my grandfather had a 4 door olds that looked a lot like this , guess that was a 98 ? More of a ford guy so not certain.
A rather oddly ordered car. Power seat and power antenna but no power brakes, power windows, power vents, or A/C. I always liked the 64 Starfire convert a little better, but this is no slouch. Nice colors in and out.
For a 60 year old, it’s in pretty good shape, especially in Florida, where cars rot. My best friend, and neighbor, growing up and I rode regularly in his grandmother’s brand new 1963 Starfire. It was turquoise. She kept in the garage, had it cleaned regularly and drove it many years. I have driven two 1962 Starfire convertibles in my line of work. IMHO, 62 is the best looking year Starfire.
Add on some Vintage Air and cruise…
What a terrific car .I love the color. Whats with the arm rests in the trunk? Sanford Fla? Flood waters ? Check out the drivers side floor under the rubber mat Too bad its not on the West Coast ) . On second thought its just as well
Unlikely any flood or storm damage from last year’s canes. If you mean the west coast of FL you’re certainly right about that, could have been ruined if was in my neck of the woods…
I think the dealers ordered them to get a sticker range. They could overlap various models and the salesman could move a customer up or down to a product. This was also done when the dealers handled Olds-Buick-Pontiac. Back then every tiny burg had a GM dealer and there were crazy permutations such as Pontiac-Cadillac-GMC or Chevy-Olds-Buick. Some even handled farm equipment too.