The General Motors platform that gave us the Chevrolet Vega and Pontiac Astre also underpinned a series of models with more sporting intentions. A low mileage example of one of these corporate siblings is this 1978 Oldsmobile Starfire GT on Craigslist in Peoria, Arizona for $3900. Thanks for the tip, Barn Finds reader Rocco B!
By the mid-1970s GM was battling issues with the Chevy Vega, particularly with engine reliability and body corrosion. The not-inconsiderable investment that GM made in the “H” platform meant that the General needed to build a few more models off the design in an effort to recoup that investment. As a result of that plan, Chevrolet produced the Monza and Monza 2+2, Buick had the Skylark, Pontiac offered the Sunbird and Oldsmobile sold the Starfire GT.
For the time, the two hatchback models- Monza 2+2 and Starfire GT -were very good-looking cars, with a silhouette that recalled the contemporary Ferrari 365 GTC/4. As with other GM cars, the options list was long and buyers could specify their cars with a number of interior trim packages, wheel and tire choices and exterior graphics. For the 1978 model year, customers could choose from the standard 2.5 liter four cylinder Iron Duke, a Buick derived 3.8 liter V6 or a Chevrolet derived 305 V8. Four or five speed manual transmissions were offered along with a three speed automatic.
The claimed 49,000 mile Starfire GT for sale here is equipped with the V6 and automatic transmission. The seller states that it also has power steering and brakes and non-operating air conditioning. The ad says that the car had been sitting for five years and the seller changed out the fluids, hoses, water pump, rear main seal and valve cover gaskets.
The car for sale is painted Oldsmobile Bright Red and it has an oh-so-seventies white vinyl interior with red carpeting. The dashboard has a fairly complete set of gauges with a tachometer and a Federally-mandated 80MPH speedometer front and center. The condition of the seats and carpets appear to support the low mileage claim with minimal wear seen in the photos.
Rust is not an issue here with the photos of the body and the undercarriage showing a clean and tidy car. The engine bay as well is clean and grease-free, supporting the claim of minor engine work being carried out by the seller prior to its listing. If you’ve still got your platform shoes and baggy pants, this could be perfect car to complete your seventies look.
What a cheap easy way to join the hobby. Attractive, different and after fixing the air ready to show up on cruise night with no shame. Can’t buy a rusty nova shell for $3900. Just sayin.
Somebody got a super deal on this car. Looks like it’s gone already.
Starfire? sounds like a My Little Pony name. Hardly impressive.
I had one the doors were so long and heavy the factory hinges couldn’t support the door and they would sag out of striker bar alignment you would have to lift up of the handle when closing,
With less than 20,000 miles my engine caught fire 🔥 on I95 the dealer wouldn’t help me and I let it get Repo’d
In northern Virginia when these cars came out, the local dealer actually sat a red one next to a REAL Ferrari GTC/4 in the showroom for a few weeks.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to list every Monza that gets listed in the country.
Monza was Chevrolet. This is an Oldsmobile, completely different.
You are joking, right?
Still,Miguel, much better than that gorped up H Body with all the body kit junk on it featured not long ago.
[ I don’t care how “rare” it was, it looked like crap when it was new and still does ].
This one is much nicer.
If you don’t like them, don’t look at the listings!
The point is that it takes the space of other cars we can comment on.
We have to ask what is the purpose of this site.
Is it to offer cars for sale to the commenters, or is it to showcase every version of a certain model that we have already seen 10 times before.
How any more times can we say the same things about similar cars?
While these may be common in Mexico 🇲🇽 Miguel, they are rarely seen nowadays as they have all rusted away. If you drove this to a car show in Toronto you would have a lot of people scratching their heads as they have never seen one in the flesh.
There are none of these in Mexico. They were never sold here.
My point was that every Monza that is advertised gets published here.
We would like to see a variety of cars.
Somebody has a real hard on for this body style here.
This is a pretty scarce Olds,and is in about as good shape as anyone could hope to expect.These cars didn’t stay around for too long on the streets in northern Ca..,The heat/mountains burned up the engines,and the interior..,or they just wouldn’t pass the smog test.
This seemed a little high price wise,but where is there another one..???
This car,and the other versions will continue to get rarer..,and maybe more collectable in the future..?Very nice find.!
Right on, John! I wouldn’t pay that much for a non-rusted Nova shell, or one that was actually running! Gimme this little gem any day!
That would be a great car to park next to my 76 Cosworth. You never see H-body cars at car shows anymore. I seem to be the only one at the 12 shows this summer I have taken mine too. So far I have won 3 trophies and people seem to love seeing it.
This thing is rarer than a Chupacabra Miguel. What’s not to like? I would drive it as is.
My uncle had one of those little cars back in the day. Seems I remember it having the v6 in it.
This car would fly with a Buick 3.8 Intercooled Turbo (alla Grand National) and a 200-4R transmission. Interesting.
Always liked these cars! This is actually a very nice example!
looking to purchase one of these as I had one as a teen and loved the car. I want to put a small block and 4 speed like the one I had quick little car.
I owned one when i was 17. V6 yellow with black GT. That thing flew!
My mother’s 82 skylark engine blew so she basically took my car.
Later it developed an electrical issue by then i was driving an 83 capri and had no extra money to put into fixing it. it eventually ended up going to the boneyard… but i wish i still had it now.