Olds’ New Rocket: 1964 Oldsmobile F-85

For $5,200, this 1964 Oldsmobile F-85 brings an interesting piece of Oldsmobile history within reach. This particular two-door coupe is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Lake City, Florida. It has a 330-cubic-inch V8, a two-speed automatic transmission, and 98,100 miles showing.

The 1964 model year brought a major change for the F-85. It moved from its original compact-car platform to GM’s intermediate A-body, sharing its basic architecture with the Chevrolet Chevelle, Buick Special, and Pontiac Tempest. Oldsmobile advertised the redesigned F-85 as ten inches longer, with a three-inch increase in wheelbase. That meant more room and a wider stance, while giving the car a more substantial feel than its predecessor. It was a big year across the GM lineup as well. Pontiac unveiled the GTO, and Oldsmobile added its 4-4-2 performance package to the F-85 lineup. The 4-4-2 added a hotter version of the 330 and a performance-oriented suspension, giving buyers a more serious alternative to the standard F-85.

Under the hood is Oldsmobile’s new 330-cubic-inch Jetfire Rocket V-8, a cast-iron engine that replaced the earlier aluminum 215. The name might evoke the 1962-63 F-85 Jetfire, but that was a very different beast: a turbocharged 215 that utilized a water-methanol injection system. The 1964 330 was naturally aspirated. Olds’ own factory literature was even more conservative, rating the regular-fuel, two-barrel version at 210 bhp and 325 lb-ft of torque. A higher-compression version was also available, along with the 260-horsepower Cutlass V-8. The seller says this car retains its original engine and transmission. Its two-speed automatic was Oldsmobile’s Jetaway, which was also available on the F-85 that year.

The seller reports that the car runs and drives but needs a battery, master cylinder, and carburetor. New brake shoes, wheel cylinders, and an axle bearing have reportedly been installed. The photos show a complete-looking car with a blue bench-seat interior and the Oldsmobile V8 under the hood. There is some visible wear on the driver’s seat, but it appears to offer a starting point for its next owner.

Oldsmobile was just getting started with its new 330, and the F-85 was no longer a compact. When was the last time you saw one of these at a car show?