UPDATE – Someone clicked the Buy It Now button but didn’t follow through with paying, so Lucas has relisted his Starfire. If you’d love to have this Oldsmobile, take another look at it here on eBay.
We hear all the time that young people just aren’t into classic cars anymore. Well, we don’t believe that blanketed statement one bit! Just take reader Lucas H, who at just 16 years old bought this 1966 Oldsmobile Starfire. That was 3 years ago and he’s since gotten it running and driving. It’s still a project that needs work, but it’s come a long way since he found it in the dilapidated barn. He’s decided to move it along and has it listed here on eBay. It’s located in New Tripoli, Pennsylvania with a $3,499 BIN with the option to make an offer!
When Lucas got this Starfire, it hadn’t moved since the mid-’80s (it was last registered in 1985) and the barn was starting to cave in around it. He bought it from the previous owner’s widow and unfortunately she didn’t know much about the car’s condition. Once he got it home, he discovered that the 425 cui V8 was seized. Thankfully, he was more patient than the average 16-year-old and rather than do something crazy, he poured ATF down the cylinders and waited for it to break loose. And thanks to his patience the engine is now running! It might need a rebuild if you want to recover all 375 horses that it was rated with from the factory, but at least you know it runs and isn’t missing anything.
The interior is also going to need a lot of work, but it’s actually in better shape than we would have expected given how long it’s been parked. Given how few of these Starfires were built in ’66, a total of just 13,019, finding parts might be a bit of a challenge. We’ve yet to find an upholstery kit for it, but we did find new carpets and some trim parts. Hopefully, a good upholstery shop could make a new seat cover using what’s left of the original.
Yes, it’s going to be a big project, but this Starfire seems like a good buy if you are up for a bit of a challenge. Lucas wants to see this Olds go to a good home and he thought one his fellow Barn Finds Readers might want to take this rare machine on. So, would you take this big block luxury coupe on? If so, what route would you go with it?
Just a note- I had this car yard driving a few years ago but isn’t right now because I haven’t had the time to put the tank back in. Thanks
Good on ya Lucas!
@BarnFinds: Is a “reader ad” the same as a “BF exclusive”?
Hi Chebby,
Good question! So Reader Ads are currently listed elsewhere (eBay, craigslist, etc) while Exclusives are currently only for sale here on Barn Finds. You can get more info here: barnfinds.com/sell
Thanks
Josh
In 1965 Mom got a new Olds 98 coupe, the much longer version of this car w skirts too. 455 engine its as long as a maxivan but a coupe ! Bruces Mom had a 1965 Chrysler 300 w a 440. We did have some runs in fact shifting down to first gear the lever broke off right in my hand…. Sorry Mom. The dealer fixed it immediately of course.
If it was new in 1965, I can guarantee you that it didn’t have a 455 in it. Olds 455 was introduced in 1968.
425 CI ,never said 455
Ad says 425 CI
Now, that’s a Dash!! Looks like Oldsmobile left out the thrust levers.
Awesome project; it’s pretty cool to see people of all different ages working on projects and having an enthusiasm for Classics. I’m 19 and recently started my first project (1967 Vista Cruiser). It’s nice to see people share the enthusiasm
Thank you Taylor! It warms this old goat’s heart to see some youngsters taking an interest in these old and fun/interesting/historical/and worthy cars. Keep up the good work.
That is so cool! I would clean it, fix it mechanically and drive it just the way it is, CB and 8-track and all! New RWL tires and wheels of course.
Can’t zoom in close enough but the CB looks like a 23 channel Cobra, maybe a Cobra 29. Finding a year-correct CB isn’t too hard once you know what to look for. Catalogs from Lafayette, Radio Shack, and Allied Radio are online. My choice would be the Lafayette HB-600 with a bumper mount whip antenna.
So why part with such a potentially cool and unusual cruiser Lucas? I realize such a car requires more research to locate bits however this Olds seems somehow complete?
As for upholstery availability I’d try contacting SMS Auto Upholstery, OR
Yeah the car is basically 100% complete but I am in college now 3.5 hours away from home and don’t have the time to work on it. I’d rather have the money, and I also have a ’73 pontiac.
Hi Lucas.. What About Body Mounts? between Frame and Body. and floorpans, and trunk?
Is it a rear bumper u have for it? and doo u have Luftfilter, org. air cleaner
? and glass? is windscreen intact?
Thanks.. Jesper..
I fully understand that Lucas, and I’m happy you ‘discovered’ the Olds before the owner’s family sent it off to scrapping. Just hoping you hadn’t given up on vintage cars ’cause it is indeed a rewarding activity!
Best of luck with your Pontiac project and with the sale – hoping you’ll find a caring buyer who will take it to the next level
JBP- I have never replaced body mounts and assume they are original. I would replace for safety sake. If you go on Ebay listing you’ll see a photo of the trunk pan. There is surface rust but no holes. You could easily sand and paint/coat and be good to go. The original air cleaner housing is pictured in the trunk.
All glass is intact. It is a rear bumper- I have to find it. I haven’t ripped up the carpet to look at floor.
Good on you, Lucas H.! You saved a classic, and have the intelligence wherewithal to realize what some of us take much longer to discover (or sometimes don’t ever realize!) -sometimes you have to give up something you truly appreciate to get ahead when planning your future.
The big question will always be, “is what I’m giving up worth what I’m going to get?”. It’s apparent you’ve got a dream you’re making into a goal-you go, Lucas H.!
Nevada1/2rack
Lucas, keep the olds sell the Pontiac. Olds is twice the car. And this car is a monster. It is more muscle than any basic Pontiac made in 73. And if you need parts let me know I have 3 66 delta parts cars ( basically same car minus trim )
This car has more class and style than absolutely anything built since the early seventies. A car like this should not be restored for dollar return but instead for self satisfaction. A real head turner.
Always liked Starfires, ’66 my favorite. Too bad Toronado killed them.
I owned a 1963 Olds Super 88 4 Dr Ht a kind of creamy beige color back in 68 with 21000 miles on it – – – estate car fellow bought it and a few years later fell ill and couldn’t drive.
He was a customer in my Texaco station and his wife drove him around in her 2 Dr Ht Chevelle with a 283 auto ps.pb, radio, light package and a few other options.
Id asked them about where the Olds was and that’s when I found out why she was doing all the driving.
I asked what he was going to do with the car and she said she wished he’d sell it as it was a temptation and frustration point not being able to drive.
Told them I’d like to buy it if they decided to sell.
A few weeks later he called the garage and said he was planning to sell it – – How much I asked – – – told me the price and over I went in a flash cheque book in hand.
Had it for a year or so and brother wanted it so sold it to him. It was a great cruiser on a couple of summer holidays to BC.
I also owned an Olds Cutlass Supreme (long rear side windows) swivel buckets auto ps pb etc. no air.
A month after buying that cream puff I had it repainted took the 1 1/2 inch body side moldings off changed the OAL look of the car.
The paint had been worn off the sharp body edges on the roof line and front fenders plus that was when GM had that crappy paint on all that era of cars.(and trucks)
That was a 40 000 mile car when I got it.
Really liked that car – — the 350 was ok for me as I was basically over my days of youthful urges to rip around the s streets with lotsa cubes under the hood – — although I used to borrow my right hand mans 440 Charger to go for a rip just because.
I think GM shot themselves in the foot discontinuing the Olds line – -they were great cars for the most part.
I love those years of Oldsmobile. If I didn’t already have 2chevelles, I would definitely go look for it
Are you all nuts in the head this isn’t barret Jackson auctions and one of you nuts are going to pay 27.000 for a 409 motor !!!! Barrett Jackson is a bunch of millionaires that just try to outbid Thier buddies that’s all it is and you all nuts buy into it thinking your cars are worth that much well they are not that Datsun 240z is a 500.00 dollar car. For God sakes take your head out of your bottoms A barn find is anywhere between 5.000 and 250.00 I’m 86 yrs old and I can’t for the life of me I can’t believe that there are so many dummies in the world today.
My wife’s uncle had one like this. Same color inside and out. The one exception was that his was a factory 4 speed. Craziest version of a Muncie I ever saw. It was about 4 feet long (not really, but it seemed so). A lot longer tail shaft than your usual Muncie.
This Starfire has the seldom seen no charge option of the Strato-Bench front seat w/ armrest. No console is available with this option. The option code is A53, which could possibly stamped on the data plate of the firewall. The buckets and console were standard equipment along with the floor shift on the 1966 Starfire. The was also a 4 speed option available along with 2 turbo 400 hydromatics, the M40 and the heavy duty M41. The bench seat came with a column shift. About 13,000 Starfires were built in 1966, dropped as Olds felt it would hurt sales of the Toronado.