Jetfire! There aren’t many car names cooler or more space age than that. This 1963 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire is an almost all original survivor and it’s listed on eBay with a buy-it-now price of $6,000 or you can make an offer. It’s located in beautiful Grand Junction, Colorado. Thanks to Alan for tracking down this rare turbo Jetfire!
I think this is a case where the finish on the car is more surface rust than patina, but I could be wrong. Sometimes an original, crusty finish just looks good on an old car or truck, this isn’t one of those cases. The seller says that the “arid western Colorado weather was kind, but the rust is heavy and extensive. The vehicle was stored uncovered.” It’s hard to tell if any rodent damage is there, but that part of Colorado, and actually almost any part of the globe, is a problem area for rodents so prepare for the worst in that regard.
The F-85, Oldsmobile’s intermediate-sized cars introduced in 1961, got a slight update in 1963 giving them less of a jet age appearance, in my opinion. Oldsmobile sold just over 5,800 Jetfire models in their last year of production, 1963, and just over 9,600 in total for their two-year run: 1962 and 1963.
As you can see, there’s a lot of work to do on this car. In fact, even the seller says that it needs a total restoration. The interior is rough but at least it looks complete. How’s the headliner, Scotty G? Well.. er.. um..
Of course the most important part of this car is the engine! And here it is.. or, isn’t. The original 215 hp 215 cubic-inch turbocharged V8 was removed and stored inside on an engine stand. The seller says that around “1978 the owner removed the original turbo rocket engine and installed a used non turbo 1962 Cutlass engine. The mileage and date from both vehicles at that time was not documented. The car was driven and parked in January 1983. This Olds has not been driven or stared since that time.” It sounds like it’s rebuildable, but given the extensive rust and interior work that’s needed on this car, can it be saved?
Wife’s 1st car, she loved it
Wow I never see an car like this before it such an amazing car. Wish I could afford it and get it back to the way it was brand new. Sadly don’t have the money to.
Priced too high IMO ,unless it was running with the
original engine in it, even then it would have to be in
better shape I would think to get $6G…?
These are cool,but just don’t have the iconic status
of the Cutlass/442..,or the inflated prices..!
So sad it’s this far gone! I love the lines, woild have been a nice looker
In it’s current condition, this is a $3k car at best. A pristine example maybe $11k. What’s this seller thinking?
C’mon, let’s hear it. Colorado, what have they been smoking? ( I’m so sick of hearing that, Colorado is an awesome place) I don’t think the seller is too far off, at least they didn’t claim 12K original miles. I heard that was a common swap, pulling the turbo out. I guess what makes this special, is they still have the engine, and it’s really the selling point of this car. Without it, it’s just a ’63 Cutlass.
Restomod
Yup.
Patch the body up enough to be a driver.
Add some modern turbo controls and fuel injection.
Could be a fun project.
Olds offered Jetfire owners a no-charge 4-barrel retrofit in 1965. A Jetfire with the turbo, installed or not, is an uncommon find. Modify some other F-85. This one will draw more crowds restored, with the original turbo engine reinstalled.
Could be a nice car, for a real enthusiast. But, $6k is too high for this condition on this out-of-date tank. Rides great, but sucks gas. Sorry, I pass.
The engine in the ’62 Jetfire I found was locked up from sitting, wasn’t the rings in the cylinders, but the wrist pins. Make sure both engines turn over. The ’63 I rode in had the automatic, what a slug. Start looking for a T-10 now, or better yet, talk to D & D, and source their T-5 conversion. I’d found a lot of NOS for my ’62, but my heart wasn’t in it, and sold the car. Wonder if it was ever finished?
This comes from a day well before turbos were reliable. The impellers coked quickly if they were not allowed to cool down before shutting off the engine. But when they were behaving, they were fun little cars. Not fast, but pretty quick. My Dad liked how my 66 Corvair turbo ran, so he bought one of these. I guess you could say that it WAS my Dad’s Oldsmobile. His was blue with a white top and a white interior. It was truly a pretty little car. It lost its turbo about two years into ownership. The turbo in those days cost almost as much as the engine. He traded it for an Olds 88 four door hardtop.
My dad had a 1964 F85 Turbo. He hated it, but not because the car was problematic, but because the car overheated while chasing the ambunlance that carried my grandpa to the hospital. By the time my dad and my mom made it to the hospital, my grandpa had already passed. The morning after my dad traded the F85 for a Buick with a nailhead V8.
Poof, in Grand Junction, that’s a long drive or a mega expensive plane tix from Denver, during the winter.
I like it. Probably close to worth the ask with the original engine and turbo. As mentioned, some modern controls added to the turbo would make it manageable. You have to do it anyways so rebuild the engine with a suitable compression ratio and if I recall correctly a Buick 300 crank drops right in and increases the displacment to 266 CID. Oh, and its black too.
What’s the problem with you people , a fairly rare care with the original engine. Rusty but not terrible. Way way better than some of the German junk that we have seen lately for way , way more money and no where near as fast. Think equivalent year 365. Just sayin. Less money to restore, more fun to drive and rarer. What’s not to like
1962 was the year I like. Star fire with big block,394 I believe . Great looks. Just my 2 cents. These are getting hard to find(as they say).
One very big issue with the BOP aluminum V8s was corrosion /electrolysis- if the
proper coolant was not used and changed annually, the cooling systems would
clog up and the engines would overheat. The good news is that the Rover V8
was based on the architecture for the BOP 215 ( the Buick version, I believe, ) and parts are not too difficult to come by. ( The SU carbs can be fun …..) These engines were used in the Rover 3500, Land Rover, Range Rover, and some Morgan +8 models; the later Rover offerings with fuel injection and some Morgans set up to run on propane…
The original ad shows a gallon of “Turbo Rocket Fluid”. What the heck?
The rocket fluid was a water methanol mixture (IIRC) used to cool the intake charge. Makes the engine run cooler and prevents pinging. Remember, this is in the days before intercooler, blow off valves, or even waste gates.
Really need’s to be in the ” All Stock Drags ” against the others…..
In Australia a straight, V8, basketcase from the ’60 would command $16K AUD easy (just look on our Ebay).
Not to say that the above commentary about price is incorrect, just a reminder that things are worth as much as people are willing to pay and it happens that the USA seems to have a a comparative surplus of older interesting cars that are restoration candidates.
There’s probably even a viable business model in shipping cars you guys think are POS and not worth effort over to Oz to sell to us enthusiasts who are starved of projects!!!
I’d love to own one of these. Given it time, restore it, I wouldn’t be surprised if the price climbs. This is the world’s first mass produced turbo car after all. Beat the Corvair Spyder to the showrooms by 2 weeks!
Of course, the experience would not be at all like a modern turbo. 60s turbo cars take forever to spool. Good luck seeing boots in 1st gear at all. Maybe a little boost in 2nd. And then shift it really fast if you still want boost at the beginning of 3rd. Super fun still though.
So much for the naysayers. $6k was a good price. It’s gone!
Man, I’ve wanted to get my hands on one of these ! I really want a 62 though. I currently have a 62 Pontiac Lemans convertible with the 195ci four cylinder, and a 62 Buick Skylark convertible with the aluminum 215 engine. A 62 Olds Jetfire would make the collection complete. I really like these “senior compacts”. Whoever bought it, I hope they restore it to factory condition.
Have not been on BF for a week or so, happy to see that my suggestion made the grade. :-)
I’ve been snooping for the turbo Jetfire cars for quite a while now, wishing that I had bought an unrestored and great condition one locally 20 years ago when it came along.
Those who think that a really nice one would find little in the way of interest as compared to others from the 60’s just don’t know the market. And as far as power goes, no they never ran like the real big cubic inch monsters, but for a little V8 they would sing! Remember that these were relatively light cars, so less HP was required to get one going quickly.
I’ve been intrigued by them since junior year of high school, when I rode in one owned by the family of a senior. Impressed me. Later my brother had a Starfire with the carbureted engine, and it ran pretty well also. The aluminum engine was leading technology. Look at so many of the blocks made today.