The Oldsmobile Starfire has an interesting history, having been made for the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and even into 1980 when the name was retired. It wasn’t a continuous production run which is the interesting part for me. The seller has this beautiful 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire convertible posted here on craigslist in St. Augustine, Florida and they’re asking $34,900. Thanks to T.J. for sending in this tip! Here’s the original listing.
Originally, there was an Oldsmobile Starfire concept car at the 1953 Motorama and the following year, in 1954, Oldsmobile used the Starfire name for the 98 convertible body style until the end of 1956. The name then went into hibernation until January of 1961 when Oldsmobile came back with the first-generation Starfire line which lasted until the 1966 model year. The name went back into the GM vault until the fall of 1974 when Oldsmobile dusted it off again for their version of GM’s H-body cars, which included the Chevrolet Monza, Buick Skylark, and Pontiac Sunbird. This second and last generation Starfire lasted until the 1980 model year.
I have to believe that the first-gen cars such as the gorgeous red convertible seen here are the most popular with collectors. Did I even have to say that? There was a two-door hardtop and convertible body style available in this model for this generation of Starfire and this car appears to be as nice as they come. The seller says that it’s a show car and I don’t doubt that one bit. It even has a new top.
Wow! This car is beautiful, isn’t it? It even has a TV remote on the console. Well, I’m guessing that’s for a radio but the seller doesn’t mention it at all or what the part is in a ziplock on the passenger floor. There are a couple of giant speakers on the floor behind the front seats so maybe there’s a crankin’ sound system hidden in the glove box? That would come out instantly if I bought this car. The thought of being forced to listen to someone else’s blaring music from a convertible or a motorcycle at a stoplight brings what’s left of my tired blood to the boiling point.
The engine should be Oldsmobile’s Rocket 394 cubic-inch V8 which had a pavement-pounding 345 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque! There is no rust or bondo on this car and everything works as it should. They have it priced between Hagerty’s #2 excellent condition value and the #3 good condition value. Any thoughts on this Starfire? Better yet: do you keep your stereo on #11 at stoplights?
This is one sweet looking ride. I’d want to do an inspection prior to agreeing on a price.
In a convertible, you don’t need to entertain the whole block with your stereo, so no, I would not have it turned up to 11.
I don’t like the speakers on the rear floor, either. The owner just converted this to a two-seater.
My first car was a 1970 Chevelle in 1992. I was 18.The radio didn’t work. I had it for four years and never missed it!! Just the rumble of the engine was enough for me.
I believe that this year is included in the problematic transmission group. Possibly something to consider.
That would be the Rotomatic aka “Slim Jim”. My 63 Olds had one that failed and it took me 2 months to find a shop that would touch it, and this was back in 1989
Scotty, the only reason to have a really high powered sound system is to impress your friend’s kids or to put in your ear plugs and drown out the idiot next to you at a stop light. Other than that it’s not worth the money.
I did it once, put a 180 watt RMS radio conversion in a stock looking 65 Plymouth. It absolutely shook the car and the garage at 2/3 volume. My friend’s kids were into big car stereos and the look on their faces when I cranked up a stock looking 65 Plymouth radio and it shook the garage was priceless.
It’s probably not worth the money and time I spent, but the thing still sounds good 20 years later. The only problem is the 383 with Flowmasters sounds better, so I don’t use the radio much.
Is a transmission swap to a regular gm400 available?
Nice powerful oldsmobile
It’s definately doable but expect numerous speedbumps along the way.
First you’ll need a $$$ transmission adapter since when removing the Slim Jim you’ll have no place to mount your starter (pre ’65 fullsize Olds/ Pontiacs have starter bolted to transmission). Cars designed for the Slim Jim apparently have very little wiggle room in the transmission tunnel for a larger unit, so some kind of ‘persuasion’ (read: anything between heavy mallet and angle grinder) will need be involved. Then of course comes trans mount, cooling lines, linkage and shifter quadrant mods.
The ’64 Starfire in the link below has a TH700, I’ve read that story over and over again as IMO it has to be the ultimate Starfire. Sadly there are no pics from the conversion process but it proves TH gen conversions have been done before. While the Starfire 394 is indeed a powerhouse you could probably make do with a strengthened TH350 which would be an easier fit in its tight transmission tunnel
https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/blogs/1964-olds-starfire-just-like-fathers-oldsmobile
Thx very much for the info and link sheriff 👍 that silver starfire is perfection for sure. The front end… the spinners lol awesome car made better w more gear and o/d
I look at this gorgeous `62 Starfire, and suddenly I hear Tony Bennett in the background.
Wow! This is a gorgeous car!
This was not a rare color combo as stated in the ad. Going fast with class for sure!
Had one like it but silver interior
Nice car. But IMHO convertibles should always show top up, windows up AND top down, windows down. Anything less makes me suspicious.
Tyícal American beauty, simply gorgeous. The additional speakers have goit to go, as does whatever million watts sound system they are attached to. Only people lacking any and all musical taste have these; ghetto blasters. It goes under the headline – The Louder, the Better -, which isn´t the case with real music.
When I was in high school, a girlfriend of mine’s dad had one of these in a light metallic blue with a white top, and it was gorgeous! Had I continued dating her, that car might be in my garage right now…a two-fer!
I’m with you regarding individuals that have to have a “system” in their car. They don’t put that trash in their cars for their own enjoyment, they want to annoy everyone in a 50 yard radius.
My favorite color of these was the metallic lavender. We had a ’62 Dynamic 88 my mother drove like a demon. The speedometer was one of my favorite features.
I don’t like the speakers on the rear floor, either. The owner just converted this to a two-seater.
To me the 62 is the best looking of them all. I once had a hardtop 62 model and I loved it. Someone is going to love this car.
God bless America
Speakers on the floor is kinda cheesy, but I like a loud stereo. My musical taste is just fine too, in fact…I wanna share it with everyone! And no, I don’t live in the ghetto.
Anyhow, back in high school I was chasing the skirt of a chick whose Dad had 2 of these. They were his toys, and were absolutely beautiful. I wish I had landed her, by now those cars could maybe be mine…or at least one of them.