We looked at this Starfire a while back, but reader Scott G listed it as a Reader Ad, so we thought we’d take a closer look at it! After a slumber lasting for 39 years, the Scott brought the car out into the light of day, completed a comprehensive list of tasks to bring it back to good health, and has now decided that it is time for it to find a new home. You will find this Starfire listed for sale here on Craigslist. Located in Hampton, Virginia, it is listed with a clean title. He has set a sale price of $13,900 for this car.
This car is not perfect, but it does appear to be free of any major rust issues. There is surface corrosion present in a number of spots, the worst being just behind the front bumper on the driver’s side. It looks like there may be a couple of rust spots on the lower passenger side door, and maybe in the lower quarter just behind the door on the same side, but the remainder of the car looks to be quite solid. There is also a small dent just above the rear bumper on the driver’s side, but the remainder of the panels look to be quite straight.
The interior looks quite good and is largely unmolested. The original radio still resides in the dash, and the floor console with factory tachometer is present and appears to be in good condition. The leather on the front seats is quite cracked, but a good upholsterer may be able to revive this without resorting to replacement covers. The armrest on the driver’s door is also damaged and will either require restoration or replacement.
Bringing that 394ci big-block back to life has been done carefully and with attention to details. The engine features a new water pump, new hoses, new cores for both the radiator and heater, new exhaust, new thermostat, hard and soft brake lines, new master cylinder, new brake shoes, and wheel cylinders, and a new fuel pump. The car rides on new American Racing wheels and new tires, although the original wheels, hubcaps and new tires are also included in the sale. Since the Starfire was revived the seller has clocked up 1,400 miles and he states that the car runs and drives beautifully.
I have to say that I really like this Oldsmobile. Mechanically it looks to be quite good, and it doesn’t appear to be suffering from any major rust issues. If I were to buy this I’d be really torn by what to do with it. Part of me would want to address the few rust issues and return it to the condition that it must have been in before it went into storage. Part of me would want to treat the existing rust to prevent further deterioration and just drive it the way it is. Which way would you go?
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