“Pure glamor… with a touch of adventure!” That’s how Oldsmobile’s sales brochure described the 1963 Starfire. The sportiest of Oldsmobile’s full-sized lineup that year came standard with leather bucket seats, center console, automatic transmission, and the “famous” 394 Starfire engine. This 1963 Oldsmobile Starfire in Oneida, New York is one giant crushed rear quarter panel away from making some lucky Olds fan’s dream come true. The listing here on eBay asks $7995 for the running, driving Starfire, and you get the dent for free. Thanks to reader local_sheriff for spotting this Space Age masterpiece.
Checking in the center section suggests this is original leather. Once restored, that all-red interior will bring out the Hollywood in driver and passengers alike. You’ll never feel ordinary driving this well-appointed coupe. All the hep cats keep their cool thanks to the futuristic Starfire’s on-board air conditioning.
Standard only on the Starfire and 98 Custom Sports Coupe, Oldsmobile’s top-rated “Starfire” Rocket V8 makes 345 HP and 440 lb-ft of torque. Let’s hope that sheen’s not from water; only a real Square would hose down an engine compartment and risk forcing water into places that otherwise stay dry. Tell the pump jockey it’s “Premium only!” No second-rate gas for this rocket-powered Starfire.
The white paint retains some shine, though a darker color would better contrast the bright trim on this upscale Olds. Despite the New York address, this car hailed from the warm, dry South, according to the listing.
No more dancing around the elephant in the room; let’s take a look at that poor left rear. Did an errant Civic meet its bitter end after dashing the Starfire’s flank, or did someone misjudge a maneuver in Reverse? Either way that panel is no bolt-on, and this damage would “total” many cars. Only after drilling out hundreds of spot-welds, possibly on two cars (this one and a donor car), then precisely aligning the replacement quarter panel before tack and finish welding, smoothing lead across the C-pillar seam, and restoring or replacing at least the side trim will this coupe be show-ready again. Do you have room in your collection for this crunched Starfire?
Not sure if AMD has replacement panels for this year Olds,maybe a junkyard piece. I do know that there is a series of pinch-welds under the chrome trim on the edge of the quarter panel. Really Nice car , won’t be too many at Cars&Coffee Super Rocket power. Put one in a 34 more door sedan I built when the kids still lived with us and took them to car shows. Wonderful engine.I hope someone saves this car. It must have been put away in the winter. Upstate NY might not be were this car spent most of its life.
These are super cool cars, this one just needs a little love. Few cars could hang with one of these on the open road back in it’s day.
The Starfire was actually the very first automobile equipped with bucket seats and shifted by a floor console mounted automatic shifter.
Meh. Just give the quarter a good pull and it will straighten right out.
Those who have read my posts will have noticed I have a really soft spot for early 60s road boats like this. Though it’s Olds’ top dog this year Starfires sell for ridiculous low $ compared to same year Chevs – considering the quarter smack and how under-appreciated these cars are I’m pretty sure you could low-ball owner and get it for 5k maybe even lower. FYI Starfire projects (read: parts cars) are still found here and there as they’re usually considered too expensive to restore, so there you’ll have your replacement quarter if this one is beyond.
If you prefer the ’62 I found this one already submitted by an other reader that somehow has gotten under the BF staff radar
https://lascruces.craigslist.org/cto/d/deming-oldsmobile-starfire/7288899345.html
l_s is right, Starfires, for some reason, never gained the popularity of other GM’s. I think it was Oldsmobiles best entry. The old man had a 4 door ’63 Ninety Eight, as kids, we always hoped he would come home with a Starfire, but he bought another 4 door 98. While these cars looked just like this back in the day, today, everything has to be pristine, and a car like this really should be repaired. It would give this car the respect it needs. The old man had a 394, Ultra High Compression on the air cleaner, not seen here, what a 60’s term, and he was too cheap to buy premium,( .04 cents/gal more) and ran it on regular. To be clear, regular back then was comparable to our premium today. I have not so fond memories of him giving it the “Italian tuneup”, filling the garage, and our lungs with lead deposits, but it was the 60’s, what’s the harm? Great find, can’t go wrong here.
Outer Space….into the void…chase the stars in your hip new Oldsmobile! Made it up but Oldsmobile seems like they were into the whole space race thing. Cool old ride.
Fayetteville Arkansas has a 1962 for $1200. Looks like a parts car.
In 1963 I was in college and had parking. A young lady had a Starfire and no parking. She left it with me, and asked that I exercise it and have it clean and ready for her to drive home for the Holidays. She had no interest in driving it from September to late November. I did.
For good measure, the gas cap on my parents 1966 Delta 88 also said “Premium Fuel Only”.
That quarter can be pulled on a frame machine and straightened by a good bodyman, no need to cut the quarter panel up
Got to find some old geezer to do this job. Much different than a new Toyota like most shops are used to working on now.
Agree Gary. Most definitely repairable- especially considering the cutting necessary to install the donor quarter. Good call.
My favorite Olds. They were awesome cars.
Definitely worth saving. When one goes to Saturday morning C&C with a road yacht like this, they’ll draw a crowd with the 9 foot rear fenders alone.
Nice looking car. I’ve never seen an Olds Starfire before, never mind a 1963 Olds Starfire. Assuming parts are available, I would think that left rear quarter can either be repaired, or replaced. As long as it runs under its own power, and everything works like they should, I’d be willing to pay close to the asking price of $7,995.
Nobody was going to say “You bought a what?,” when you purchased one of these road warriors.
I love this beast. I checked one out when I was in high school in the 80’s and did it leave an impression on me. Sit behind the wheel and you’ll be in awe. I just relocated out of NY to NC and If I were still in NY, I’d have bought it. I agree the panel can be pulled with a real tech using the frame machine. Johann car Models offered these years ago and I still have one in an unopened box-NEW and shrink wrapped. I will build it soon as with all my other projects.
You’re right about a Civic meeting its end. Back in the early 80’s, I came across an accident at an intersection between a full-sized Buick and I think a Honda. It was hard to identify the Honda which looked like it hit a brick wall at 50 mph–it collapsed like an accordion. The Buick had a damaged left front fender and drove under its own power to the gas station on the corner.
I like it,but a good old school body man is needed to repair that thick old metal,and it will not be cheap!,but worth fixing it in my opinion along with the drivers seat,and maybe it will last another 58 years,this is when cars were built strong, and with real metal, and actual chrome.
The 1963 Pontiac Grand Pix was the one I fell in love with,but this Olds Starfire is definitely a fine looking machine.Wouldn’t mind having it.