The seller of this beautiful 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire says that it’s a survivor and is pretty much the way it came from the factory, but has been repainted and had a few other upgrades to keep it working and looking fine. They have it listed here on eBay in Deming, New Mexico and they have a buy-it-now price of $8,995 listed, or you can make an offer.
Here’s a car for all of the “Two doors too many!!!” folks. The Starfire only came with two doors, in either this two-door hardtop body style or a two-door convertible. It almost seems like a reasonably small car compared to the other Oldsmobiles in the lineup, but it’s only six inches shorter and 90 pounds lighter than the Olds 98 for this year. I never would have guessed that. The seller has only owned this car for a year but they have done a lot of work and upgrades on it.
Oldsmobile offered the first-generation Starfire from January 1961 through 1966 and it was based on GM’s B-body platform, which also underpinned the Chevrolet Impala, Pontiac Grand Prix, and Buick Wildcat. With a 123″ wheelbase, the same as Olds used on their 88 models, it is no shrinking violet, and with over 300 horsepower, they definitely weren’t something to be taken for granted. There appears to be some wrinkling on the silver portion down the passenger side and the seller mentions a piece of missing trim by the door handle.
It seems a bit unusual to see a red interior in a blue car, but not really, now that I think about it. Period brochures show this combo and I’m a big fan of red interiors no matter what the paint color is. This interior appears to be in fantastic condition with the only flaw being a couple of cracks in the dash by the speaker. Some of the photos are an unusual short, wide format and I put two of them together so you could see the back seat. It looks as nice as the front seats do.
I’m always bummed to see an aftermarket air cleaner housing but maybe the seller has the original one. They mention that the carburetor was rebuilt, there’s a new aluminum radiator, and the “electric and manual” fuel pumps are new, among other things. The engine is Oldsmobile’s 394-cu.in. OHV V8, which was rated at 345 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque when new. A 1966 Olds brochure mentions the new “4-S Hydra-Matic Drive” transmission with “Exclusive Accel-A-Rotor action” on the 98 and Starfire. Hagerty is at $7,900 for a #4 fair-condition car and $23,000 for a #3 good car, as a general reference. What’s your offer on this Starfire?
Very plane as Jane exterior styling. But much more exciting interior decor. I just don’t have the space for it, unfortunately.
In summer of 63 family vacation (in 62 Plymouth Belvedere 😔) found us frequently seeing two young men driving a white 62 Starfire convert. Every time I see one, it brings back great family memories and teen dreams of that Starfire and driving it. My first car was a 66 red OLDS Dynamic 88 convert. MANY cars later still remember both! 🏆
Is the 1966 brochure reference a typo?
61 to 64 had the Roto hydromatic aka slim Jim. Not one of GMs greatest transmissions. Still a great car and able to move along pretty well. TH400 came along in 65 that was a great transmission.
Blue with red interior? The outside should be red,burgundy, or white!
On the flip side I love it!
It probably was one of those colors (or silver or black) as delivered. Highly doubtful it was built this way. However, I had a 63 Electra 225 convert which was built as a Diplomat Blue (navy/dark) with a red interior vehicle.
Or my favorite…Silver!
Maybe they were taking after Maserati with their classic blue-over-red cars.
Family had a ‘62 Dynamic 88 convertible, a lower trim level than this Starfire, but you’d never know it. It was like a spaceship to us kids. We’d perch on top of the folded back top, our feet in the rear seats, as dad flew down the interstate at 70 or better. Different days. Beautiful car, plenty of power. Sad day when dad sold it, don’t remember why he did.
Lovely looking car 1962 has always been my favourite year for the Olds 88, 98 and the Starfire, at least until the 1964 model year.
Only prettier if it was a convertible. My favorite year of the Starfires. Wonder a bit about the paint job and the bent bumper. Price seems fair.
SOLD!! Best offer accepted, so no idea what it went for. Looks like someone got a really nice ride though!
Thanks, Jamie! Sadly, it looks like the deal fell through and it’s been relisted with the same buy-it-now price.
Neighbor who is like a grandmother to me told me she and her husband had one of these. They had originally purchased a brand new 62 Bel Air in California. Shortly thereafter they moved back to Iowa and could never get the Bel Air to run right here in the cold so they traded it back in and some cash on a Starfire. They bought Oldsmobiles right until the end. She told me they were shocked to find out when they went to trade their 1996 Oldsmobile 88 in 2006 that Oldsmobile had been discontinued. In 2006 they ended up with a Hyundai Santa Fe. She has since defected back to GM with a 2015 Equinox.
I love these cars. Bought one in 1971 for $125.00, it was white exterior same red interior. the wheels had been change by previous owner and had reversed chrome with baby moons. I drove it for a few months and sold it to a retired army Colonel who wanted it for nostalgia.
God Bless America
This is the very first car I ever owned in 1962 and to date have another one in my yard. In the real world of car ownership, Unfortunately the Transmission damper plate issue is a huge concern, whoever designed the hubcaps needed to be fired from GM. The fuel line indicator is a problem, the power steering box is a problem, after driving it for a while & shutting it off some Starfires fans keep going for 10 to 15 minutes which occurs on my Starfire. I put in a new engine, trans, some interior needs to be tended to and have well over $35,000 invested and trying to get a fair offer for it.
To any and all car owners, what car that you know of that you had to remove the complicated hub cap clips just to add air to the tire and had to replace a transmissions damper plate used for many years designed for a Oldsmobile’s 60’s? Well this 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire provided these added negative issues and I know of these ridiculously designed problems on a car that originally cost me $5.500. in 1962..
The speedometer on these was always my favorite. It was a colored line that started on the left in green, and as the car sped up, changed to yellow, and then red. I don’t remember what speed caused it to go red, but my mother liked keeping it in the red. LOL I remember watching the line bounce off the right side while she zoomed down the road. No telling how fast we were going at that point.
Our neighbors bought a new ’62 Old 98 Regency, the” big brother” to this Starfire. I remember how special the interior and upholstery was and that it had “power everything”! It was one of the nicest cars in the neighborhood which was surprising as the father was definately not into cars. I remember being sad when they sold it for a ’70’s Toyota Corona, what a step down😢
As stated in previous post. My first car was a red 66 Dynamic 88 convert. Then 69 Delta sedan, OLDSmobile was beautiful, comfortable, and luxurious. Have always believed that OLD being part of the name became an issue. YOUNG mobiles. Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile ads didn’t work. Sad ending for Ransom Eli Olds long running Marque. Unfortunately too many have followed the path to imports! Few remaining American brands now have turned to SUVS and crossovers. 🤮. Believe OLDS 98 LS was the first to use LS (Luxury Sedan) as identification. 🎵 Come and ride with me Lucille 🎶in my Merry 🎵 Oldsmobile 🎶 .Those were the days!
My Uncle John used to buy a new 98 every other year. Instead, in ’61 he bought a black Starfire convertible with a red interior. When ’63 rolled around, he went back to a 98 and bought a sport coupe. It was a 2-door hardtop that had bucket seats. He said he returned to 98’s because they rode smoother due to the longer wheelbase.
1st car was a 62 Dynamic 88, white over light blue.
That missing air cleaner lid had a cool decal: Oldsmobile Rocket- Ultra High Compression – Use Premium Fuel Only
My mom owned one if these , A Burgandy with a Silver leather interior, with full power everything . Great driving and riding car. Loved this car so much that when I got out of the service in 64 I bought a 64 Jetstar I , The stripped down version of the Starfire. I had every available option on the car , including full power, cornering lights, wire wheels, wood steering wheel’ Even had the top custom padded like the 64 Grand Prix. Great car till it was t boned by a drunkin teen. Wish I had it again.
I had a 62 Starfire Back in the Early 70s. My grandfather gave it to me because my 53 Chevy was dying a slow death.
My Starfire was red with a red interior…. This listing brings back a lot of memories, loved that car.🤗