The truly evocative model names in the auto industry today seem to be holdovers from a bygone era: Mustang, Charger, Silverado, and not too much else. What is an Envista? A K5? An A7? Regardless of how exciting or unexciting they were, cars of the 1960s tended to have powerful names; in the Oldsmobile lineup alone, you had Starfire, Jetfire, and Cutlass, names that were truly adventurous. In 1963, I think I’d have gone for this Starfire Coupe with its satin aluminum trim down its flanks. Barn Finder Curvette found this well-optioned, one-repaint “survivor” here on craigslist in Lyons, Oregon, with an asking price of $17,800.
The Starfire truly did have some firepower under the hood, with Oldsmobile’s hottest 394 putting out 345 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque. The air cleaner sticker, which is not quite visible in this light, says “Ultra High Compression,” 10.5:1 in the case of the Starfire. You’ll probably want to use your local gas station’s best in this one. The 394 is backed by an automatic transmission with a bit of a reputation, the Roto Hydra-Matic, also known as the “Slim Jim.” All automatic-equipped Oldsmobiles used this transmission from 1961 to 1964, and magazine road tests and classic car forum users have complained about its shift quality and reliability. Conversion kits for other transmissions are available, but the seller says that this one is “ready for car shows and cruising,” so I imagine it works well enough to get the job done.
The seller also says that the interior is original and in “excellent condition.” You may have noticed the air conditioning compressor in the engine compartment, but the Starfire also has power steering, power brakes, and power windows (the small window cranks you see control the vent windows). It also has bucket seats and a console with a floor shifter and a tachometer up front. The dashboard trim resembles the Starfire’s unique side trim.
Aside from one repaint in its original color (Wedgewood Mist?), this Starfire is presented as a 100,000-mile survivor. It is missing its neat Starfire wheel covers in lieu of some chrome reverse wheels, but aside from that, it appears to be as Oldsmobile intended it to be. The ad says that there’s no obvious rust, so if you’re interested in full-size Oldsmobiles with a little zip under the hood, this might be a decent buy.
Put the stock wheels and hubcaps back on it, or get the caps for the chrome reverse wheels.
Nice Olds!!
Beautiful car, nicely optioned, and plenty of power, I hope it finds a good home!
This,,,was the car me and my brother always hoped the old man would come home with. You know, as a kid, your old mans car was usually the 1st car you took interest in, and he had a ’63, 98, 4 door, same color. We were just kids, but we already knew about a Starfire, WOW,,,it’s dads car only a lot cooler. All for naught, as the next car he came home with was a ( leaning forward with anticipation),,,,,,,,,another ’65 Olds, 98 4 door,,,BOOOO. Fantastic cars. This is the car the old man would give the “Italian tuneup” to. It required premium, said so on the gas cap, but he was too cheap, IT WAS ANOTHER .04 YOU CHEAPSKATE,,sorry, repressed anxiety there, and ran it on regular. When it began to misfire, he’d keep his foot to the floor ( in neutral) until it “cleared out”. It pinged like a Geiger Counter in Nevada, but never seemed to hurt it any. They were great cars, and this was the best.
Wow Howard;
I had to put my phone down to laugh at some of your comments. My brother and I refer to these big old cars as “battle ships” because the metal on these is thicker. :) Great write up.
good looking olds. the 61-62s had just a bit more style but these were cool as well
Gentleman’s hot rod. These could really smoke the tires with all that torque from the old 394. Bulletproof engine.
No they couldn’t. We had 3 and none of them would smoke tire. You’re delusional.
I had a 63 98 convertible, heavy car & peg leg, would light up that right rear tire as long as one would want!
Beautiful car, but I’d go back to the original wheels. We had a 63 Dynamic 88 with the 394. It was a good engine, however, that Hydra-Matic, not so much. I’d love to have this one in my garage.
My ’63 Catalina convertible, I got from my dad, had a Roto-Hydramatic in it. Darn thing lasted about 5,000 miles between rebuilds and had a strange shift between fist and second. I finally took it out, replaced the floor pan with one from a Grand-prix and installed a Turbo400. No problems since- that was 20 years ago. My son has it now…
I believe the reason that car names have become so terrible it’s because of us trying to be European instead of American. Cars used to be named so you could remember what the car is. Name of the car Z4321 PTO is meaningless to me. Names like Eldorado, Riviera, New Yorker, imperial, Continental, etc. all have meaning and visual images to me. Cadillac decided to become Euro trash and stop naming its vehicle except for its huge SUV which will never be a Cadillac to me. I truly wish the American manufactures. Would produce automobiles again. I missed the multiple body styles that they came in and the field of riding in a convertible. Why does everyone one or 2+10 gas hog to drive around?
I miss cars made of metalloids. Chrome, stainless, polished aluminum, copper, and brass take a back seat in today’s manufacturing. Did metals poison the world? Maybe. Be interesting to see how plastic rates ecologically. That is, if we truly had a non bias equation.
Great write-up and a great big stock Rocket with all the factory bling.
Was the wheelbase and length of this car an 88 or a 98. Thanks
The Starfire was built on the shorter 88 wheelbase.
Thanks
I’ve got one of these out back that has just a couple parts missing. Actually just the bucket seat mounts I think. Still has the tilt wheel though.
My Dad had a 1963 98 that I got caught laying lots of rubber on the street.
My 7th grade science teacher, Mr. Trotter, came to school with a new red one … back then anyone could open the hood, which we boys did to see the engine … he came out waving his cane and threatened to “beat our ass” if we didn’t get back to class … he was a beloved teacher that we all liked … those were the days …