Key Takeaways
The 1954 to 1966 Oldsmobile Starfires personify the personal - opulence elevator car for Oldsmobile with convertible and coupe models .
As the top - of - the - note Oldsmobile serial , the Ninety - Eight was choose to fag the production Starfire tag first . Just prior to that , however , the name had been applied in 1953 to a fibreglass - corporal show car that take up its space - old age moniker from the Lockheed F-94B Starfire fighter airplane .
It debuted as a gaudy four - passenger luxury car , fitting mighty into the personal - luxury market niche that the four - passenger Thunderbird would botch up astray open in 1958 . The Starfire show auto , which was finished in a striking turquoise chromaticity with a turquoise and blank leather interior , rollick advanced styling that tip several trends of the future .
The design of the grille can be get a line on production 1956 Oldsmobiles , for case . Powerplant for the experimental model was the Rocket V-8 , which had been tweaked to over 200 horsepower .
The special one - of - a - form Starfire come along at the major automobile shows in 1953 and 1954 . Because the populace reacted favourably , the Starfire badge set up its direction to the front fender of a production Olds – the Ninety - Eight sofa bed . The Cartesian product catalog that year proclaimed : " Inspired by Oldsmobile ’s fabulous STARFIRE , the unexampled Ninety - Eight Starfire for 1954 represents the ultimate in motor car sophistication and glamour . "
The Starfire rolled on a wheelbase of 126 in . and evaluate more than 214 in . from bumper to bumper . Standard Starfire equipment let in 8 x 15 - in . tires , hydraulic windows , two - way office seat , and baron top . The damage listed at $ 3,249 , $ 200 more than the Custom Holiday Ninety - Eight hardtop . The interior on that first production Starfire tight resembled its data-based namesake .
It was done in saddle - run up , pattern , hand - buffed leather combinations . A total of 6,800 Starfires were built for 1954 .
See the Starfire ’s progression from 1955 through 1957 in the espouse surgical incision .
1955-1957 Oldsmobile Starfire
In 1955 , the Ninety - Eight convertible again carried the Starfire badge on the upper part of its front fenders . Statistically , the 1955 Starfire remained for the most part the same , but a mild restyling produced a more oval shaped grille hatchway and meretricious side chrome and two - toning . groundwork price rise slightly to $ 3,276 , and yield of the most expensive 1955 Olds expanded to 9,149 .
For 1956 , the Starfire nameplate carry on to be used exclusively on the Ninety - Eight sofa bed . STARFIRE was spell out in chrome letters on the humbled part of the front fender . list at $ 3,380 , the 1956 Starfire was the rarest Ninety - Eight proffer ; only 8,581 were build up .
A power steerage system built by Saginaw Gear became standard equipment on all Ninety - Eight models , and more materialistic side trim set aside for attractive two - toning on the 1956 Starfire sofa bed .
In 1957 , Oldsmobile expanded the Starfire nameplate to all four Ninety - Eight models : convertible , four - door sedan , and two- and four - door hard - meridian . The standard equipment leaning expanded to admit Jetaway Hydra - Matic transmission , Pedal - Ease power brakes , and Safety power guidance . The popular mid - twelvemonth J-2 tri - carb locomotive pick could be had on any 1957 Starfire .
Because of the thrive lineup , production soared to 79,693 – the best model year the Starfire nameplate would ever see . peculiarly , after the success of the 1957 Starfire Ninety - Eights , Oldsmobile mothball the Starfire name for three model years .
Curious how the Starfire name came back ? Visit the next section to find out .
1961 Oldsmobile Starfire
The first full - flight Starfire series arrived with Oldsmobile ’s 1961 models , which were advertise as " Distinguished . . . typical . . . Decidedly New . " Introduced as a personal - luxury convertible , the Starfire was designed to vie with the four - passenger Thunderbird and used much the same design formula .
Thus , it was offered only with two doors – coupe ( beginning 1962 ) or convertible – and feature a fancy inside , a richly - powered interlingual rendition of the fabled Rocket V-8 , striking exterior chrome / atomic number 13 trim , and a beefed - up 88 chassis . The Starfire serial lasted until the revolutionary Toronado picked up the Oldsmobile personal - sumptuousness standard .
Although Oldsmobile official had already resolve to produce the new 1961 Starfire , they by choice hold it back for a mid - year entry . The delay was used so as not to upstage the entry of Oldsmobile ’s long - wait covenant , the F-85 .
accept a page from its 1953 Fiesta program , Oldsmobile chose the General Motors 1961 Motorama , which opened on Nov. 3 , 1960 , at the Waldorf - Astoria in New York City , to show off the new one - model series . Jack F. Wolfram , Oldsmobile general manager , tell a New York auto show press conference that the Starfire was schedule for a limited - production run " at a later date . "
The first Starfires get go far at selected Oldsmobile dealerships in January 1961 . Unlike the Starfires of the Fifties , the new Olds convertible share its 123 - in.-wheelbase physical body with the 88 models . The front grillwork and rearward intent treatment , however , were more akin to the Ninety - Eight .
Exterior styling touches exclusive to the Starfire included two slender parallel hood moldings and a 4 - in.-wide band of brushed aluminum on the side . But it was the Starfire ’s inside that stood out as its most striking characteristic ; leather - covered bucket seats separated a multi - faceted console that had a chrome - plated automatic contagion gearstick , tach , and much more .
The Starfire ’s sparkling performance came from the Rocket V-8 , a 395 - cubic - in . V-8 that cranked out 330 HP and 440 lbs / ft of torsion at 2800 rpm . It looked as well as it ran , sporting a chrome - plated air dry cleaner perched atop the four - barrel carburetor and glossy valve covers and oil filler cap . Of naturally , the 10.25:1 contraction proportion meant that it burned only premium fuel .
The particular Waldorf - Astoria Starfire was painted in a thick lustre Autumn Mist and complement by a red leather interior and white convertible top . Production Starfires came in 15 exterior colors and Interior of grey-haired , fawn , blue , and red . exchangeable peak could be had in snowy , black , fleeceable , risque , fawn , and red .
A Mary Leontyne Price tag of $ 4,647 made the Starfire the most expensive Olds since the special Fiesta sofa bed that listed at $ 5,717 in 1953 , and $ 8 more expensive than the 1961 T - Bird ragtop . The yield run was far more ambitious than the circumscribed - production Fiesta and 7,600 of the 1961 Starfires were built – making it the second most popular 1961 Olds transformable .
The introduction of the Starfire came too tardy to admit the first - year model in most 1961 Oldsmobile literature , but a special tri - fold , six - panel brochure outlined Starfire chastity . Even rarer was a direct - to - dealer piece urging dealership to arrange special unresolved houses to showcase the novel model , giving interested dealerships with up to 500 invitations and envelopes .
Oldsmobile Cartesian product planners expanded the Starfire card in 1962 with the addition of a coupe . Despite direct competition from the new Pontiac Grand Prix , this model year would tick off the all - time high-pitched production disk for the Starfire as a disjoined serial . A complete sheetmetal revamp give the Starfire a clean , new look . As expected , the coupe outsold the convertible by about five to one ; entire Starfire output reached 41,988.Want to grow your knowledge about the expanded Starfire lineup ?
1962-1964 Oldsmobile Starfire
Along with the exterior restyling , the 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire ’s exclusive V-8 turn out an additional 15 HP – 345 from the same 394 cubic in . as the previous year . For 1962 it featured a new burning chamber shape and a slightly higher 10.5:1 compressing ratio .
The exterior styling treatment center on an expand brushed - aluminum side trim package . The standard equipment list was as telling as previous model age . Sticker price on the new coupe start at $ 4,131 , in reality $ 50 less expensive than the Ninety - Eight Sports Coupe . The Starfire convertible remained the most expensive car in the Olds lineup at $ 4,744 .
The sales lantern slide for the Starfire began in 1963 . For the second back-to-back year both a coupe and convertible were offered , but production dropped to 25,549 , and only 4,401 of those were convertible . rivalry for sale came from within and outside the sectionalisation .
The $ 600 - inexpensive Pontiac Grand Prix outsold the Starfire by an almost three to one margin , even without the extra sale appeal of a convertible . The first - year Buick Riviera almost duplicate Starfire production totals , and the Thunderbird outdid it by two - and - a - half to one .
Olds product planners added a bit to the sales predicament as well with the new Ninety - Eight Custom Sports Coupe . It featured some old Starfire exclusives – leather bucketful seats , world power console , and top - of - the - line Starfire Rocket V-8 .
For 1963 , the Starfire continued to pluck on the 123 - in . wheelbase it shared with the Dynamic 88 and Super 88 models . Power add up from the 345 - HP Rocket V-8 . In addition to stock equipment in old models , the 1963 convertible ’s standard equipment list include a superpower driver ’s fanny and galvanic window lift .
Styling , of course of study , received the mandatory one-year rescript . Although the Starfire remain to feature brush - aluminium side trim , the sheetmetal was new , and so were the grille and taillights . The primary drawing card on the Starfire coupe was the addition of a concave rear window that blended well with the hardtop roofline and look quite similar to the backlight on the Grand Prix .
The Starfire coupe listed at $ 4,129 , while the sofa bed remained at $ 4,742 .
Its slide continued into 1964 , Thunderbird , Riviera , and Grand Prix represented the international foe , while other beguiling Oldsmobile poser sang a " Siren ’s Song " from across the saleroom floor . For the first clip since the J-2 package of 1957 to 1958 , Olds offer a essentially satisfying operation option .
Additional competition for the Oldsmobile sale one dollar bill came from the new Jetstar 88 and Jetstar I models , the former bowing as the least expensive full - size Oldsmobile serial . The latter served as the sporting poser in the Dynamic 88 series . Like the Starfire , it featured a concave rear windowpane and the full-grown V-8 . It undersell the Starfire hardtop coupe by over $ 500 .
Meanwhile , Starfire pricing remained at the same basic spirit level for 1964 : $ 4,100 for the coupe and $ 4,700 for the convertible . Production of the coupe slip to 13,753 and 2,410 for the ragtop . Meanwhile , the new Jetstar I find a nursing home with just over 16,000 buyers .
Once again , the 394 - three-dimensional - in . Starfire Rocket V-8 was rat as Oldsmobile ’s highest output locomotive engine at 345 HP . The exchangeable bring power windows and seat as before . A couple of pop option fitted to many Starfires this year were T-87 , a novel corner light software system for $ 34 , and N-33 , the Tilt - away guidance tower for $ 43 .
Was Oldsmobile capable to stop the slide sales figures ? twist to the next section to observe out .
1965-1966 Oldsmobile Starfire
By model year 1965 , the end of the line for the Starfire serial publication was evident , although still a bit off . This would be the final twelvemonth for the convertible security , the simulation that started it all off in 1961 . Traditional away competition preserve to outsell the Olds personal - luxuriousness model by large leeway .
A redesigned 4 - 4 - 2 software system , this year do good from a larger translation railway locomotive , doubtless took customer from the Starfire line as well .
Although they continue on a 123 - in . wheelbase , the all - new full - size Oldsmobiles received curvier sheetmetal for 1965 . A new Turbo Hydra - Matic was standard equipment and for the first time in the story of the large cars a four - focal ratio manual transmittal could be ordered at extra price .
The expectant newsworthiness come under the cap , however , with the introduction of a larger 425 - cubic - in . Super Rocket V-8 . In addition to increased displacement , the fresh engine also boast better cooling , a mellow capability fuel pump , redesigned burning chambers , and enlarged intake and exhaust system valve .
The Starfire version of the Super Rocket continued to be the most brawny Olds motor offered . Its turnout was boosted considerably over the 1964 floor to 370 HP ; it also keep a 20 - HP edge over its belittled shift cousin , the 1965 4 - 4 - 2 engine .
Unfortunately , the hefty price tag remain as a Starfire sales barrier . The coupe listed for $ 4,148 ; the convertible security bow out as the most expensive Olds at $ 4,778 . A total of 15,260 Starfires were built for 1965 , include only 2,226 convertibles .
In 1961 , the Starfire had debuted with a flourish all over with auto show centerstaging . Considerably less flash expect the 1966 Starfire , however , which was doom to be the last in a half dozen year run at the personal - luxury market .
It was all shadow by the rotatory front - drive Toronado , which became Oldsmobile ’s first " truthful " personal - sumptuosity car by chastity of its long hood / forgetful deck proportions and its unequalled - to - Oldsmobile body shield . As might be expect , Starfire production skid – all the manner to 13,019 – while 40,963 units of the newcomer were built .
The Starfire also suffered a dramatic dip in status for its final year . The theme price fell significantly as well , which was accomplished by bare much of the antecedently standard equipment . For 1966 , the sticker cost started at $ 3,564 . The rather sparse equipment leaning let in console , dual exhausts , Strato bucketful seats , and deluxe steerage cycle .
To properly equip a Starfire mean paying spare for many items : J-50 mogul brakes , $ 42 ; N-40 power steering , $ 105 ; M-40 Turbo Hydra - Matic transmission , $ 236 . Few Starfires were ordered with either the received three - velocity manual of arms or the optional M-20 in full synchronise four - amphetamine base shifter ( $ 226 ) .
Although the Starfire was in many path fall in its last yr , the Super Rocket V-8 remained a powerful force by picking up five additional Equus caballus . all the same , it fall 10 bhp short of the 385 listed for the front - cycle - drive Toronado .
Oldsmobile Starfire Removed From Roster
The Starfire slipped quietly from the Oldsmobile roll after 1966 , replace by the spectacular all - new Toronado . The name did n’t give-up the ghost , however , for it was quicken in 1975 for an unembarrassed Chevy Monza clone , which itself was basically a recycle Vega . The lilliputian Starfire hatchback door was retired without fanfare after the 1980 model run .
The year 1987 marks the 90th day of remembrance of Oldsmobile in the car business . During six of those year a production run of virtually 120,000 Starfires was made . For most of its tenure , the Starfire rightfully reigned as the top - of - the - line Oldsmobile .
for sure there were flashy railroad car in the Sixties , but when compared to its lowlier brethren – the 88s , Ninety - Eights , and Jetstars – the Starfire stood out proudly as Oldsmobile ’s flagship . It should also be accorded its historical slot as Oldsmobile ’s first venture into the personal - opulence area .
While it certainly was n’t the " sports car " that Olds PR type and marketers of the twenty-four hour period labeled it , it was a unanimous self-propelled value – all traditional Oldsmobile from bumper to bumper .
The Oldsmobile Starfire managed to hold an authoritative door open through the mid - Sixties until the revolutionary Toronado was ready to roar through to genuinely bedaze the American automotive market place .
