History of the Starfire 1964

1962-1964 Oldsmobile Starfire

Along with the exterior restyling, the 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire's exclusive V-8 turned out an additional 15 HP -- 345 from the same 394 cubic in. as the previous year. For 1962 it featured a new combustion chamber shape and a slightly higher 10.5:1 compression ratio.

The exterior styling treatment centered on an expanded brushed-aluminum side trim package. The standard equipment list was as impressive as previous model years. Sticker price on the new coupe started at $4,131, actually $50 less expensive than the Ninety-Eight Sports Coupe. The Starfire convertible remained the most expensive car in the Olds lineup at $4,744.

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. The 1962 Starfire coupe featured a creased roof with a smallish backlight to give it the flavor of a ragtop.

The sales slide for the Starfire began in 1963. For the second consecutive year both a coupe and convertible were offered, but production dropped to 25,549, and only 4,401 of those were convertibles. Competition for sales came from within and outside the division.

The $600-cheaper Pontiac Grand Prix outsold the Starfire by an almost three to one margin, even without the extra sales appeal of a convertible. The first-year Buick Riviera almost doubled Starfire production totals, and the Thunderbird outdid it by two-and-a-half to one.

Olds product planners added a bit to the sales plight as well with the new Ninety-Eight Custom Sports Coupe. It featured some previous Starfire exclusives -- leather bucket seats, power console, and top-of-the-line Starfire Rocket V-8.

For 1963, the Starfire continued to roll on the 123-in. wheelbase it shared with the Dynamic 88 and Super 88 models. Power came from the 345-HP Rocket V-8. In addition to standard equipment in previous models, the 1963 convertible's standard equipment list included a power driver's seat and electric window lifts.

Styling, of course, received the mandatory annual revision. Although the Starfire continued to feature brushed-aluminum side trim, the sheetmetal was new, and so were the grille and taillights. The main attraction on the Starfire coupe was the addition of a concave rear window that blended well with the hardtop roofline and looked quite similar to the backlight on the Grand Prix.

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Oldsmobile billed the 1963 Starfire as its full-size sports car.

The Starfire coupe listed at $4,129, while the convertible remained at $4,742.
Its slide continued into 1964, Thunderbird, Riviera, and Grand Prix represented the outside enemy, while other enticing Oldsmobile models sang a "Siren's Song" from across the showroom floor. For the first time since the J-2 package of 1957 to 1958, Olds offered a basically solid performance option.

Additional competition for the Oldsmobile sales dollar came from the new Jetstar 88 and Jetstar I models, the former bowing as the least expensive full-size Oldsmobile series. The latter served as the sportiest model in the Dynamic 88 series. Like the Starfire, it featured a concave rear window and the big V-8. It undercut the Starfire hardtop coupe by over $500.

Meanwhile, Starfire pricing remained at the same basic level for 1964: $4,100 for the coupe and $4,700 for the convertible. Production of the coupe slipped to 13,753 and 2,410 for the ragtop. Meanwhile, the new Jetstar I found a home with just over 16,000 buyers.

Uniquely StarfireOne novel feature on the 1964 Starfire was a functional Corvette-inspired lower body air outlet. It served the engine compartment and was located directly behind the front wheel openings. It added visual interest to the sides, which no longer wore brushed-aluminum trim.

Once again, the 394-cubic-in. Starfire Rocket V-8 was rated as Oldsmobile's highest output engine at 345 HP. The convertible added power windows and seat as before. A couple of popular options fitted to many Starfires this year were T-87, a new cornering light package for $34, and N-33, the Tilt-away steering column for $43.

Was Oldsmobile able to stop the sliding sales figures? Turn to the next page and find out.

Motoring Memories: Oldsmobile Starfire

Motoring Memories: Oldsmobile Starfire

1963 Oldsmobile Starfire Photo: Bill Vance

by Bill Vance
Oldsmobile had some significant achievements over its 100- year history, the longest of any American automaker. Its Curved Dash model which bowed in 1901 was the first American volume produced car.
It pioneered the fully automatic “Hydra-Matic” transmission in 1940, and, along with Cadillac, brought out the modern short-stroke, overhead valve “Rocket” V-8 engine in 1949. It introduced turbocharging to production cars with its 1962 F-85 “Jetfire” model, and its 1966 Toronado laid the groundwork for GM’s later switch to front-wheel drive.
With the introduction of its 1949 V-8, Oldsmobile also developed a new model by replacing the tired, side-valve six in the Dynamic 76 model with its “Rocket” V-8. In the process it created the sensational Oldsmobile 88, a whole new kind of car, a spiritual reincarnation of the 1932 Ford V-8. It was a modern hot rod, and it immediately became the American performance king. Not surprisingly it started cleaning up on the stock car tracks.
The 88 led to the death of the 76 in 1950, and Oldsmobile carried on with its 88, Super 88 and 98 series until it joined Cadillac and Buick in bringing out an ultra-luxury, limited production model in 1953. This was Oldsmobile’s Fiesta, and although it would be produced for one year only, it whetted Oldsmobile appetite for a true luxury offering.
Oldsmobile, like other General Motors divisions, was developing concept, or “dream cars,” for GM’s annual Motorama extravaganzas. In 1953 it had introduced its fibreglass bodied Starfire, a luxury 5-6-passenger sporty “personal car.” Its name was inspired by the Lockheed Starfire fighter plane, and it carried such futurist styling cues as a wraparound windshield, low beltline, and spinner type wheel covers.
The Starfire proved so popular on the show circuit that Oldsmobile introduced the name to its 1954 lineup as the top-of-the-line 98 convertible. It was used on this model until 1957, when it was discontinued.
Then in the middle of the 1961 model year Oldsmobile revived the Starfire name for its entry into the new “personal luxury’ market that Ford had so successfully opened up with its four-seater 1958 Thunderbird.
This new Starfire was now a series on its own, not part of the 98 series as previously, although it did share its 3,124 mm (123 in.) wheelbase with the 88. It was 5,385 mm (212 in.) long, and weighed in at a hefty 1,964 kg (4,330 lb). Its styling was strongly influenced by the 98.
As a distinctive model, the Starfire was lavishly equipped, with power steering, brakes, seats and windows. It came with an automatic transmission only, and under the hood was the most potent Olds engine yet, a 330 horsepower, 6.5 litre (395 cu in.) V-8. The interior featured leather seats and a tachometer, the latter to indicate that the Starfire had sporting pretensions. It was the most expensive Oldsmobile.
The ‘61 Starfire came only as a convertible, but for ‘62 the line was expanded to include a two-door hardtop coupe. The ‘62 also enjoyed the complete restyling that Oldsmobile applied across its model line.
Adding the two-door coupe was a good move by Oldsmobile because it became a popular seller. With almost 35,000 Starfire coupes and over 7,000 convertibles sold, 1962 would prove to be the Starfire’s best sales year.
New competition entered the fray for 1963 with the Riviera, sister division Buick’s attractive new personal luxury car. Also, Oldsmobile didn’t help the Starfire’s cause by introducing its own new 98 Custom Sports Coupe model, essentially a competitor for the Starfire. The result was a decline in Starfire sales to just over 25,000.
In spite of its size and weight, the Starfire had excellent performance. Car Life magazine (5/63) tested a Hardtop Coupe and reported that the big V-8, now up to 345 horsepower, could accelerate the Starfire from zero to 96 km/h (60 mph) in 8.5 seconds, and reach a top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph). The testers were generally impressed with the Starfire, although their preference was definitely for Oldsmobile’s smaller, turbocharged F-85 Jetfire model.
With stiff competition from Buick’s Riviera and Ford’s Thunderbird, and Oldsmobile’s own division, particularly the Cutlass’s new 4-4-2 performance package option, Starfire sales continued to slide. It found only 16,163 buyers for 1964.
Sales held at about the 15,000 level for 1965, and then for ‘66 Oldsmobile brought out its sensational new, front-wheel drive Toronado, and it was all over for the Starfire. The stunning new Toronado immediately assumed the Oldsmobile personal luxury mantle, and the Starfire was quietly discontinued in 1966. Although Oldsmobile would revive the name later on an economy car, the magic was gone.
The early Olds Starfires were big, powerful cars that epitomized their era. They were Oldsmobile’s first personal luxury cars, and were every inch an Oldsmobile. To Olds enthusiasts, they were the only real Starfires.

For more Bill Vance automotive history, see www.billvanceautohistory.ca

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