The Oldsmobile Starfire is a nameplate used in three separate periods, beginning in 1954. It started as a show car and a luxury convertible, became a personal luxury model in the 1960s, and finished its life as Oldsmobile’s first subcompact in 1975.
Oldsmobile Starfire at a glance
| Maker | Oldsmobile Division, General Motors |
|---|---|
| First use | 1953 Motorama concept car |
| Named after | the Lockheed F-94 Starfire fighter |
| 98 Starfire | 1954–1957 luxury convertibles |
| Own model line | 1961–1966 |
| 1961 engine | 394 cu in Skyrocket V8, 330 hp |
| 1961 price | $4,647, the most expensive Oldsmobile |
| 1962 sales | 34,839 hardtops and 7,149 convertibles |
| Subcompact | 1975–1980 |
| Last year | 1980 |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Oldsmobile Starfire.
History of the Oldsmobile Starfire
1953: a dream car
The name was first used on a one-off dream car shown at the 1953 Motorama. Named after the Lockheed F-94 Starfire jet fighter, it was a four-passenger convertible with a fibreglass body, a 200 hp overhead-valve Rocket V8, bucket seats for all occupants and a wraparound windscreen. Later in 1953 the limited-production 98 Fiesta convertible carried some of its features, including a 12-volt electrical system that powered the window lifts, the convertible top and the front seat adjustment.
1954–1957: the 98 Starfire
From 1954 to 1956 the Starfire name marked the luxury convertibles of the 98 DeLuxe line, the most expensive Oldsmobiles of those years at $3,249 in 1954, when 6,800 were built, and $3,276 in 1955, when 9,149 were made. The 1956 cars took on the look of the concept, with a large grille and minimal decoration, and the automatic transmission gained a park position. For 1957 every 98 was called Starfire 98, and the name left the series for 1958.
1961–1966: a model of its own
The Starfire returned in January 1961 as a separate model line, a performance-oriented grand tourer convertible sharing its body and wheelbase with the Super 88 and Dynamic 88. It came with leather bucket seats, a centre console with tachometer and a floor shifter for the Hydra-matic, making it the first American full-size production car with a console-mounted automatic shifter, plus brushed aluminium side panels and power steering, brakes, windows and driver’s seat. At $4,647 it was the most expensive Oldsmobile, above the Ninety-Eight, and its 394 cu in Skyrocket V8 with a four-barrel carburettor made 330 hp. Sales in 1961 were 1,500. A two-door hardtop joined for 1962 with 345 hp, and that was the best year, with 34,839 hardtops and 7,149 convertibles. The convertible was dropped for the final 1966 model year.
1975–1980: the subcompact
The name returned for 1975 on Oldsmobile’s first subcompact, powered by a Buick V6; from 1977 a four-cylinder engine was standard for the first time since the 1922 Model 43. Production ended in 1980.
Design and features
- Three lives: show car, luxury convertible and subcompact under one name.
- Console automatic: the 1961 car was the first US full-size model with a floor-shifted automatic.
- Skyrocket V8: 394 cubic inches and 330 hp in 1961, 345 hp in 1962.
- Jet-age naming: taken from the Lockheed F-94 Starfire fighter.
Oldsmobile Starfire versions
- Starfire concept (1953): the fibreglass Motorama show car.
- 98 Starfire (1954–1957): the luxury convertibles of the Ninety-Eight range.
- Starfire convertible (1961–1965): the separate model line.
- Starfire hardtop (1962–1966): the closed coupe version.
- Starfire subcompact (1975–1980): the final car to carry the name.
The Starfire was the most expensive Oldsmobile of its day, above the 98, and it later shared the showroom with the Toronado. More models are in the Oldsmobile collection.
Video: 1966 Oldsmobile Starfire for sale
Video by Vanguard Motor Sales on YouTube.
Sources
- Oldsmobile Starfire, English Wikipedia: concept, 98 series, 1961–1966 model, subcompact
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