Oldsmobile Starfire 394 cubic inch V8 1963
General description :
Mostly original Starfire with one older repaint. Beautiful interior with bucket seats and console. Nicely optioned with power windows, power seat, cruise control, and more. Powerful 394 cubic inch V8. Pretty convertible that drives like only a survivor can.
We like cars that have never been taken apart, even if they’re a little scruffy around the edges. Regardless of how good your restoration shop might be, they’re still not as good as the factory at putting cars together. As a result, cars like this handsome 1963 Oldsmobile Starfire convertible have an intangible feeling of quality that’s tough to restore back into a car. We believe the car has never been apart and aside from a repaint in the original Regal Mist perhaps 25 years ago, it remains almost entirely original. That means the doors swing closed with a solid-sounding THUNK rather than a loose rattle and the car feels substantial going down the road. The paint has an appropriate shine that isn’t like today’s modern urethanes, and the distinctive Starfire trim along the flanks remains in excellent condition. Be sure to note the peak that runs from nose to tail and is trimmed in bright stainless trim, which gives the Olds appropriate top-of-the-line looks and the remaining brightwork remains in very good original condition. Details like the taillight lenses show a little fading, but they’re not cracked or damaged and all the original emblems are in great condition. This is still a very handsome car!
The white bucket seat interior remains in fantastic condition. We gave it a good cleaning but otherwise it needed nothing to look this good. We believe the seat covers were replaced at some point, and they remain bright and the cushions underneath are firm and all-day comfortable. The clean, simple dash houses instruments that monitor the basics, with a factory tach down on the center console. You’ll note this car is equipped with power windows, a remote mirror, power driver’s seat, tilt steering column, and cruise control, and everything works except the cruise, clock, and tachometer. It’s luxurious but sporting with buckets and a center console, and provides the kind of grown-up performance for which Olds was famous in the 1960s. The AM/FM radio was state-of-the-art in 1963, particularly with the reverb, which is controlled by a switch under the dash hood. The white power convertible top folds itself into position with the touch of a button and the original boot is included, although it seems to have shrunk a bit in the intervening years. You also get a massive trunk with correct mats and a full-sized spare tire assembly.
Oldsmobile’s potent 394 cubic inch “Rocket” V8 advertises “Ultra High Compression” on the air cleaner, and it certainly delivers the muscle to make this big ragtop feel energetic. It’s nicely dressed in correct red engine enamel with chrome air cleaner and valve covers, just to add some under-hood appeal—Oldsmobile designers know that their sporting Starfire would attract performance-minded buyers. It starts easily, idles nicely, and has the kind of smoothness that you usually only find in original cars. On the road, it pulls with enthusiasm from a deep well of torque, which is really this engine’s calling card. The 3-speed automatic transmission clicks through the gears unobtrusively and with 3.42 gears out back, it feels punchy around town but settles down for highway cruises. The underside is obviously unrestored but look at the ultra-clean floors with no rot or patches—not so easy to find in a ragtop of this vintage. The rest is a combination of surface scale and dried dirt, as this car seems to have lived its life down south. The ride is Oldsmobile smooth and it looks right on big H78-14 whitewall tires that should probably be replaced if you’re planning long trips.
This is not a show car, but given Starfire values, it isn’t priced like one, either. Instead, it’s a cool cruiser that has a low-key demeanor and asks for very little in return for a great driving experience. The Starfire will always draw attention given its flashy look, but the guy behind the wheel will always have the best time of all. Just get in and start having fun. Call today!
Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
1963 Oldsmobile Starfire 394 cubic inch V8 is listed for sale on ClassicDigest in Ohio by Harwood Motors for $29900.
Car Facts
Car type : Car Make : Oldsmobile Model : Starfire Model Version : 394 cubic inch V8 Engine size : 0.0 Model Year : 1963 Sub type : Convertible Location : Ohio Vehicle Registration : Undefined
29900 $
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About Oldsmobile
Ah, Oldsmobile, the very name conjures up images of classic American automobiles and the open road. Let's embark on a leisurely journey through the annals of automotive history with this venerable brand.Our story begins in 1897 when a man named Ransom Eli Olds founded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company. He wasn't the first to build cars, but he was a pioneer in mass production techniques. In 1901, Oldsmobile introduced the "Curved Dash" Olds, widely considered one of the first mass-produced automobiles in the United States. It was simple, reliable, and affordable, making it accessible to the masses.
Fast forward a few decades to the 1930s, and we encounter one of Oldsmobile's most iconic creations, the Oldsmobile Rocket 88. This was a car that not only looked cool with its sleek design but also packed a punch under the hood. The Rocket 88 featured a powerful V8 engine, earning it the nickname "the first muscle car." It was a true American classic, a car that epitomized the spirit of the open road and the freedom of post-war America.
As we approach the 1950s, Oldsmobile continued to innovate. The Oldsmobile Fiesta, introduced in 1953, was notable for being one of the first cars to feature a fully wraparound windshield, a design feature that would become a hallmark of the era. It also showcased the brand's commitment to luxury and style.
But perhaps the zenith of Oldsmobile's excellence came in the 1960s with the Oldsmobile 4-4-2, a car that was both sporty and practical. The 4-4-2 stood for 4-barrel carburetor, 4-speed manual transmission, and dual exhausts. It was a muscle car for those who wanted power without sacrificing comfort. It was the embodiment of the American muscle car era.
Then there was the Oldsmobile Cutlass, a car that became an American institution. It was a family sedan, a sports car, and a luxury car all rolled into one. The Cutlass was reliable, comfortable, and versatile, making it one of the best-selling cars in American automotive history.
Sadly, as the years went by, Oldsmobile faced challenges, and the brand that had once been a symbol of American automotive innovation and excellence ceased production in 2004. It marked the end of an era.
But the legacy of Oldsmobile lives on in the hearts of car enthusiasts, collectors, and anyone who appreciates the classic American automobile. It's a brand that gave us some of the most iconic cars in automotive history, a brand that embodied the American dream of freedom, mobility, and style.
So here's to Oldsmobile, a name that will forever be associated with the golden age of American automobiles and the enduring spirit of adventure on the open road.