General Motors introduced the Starfire nameplate in 1953, when it debuted the Oldsmobile Starfire Concept at its annual Motorama exhibition in New York City. It then found its way to production, with GM using the name to designate an upscale version of the Olds Ninety-Eight convertible. However, GM had bigger ambitions for the Starfire nameplate and eventually made it an entirely separate model for the 1961 model year.
The 1961 Oldsmobile Starfire, which was related to the Oldsmobile Super 88 and Dynamic 88, was available as a convertible only and was offered exclusively with the 395 cubic-inch (6.5-liter) Oldsmobile V8 engine. This high-compression eight-cylinder motor was good for up to 330 horsepower, making it the most potent Oldsmobile engine available at the time. GM then added a two-door hardtop to the Starfire lineup in 1962, broadening its appeal.
With dramatic exterior styling, a powerful V8 engine and a luxurious cabin, it’s should be no surprise that GM wanted to keep a first-generation Oldsmobile Starfire for the GM Heritage Center collection. The example residing in the collection is a black 1962 hardtop with a bright red interior. Standard equipment on the Starfire in 1962 included a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, a sports console with a tachometer, two-speed wipers, power brakes, power steering, dual exhausts and leather interior trim. The ’62 coupe is much more common than the convertible, with GM selling 34,839 Starfire two-door hardtops and just 7,149 convertibles that year.
The Oldsmobile Starfire is one of the late 1950s and early 1960s American cars that is representative of what Detroit could do in its heyday. As over-the-top and decadent as some of these cars were, their opulence is what made them special and is the reason why people still desire them to this day.
Click here for a little more information and some additional photography of the GM Heritage Center’s near-perfect 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire.
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Worked on a few of these back in the day as an Olds dealer mechanic in Ohio. Even as heavy as these cars were, they were relatively quick; the 394 engines were very torquey.
That is one of the most memorable cars in the Heritage collection.
Distinctive styling was matched with quality, upscale interior appointments and creature comforts. Very sweet despite the "Slim-Jim" HydraMatic and its shortfalls.
Sam,
There is a typo in your article. The Oldsmobile engine in the Starfire was 394 c.i., not 395.
Sorry Dave, I only just saw your comment. Thank you for the correction.
I remember when my dad purchased a red 1962 Dynamic 88! It's the car that I first drove back in the late 60's. I will never forget the sound of that Olds engine or how this car drove!
I was nine years old when my dad took me with him to Kahler Youngquist Olds in Chicago to pick up our new 62 Olds Starfire. It was just as pictured in this article. It was a warm August evening, so my dad turned on the air-conditioning. The scent of that new leather interior with the cool air has never left my memory of that day!!
From what I remember, the 62 394 engine in a Starfire was rated at 345 horse power, while the 62 394 in a Dynamic 88 was a bit more conservative at 330 horse power. Both engines touting 10.5 compression ratio.
I think you're right. There was a low-compression version available for 88s that ran on regular gas. The 98's 394 was advertised with 330 HP.