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Oldsmobile

Ultradog MN

Ultradog MN

Well-known Member
Location
Twin Cities
I saw an article on the demise of Oldsmobile in my news browsing this morning.
It reminded me of the 1965 F-85 that I had. F-85 was a 4 door, bread and butter Cutlass. Mine had the Rocket 403 in it.
Was a grandma's car, came out of Texas. Real clean, low 50K? miles. Grand daughter had smacked the front so I put a new grill, bumper and hood on it. Junkyard hood was even the same white color so it looked nice. I put new Firestone radials all round when I bought it too.
Was living in Vernal UT at the time (1981)and once a month would get a 4 day weekend. So I'd jump on US 40 and head to Denver to see a girl I knew and party with some friends. It was good road all the way, up and over Rabbit Ears pass, through Steamboat Springs, etc. I'd put the hammer down and flat foot that Rocket most of the way. Car would do about 130.
Dunno how I managed to avoid a ticket. Dumb luck for sure. Made the trip 6 or 8 times like that. Sure was a lot of fun.
Sorry about reminiscing out in the open here but maybe some of you can relate.
Olsmobile made some good cars then.
Maybe some of you had one?
Just a brand that is gone now.
Thanks
Oldsmobile
 
Dad had a 1968 Olds 98 455 as our family car in the early 70s. fast car. he replaced it with a '74 98 455 that was a comparative dog.
we bought a 1973 Toronado after the "gas crisis" hit in '78, to get front wheel drive. replaced with several more used Toros, until there were other less expensive FWDs available. wife had to drive to work snow or shine, so FWD made sense.
 
Brings back a great memory for me. When I was young, my Dad farmed with "OD", actually his name was Oliver, but everyone called him "OD". He had a 1965 Olds F-85 white 4 door. Almost positive it had a 330 in it. I was young teen at the time. My Dad worked outside our small farm, so summers I would spend with OD. We were going to go to the elevator to get a fertilizer spreader, and normally would have taken his Massey Harris 33. But it was starting to rain a bit. He said we could take the car instead. In my mind, there was no way that car would pull that thing. He assured me it would. Of course I was thinking tongue weight, but he being wiser knew it was a tandem axle spreader and tongue weight wouldn't be bad. So off we went. I then was concerned with being able to actually pull the thing. We went and hooked up to it and took off. At the first stop sign near the elevator I was still convinced it wouldn't work. He looked both ways at the stop sign, middle of a small town, looked at me with a sh** eating grin like he always had and punched it! That spreader held that Olds in place like an anchor, but it lit up the rear tire like crazy! So much tire smoke but not moving hardly at all. He was laughing like crazy, and I learned about tandem axle trailers and the fact that the tongue might not be that heavy. That guy was probably in his 60's at the time and was so much fun to be around. It wasn't the first time he did something like that. We were trying to tow start a International 450 Diesel one time by towing it with his 1966 Chevy half ton 283. My Dad was on the 450. OD would hold that Chevy on the floor melting a tire. Dad would push in the clutch occasionally to clear the tire smoke so he could see. I sure miss that guy.
 
I had a '66. Not really sure what it was. Said F-85 on it. Had the small block 400? and a factory hurst 4 speed, bucket seats. Had a vacuum gauge on the console which estimated your real time mileage
 
When I was in high school one of my friends got his grandfathers car, very similar to the one you had. It was a 1965 or possibly 1966 with very low mileage and no rust (very unusual for an older upstate NY car). It had clear vinyl seat covers when he got it and was in excellent shape all the way around. Way too nice of a car for a young kid. I remember it had a big Olds V8 that wanted high test ( high octane) gas. Unfortunately it didn?t take long for my friend to have the car out of it?s pristine condition. I don?t know what happened to the car but even as a kid I thought it was a shame that the car didn?t get the love it deserved. My first really nice car was a nearly new 1990 Olds Cutlass . The first car I spent more than $1000 for. I called it the deer slayer because I hit deer twice within six months on my way home from work around midnight.
 
Not really the vintage you all are talking about, but I still have an Olds. I transplanted a 1972 455 into it.
cvphoto44402.jpg
 
Still have my 1957 Olds Super 88 with the 371 golden rocket engine, the car is turn-key. ( have had it for 30 years)

My 1971 Olds Delta 88 convertible has the 455 engine in it, goes like stink in the wind. (have had it for 35 years)

Got pulled over more times than I can count in them for shall we say excessive tire rotation upon acceleration, but always managed to get away with nothing more than a warning.
 
For the history buffs out there, Oldsmobile was started by Ransom E. Oldsmobile who went on to found REO after selling Oldsmobile to GM. Interestingly, NUCOR of steel making fame is the direct descendant of REO.

My Father bought a 1958 Oldsmobile 98 in late 60 or 61. It had all OEM options including 371 CI, J2 Tri-Power engine and 4 speed Hydromatic. It was also the first air conditioned car that I remember seeing.

FWIW: The Oldsmobile 403 CI engine was introduced in 1977. Prior to that, Oldsmobile made the 303 from 49-53 when displacement was increased to 323/4 through 1956. Displacement increased to 371 in 57. The 371 was made through the 1960 model year, concurrently built with the 394 in both 59 and 60. The 394 was produced through 64 when the so-called Gen-2 (?) 400 and 330 engines were introduced. The 400 was produced into the 1970s, concurrently with the 425 between 65-69. The 455 was introduced for the 1970 model year. Oldsmobile produced other engines as well, including the interesting 215 CI aluminum V8, which was available with or without turbo charging.

Long been an Oldsmobile fan.

Dean
Rocket 88
 
I had this one for almost twenty years! Dated and married my wonderful wife in this car. Always wanted to build a 383 chevy and put a 350 turbo hydro behind it. Always thought this was one of GM's best design.

Beagle
cvphoto44403.jpg
 
1958 Oldsmobile, A.K.A., the Chromemobile.

According to some, the 1958 Oldsmobile, built during the brief period of baroque, chrome laden cars, had 40 Lbs. of chrome attached thereto. 40 Lbs., of chrome, folks, not the metal beneath, just the plating.

Dean
1958 Oldsmobile Brochure
 
My first car was a 1961 Olds F-85. It had the 215ci aluminum v8. My dad gave it to me with the condition I put the running gear in a different body. A neighbor had one out in his field, so I switched the motor and tranny into a different body. I ended up with a three speed on the floor instead of the automatic. This was all before I was 16 and had my license which was around 1972. It was a fun little car, ran very well, and never had a roblem with it. I ended up trading it to another kid for a 66 chevelle two door. Wish I still had the 66 Chevelle.
 
I basically learned to drive in a 1964 Olds (JetStar?) with a 330 v-8. My Dad always said, that car has a lot of zip! Mark.
 
80-ish year old neighbor has a light green
1970-something Buick with a 455. A few guys have tried to buy it for the engine, but he always turns them down if they're only after the engine. He has several other old cars and pickups, too.
 
I had a 65 F85 4 door White with the 330 for many a year, Driving it when I met and married my wife. Rusted out bad at rear body mounts. It would have been a better car if I had the avaible 6 cylinder as that 8 cylinder was way to powerfull for that car, had trouble not spinning the tires every time I started. Eventually ended up with 2 sizes of tires oversize and that ended that problem and made it handle better. Always wanted a 61-63 and a 64 F85 but never got one. I also had a 85, 94 & 96 Cutlas. Grandpa had a 48 98 4 door that the body was stamped on the same press as my 49 Cadillac. Dad had a 34 when I was born. Got it totaled in a wreck when someone ran into him.
 
Still running Oldsmobile power here. Been an Olds engine fan since 1986 when I installed the used 403 gas engine in my 81 GMC pickup. Its turned the odometer over a few times in those years and that 403 runs better than when I bought it from the wrecker 33 years ago.

cvphoto44408.jpg
 
Had a 62 Olds F85 in the late sixtys with the aluminum V8 and stick on the column. I put 69 OLds Toronado seats in it. With the light body it ran quick with the V8.


cvphoto44409.jpg


cvphoto44410.jpg


cvphoto44411.jpg
 
Let's see, I had a '64 Olds Eighty Eight, '67 Olds Ninety Eight, '71 Cutlass, '73 Ninety Eight, '79 Ninety Eight Diesel, '82 Eighty Eight Diesel, '83 Eighty Eight Diesel, '86 98, '92 Eighty Eight, and two '99 Eighty Eights.

That's eleven. My favorites were the '67 Ninety Eight, '92 Eighty Eight, and one '99 Eighty Eight.

The other '99 Eighty Eight was totaled and rebuilt 3 times before I sold it, and it still had a clean title. But that's another story.

Once they worked the bugs out of them and installed a roller cam those 5.7 diesels weren't a bad little diesel. GM just rushed them to market too soon. I drove the '82 Eighty Eight to California once and went 4,000 miles on $118 worth of diesel fuel.
 
My brother learned the hard way that front wheel drive Toronado could still fishtail. He hit a bridge !
 
What is that steam in the background? Is it cold air condensing the vapor off of the warmer water? Thanks
 
Jeff .... beautiful car, what year and model? Were you maybe the original owner? Are those factory GM wheels? I'm not a fan of aftermarket wheel rims but if those are aftermarket, I like them. A lot I see are far too glitzy, those are nice.
 
(quoted from post at 08:50:32 12/12/19) What is that steam in the background? Is it cold air condensing the vapor off of the warmer water? Thanks
Click to expand...
That is smoke in the background of the GMC truck photo. Burning rows of flax straw in the snow. Did not burn well but made a lot of smoke.
 
Friend of mine put a 215 CI aluminum V8 into a VW Beetle.

He surprised more than his share of so-called muscle cars in the late 1960s/early 1970s.

Dean
 
I had a friend that had a 65 442. Not many of those made.

I had another friend with a 66 442 with Tri-Power, the only year that Tri-Power was available in a 442 (or any Oldsmobile aside from 57 and 58).

Dean
 
Remember it well, as if it really mattered.

Tort attorneys have active imaginations.

Dean
 
I wish I still had my 56 Rocket 88 2 dr hardtop. Always wanted a 64 Starfire. They had more chrome than paint on the sides.
 
My first car was my grandads 78? Delta 88 with a 403. It?d turn the tires fairly well for a late 70?s full size sedan. Dad had a nice 79 Delta 88 Royal with a 350, beautiful maroon with a white vinyl top. They also had a 49 Rocket 88 with the 303 and Hydramatic transmission later on as an antique.
 
Dean, mine was a hardtop and most of what I saw back then was the 2 dr. sedan. That tack mounted on console was a dumb move on GMs part. Mine was originally white and about 68 or 69 painted it Cady fire mist blue. The 442 was what I had when I shot my self quick drawing and couldn't push in clutch to get home, left handed.
 
My favorite is the 62 Starfire.

In 1962, if you were a 30ish professional on the way up and "had it made," you bought a 62 Starfire, perhaps even a convertible.

Dean
62 Starfire
 
My first Olds was a 1942 humpback that my Dad got new. It was a rust bucket and had lots of fiberglas body work. After the War II in 1947 we took it on a trip out west covering 14,000 mile in 3 months visiting all the National parks west of the Miss. Then dad got a 48 98. The 42 had a straight 8 that would quit if you drove it through standing water because the water would bounce off the hood and fill the plug holes with water. My last Olds was a starfire 88 4 door that I really loved.
 
Wow, lots of Olds guys on here, more than I expected.

I have 2 right now- daily driver is a 1998 Regency, virtually the same as the one in Casecollector's post, but in white. Paid $2,200 for it from the estate of a client about 4 years ago, had 86,000 miles at that time.

Second is a 1966 red Cutlass convertible that I bought myself as a present after finishing law school in 1987. Paid $2,900 for it. Its not a show car, but a very nice driver.
 
I have two Olds Bravadas. Just an upscale Blazer (96) or Trailblazer (04) but with full time all wheel drive. My wife loved the first one in 96 because she didn't have push a button or pull a lever to go into 4WD. When the 96 got about 210k on it we bought the 04 and it has about 80k on it now. The 96 had no value so we keep it as a spare, and sometimes I lay the back seats down and use it as a range car. Still runs great and everything works, just rusted badly under all the plastic body covers. That has the 4.3 Vortec in it and doesn't use a drop of oil.

We took the 04 on a trip to Colorado this summer and are planning a tour of the southern states in January. We put about 3000 miles on these trips. Very comfortable car for long trips.
cvphoto44448.jpg
 
Puzzled as to how the same car could have a (turbo 400) Hydromatic and "stick shift."

Dean
 
Pontiac was really popular around here were a lot on the road when gmc pulled the plug.

Didn?t take long to see a lot of foreign cars on the road, not so many followed to the remaining gmc lines.

Paul
 
Dean, that a typo? It was Ramsome E. Olds. He also built the REO in earlier days. A gentleman near me owns this one, 1918 I believe. Shown at the HES show in Burton, OH.
cvphoto44449.jpg


cvphoto44450.jpg
 
First new car was '67 Cutlass, two-door hardtop, emerald green with black vinyl top, factory Hurst shifter. Wonderful car.
 
I had 2 different '79 Olds 98's. A black 403 and a light blue (my son called it "loser blue") 350. Both great cars. And a '92 88 with the 3.8 V6, one of GM's best motors. 27 mpg on the highway...As for Buicks, well. that's another story!
 
Just one slight correction, Dean. The 215 aluminum engine was a Buick engine. It was introduced in the 1961 Special/Skylark. They used them up to about 1964 if I recall correctly. They were replaced by a 300 cubic inch cast iron engine with aluminum heads.
 
Yes, indeed, Jim, the aluminum 215 V8 was built by Buick.

Oldsmobile used it for awhile. Eventually, the tooling was sold to British Leyland (?), and the design, though enlarged and modified multiple times lives on in the Range Rover.

Dean
 
It's a 1986 Olds 442. Those are the factory wheels. I got it 20 some years ago in not too good of shape. It's not a show winner, but came out pretty good.
 
FWIW: The Oldsmobile Cutlass was the best selling car in the US in 1973.

Beautiful car.

Dean
 
I still drive a Olds Aurora 1998, 296,000 miles, i have had 3 oldsmobile ex sale's people come up to me in a parking lot and just start talking about old's, Two told me they didn't sell so well on the east coast, and on the west coast, the top 5 dealers, in the US were in Dallas, or Minneapolis, any way there going to have to pry my finger from it to get it away from me.The speedometer goes up to 140, i chicken out both times at 135 !!
 
Actually, the Buick engine was different from the Olds 215. Blocks were different in at least one respect (one more head bolt per cylinder) and possibly others. The cylinder heads had different combustion chamber shapes, different valve locations, different spark plug locations, and are easily differentiated w/o disassembly because valve covers look so different.
 
The first new car I ever bought was a 2001 Olds Intrigue. (I hated to trade off the loaded 1996 Grand Prix I had bought while still a bachelor but with only two doors and my wife in her 8th month something had to change. She didn't want to fight with a car seat and no rear doors!) It had already been announced that Olds would be going away and they were offering all kinds of incentives to keep people buying - lots of cash back and a long bumper-to-bumper warranty. It was a solid, nice-driving car and it served us well for over ten years and 150,000+ miles. Can't recall that it ever really gave us any problems.
 
i still have the 1964 old super 88 I drove to school in high school, had the 396 4 barrel. one of the best riding cars just float on the highway. also installed the old 350 engine in a 1980 chev 1/2 ton diesel that had the olds diesel once the diesel blew up. the olds fit right in there , that made a nice truck out of it.
 
(quoted from post at 06:54:31 12/12/19) Not really the vintage you all are talking about, but I still have an Olds. I transplanted a 1972 455 into it.
<img src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto44402.jpg">
Click to expand...
have had a 79 and an 82 Cutlas Supreme Brougham. How did you get around the 455 valve cover going into the AC case?
 
Well, the Olds engine was probably the better engine of the two.....oops, now I just opened a whole new can of worms...

Ben
 
If anybody has one of those 215s I have an intake manafold around here somewhere, pretty sure it has the carb and turbocharger still mounted on it. Would let it go reasonable as I will not ever use it.
 
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