Oldsmobile Starfire

Oldsmobile Starfire
1961 Oldsmobile Starfire convertible
Overview
Manufacturer	Oldsmobile (General Motors)
Production	1960–1966 1974–1980
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size (1961–1966) Subcompact (1975–1980)

First generation
1962 Oldsmobile Starfire Coupe
Overview
Production	1960–1966
Model years	1961–1966
Assembly	Lansing, Michigan, United States
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door convertible 2-door hardtop
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Platform	B-body
Related	Oldsmobile 98, Oldsmobile Jetstar I, Oldsmobile Delta 88, Oldsmobile Super 88, Oldsmobile Dynamic 88, Oldsmobile Jetstar 88
Powertrain
Engine	394 cu in (6.5 L) V8 425 cu in (7.0 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed automatic 4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	123.0 in (3,124 mm)
Length	212 in (5,385 mm) (1961-63) 215.3 in (5,469 mm) (1964) 217 in (5,512 mm) (1965-66)
Width	78 in (1,981 mm)
Height	54.7"
Curb weight	4,305 lb (1,953 kg) – 4,492 lb (2,038 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	Oldsmobile Super 88
Successor	Oldsmobile Toronado, Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale, Oldsmobile Delta 88 Custom

Second generation
1975 Oldsmobile Starfire SX hatchback coupe
Overview
Production	1974–1979
Model years	1975–1980
Assembly	Sainte-Thérèse Assembly- Quebec, Canada Lordstown Assembly- Lordstown, Ohio, United States
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact
Body style	2-door Hatchback
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Related	Buick Skyhawk, Pontiac Sunbird, Chevrolet Monza, Pontiac Astre, Chevrolet Vega
Powertrain
Engine	140 cu in (2.3 L) L11 I4 151 cu in (2.5 L) Iron Duke I4 231 cu in (3.8 L) Buick V6 305 cu in (5.0 L) Chevrolet V8
Transmission	4-speed manual 5-speed T-50 manual 3-speed THM-200 automatic 3-speed THM-250 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	97.0 in (2,464 mm)
Length	179.3 in (4,554 mm)
Width	65.4 in (1,661 mm)
Height	50.2 in (1,275 mm)
Curb weight	2,800 lb (1,300 kg)
Chronology
Successor	Oldsmobile Firenza

The Oldsmobile Starfire is an automobile nameplate used by Oldsmobile, produced in three non-contiguous generations beginning in 1954. The Starfire nameplate made its debut with the 1954–1956 Ninety- Eight series convertibles. By 1957 all Ninety-Eight series models were Starfires..

After a two-year hiatus a single convertible body style Starfire became available in 1961. Intended to compete in the growing personal luxury car market, it shared most of its sheet metal with other models and was considered part of the full-sized Oldsmobile line. The Starfire Hardtop Coupe joined the convertible for the 1962 model year. The convertible was dropped for the final 1966 model year, moving to the Eighty-Eight model line.

After a nine-year break, the Starfire nameplate returned for the 1975 model year as Oldsmobile's first subcompact, powered by a Buick V6 engine. The 1977 Starfire featured the first-ever Oldsmobile four-cylinder engine as standard equipment, with a V6 and V8 optional. Production ceased in 1980.

The Starfire name was first used by Oldsmobile on a one-of-a-kind dream car that was shown at the 1953 Motorama auto show. Named after the Lockheed F-94 Starfire jet fighter, the original Starfire was a 5-passenger convertible that had a fiberglass body, a 200 hp (150 kW) Rocket V8 engine, and a wraparound windshield like that used on the top-of-the-line and limited-production 1953 Fiesta 98 convertible.

The name was then used for the 1954–1956 model years to designate the convertible models of the 98 line in much the same way that the Holiday name was used to designate hardtop body-styles. The 1954–1956 Oldsmobile 98 Starfire convertibles were the most expensive Oldsmobiles offered during those years. During the 1957 model year, all 98 models were referred to as being Starfire 98s. The name was dropped from the 98 series beginning with the 1958 model year.