For big-car buyers, 1954 was a GM year all the way. The Oldsmobile, the Buick and the Cadillac were all brand new, and light years beyond anything on Ford or Chrysler assembly lines.
At the top of the Oldmobile line was the Ninety-Eight Starfire. This convertible-only model was inspired by the previous year's fiberglass-bodied Starfire Motorama dream car and limited-production Fiesta convertible, and was a relative bargain at $3,713. Styling was highlighted by GM's novel wraparound windshield, a sweeping beltline and bullet-like tail-lamps. Bold two-tones with complementing leather-trimmed interiors gave the Starfire a stunning 'mid-century modern' appearance.
Ample performance was provided by a high-compression version of Oldsmobile's already-legendary Rocket V-8 and the highly respected, sold-shifted four-speed Hydra-Matic transmission. Model-year production for the 1954 Ninety-Eight Starfire was 6,800 convertibles.
The original Oldsmobile Starfire named after Lockheed F9413 Starfire Fighter-jet was first introduced as a show car in 1953 at the GM Motorama along with the Buick Skylark and the Cadillac Eldorado. All three nameplates became special top of the line models with fiber glass body and bucket seating for two. The Starfire Show Car (Prototype) had a wrap around windshield and a combination bumper / grill in The front end, in many ways it was a Corvette for Oldsmobile, however it remained a not-for production styling exercise.
As you can see from the listing, this gem came from a discerning eclectic and affluent collection. Unique features and attention to detail was paramount to the gentleman who accumulated a highly prized collection. Oldsmobile historians agree this is a very important year and model indeed.
There will be no disappointments from the purchase of this time capsule.
