1964 Oldsmobile Starfire, a legitimately high-caliber, rotisserie / nut-and-bolt restoration car with extensive documentation and standout provenance. The car presents as show-quality throughout, finished in Sheffield Mist (color change from original Saddle Mist) with excellent fit/finish, professionally restored chrome and bright work, and a fully detailed undercarriage.
Power comes from the numbers-matching 394 V8 (factory-rated 345 hp) that was professionally rebuilt/blueprinted/balanced during the restoration. For modern drivability, the car was upgraded with a 700R4 4-speed automatic with overdrive using a Bendtsen’s adapter and supporting drive line upgrades—excellent for highway cruising. Odometer shows 6,500 miles. Clean Arizona title in hand.
/ Air Conditioning
/ Power Seat - 4 Way
/ Corning Lamps
/ Guide-Matic Headlight Control
/ Power Trunk Release
/ Super Deluxe Wheel Covers/ Rear Window Defrost
/ AM / FM Radio Blue Tooth Serius
/ Reverbatone Speaker System
/ Power Antenna
/ Seat Belts, Front W / Retractors
/ Anti-Spin Differential 3.64:1
/ Soft-Ray Tinted Glass All
/ Guard, Fuel Filler Door
/ Tilt-Away Steering Wheel
/ Simulated Wood Grain Sport Steering Wheel
Paint & Body:
No expense was spared during this professional restoration. As you can see from the
pictures during the restoration, this car received a rotisserie frame off, nut and bolt
beautiful complete restoration. All documented properly. Not an amateur frame off
restoration either. This rust free solid body was taken all apart and stripped to bare metal.
The car still retains all its original body panels and floor pans with no patch work. The
original color was Saddle Mist. During the restoration
Chrome & Trim:
The chrome and stainless on the car is beautiful. The chrome has all been professionally re-
plated and all stainless has been professionally straightened and polished to a mirror finish
which is better than new. Many very rare NOS chrome and stainless pieces were used
during the restoration. Even the hard to find and often pitted pot metal rocker panels
moldings are in beautiful condition. Please note the "Tri-Bar" headlamp covers on the high
beam headlights. Although they were supposed to be a standard feature for the '64
Starfires, Oldsmobile stopped putting them on the vehicles during production and told the
dealerships pull them off the cars. Evidently the law-enforcement, police, didn't like them
over the headlights. Oldsmobile stopped making them. Olds referred to these tri-bar
headlamp covers as “Custom Sport Headlights”, Expensive and extremely difficult to
locate. The covers appeared on the first Starfires built before and shortly after
Oldsmobile’s 1964 model-year introduction on Friday, Oct. 4, 1963, but was dropped
before the year was out. This car is wearing them and they are NOS and perfect.
Interior:
The interior was completely 100% redone. It is perfect and is factory correct in
every way. Everything is out of the box perfect. The black leather bucket seats and door
upholstery were available through SMS Auto Fabrics. R&R Upholstery in the Twin Cities
were able to install the material so well that it once again perfectly complements the
brushed stainless panels on the doors and the chrome trim throughout the seating area.
The carpet is all new, which retains the built-in stainless steel ribs floor mats, only for the
Starfire models. The headliner is new and in perfect condition. All of the dash and console
pieces are excellent including the knobs, switches, gauges, factory tachometer, trim and
interior emblems. This Starfire also carries the "Group 1" lighting package, which includes
backup, under-hood and trunk lamps. With an additional factory 10 interior lamps to
create a mood for cocktails at the backyard terrace under the evening sky, this Starfire
might be Oldsmobile’s brightest-burning rocket. This Starfire also has the very rare option
“Simulated WoodGrain Tilt-Away Steering Wheel”. (See picture of steering wheel.) It's
beautiful and was professionally restored by a steering wheel guru. Also the clock was
converted over to a Quartz movement and keeps perfect time
Trunk Compartment;
The trunk compartment is finished to its original looking. All the items are in their correct
place including the spare tire. Even the tire jack, brackets and its components are all
powder coated. This vehicle is equipped with the factory vacuum trunk release option that
works perfectly. It holds vacuum at the switch for months when the car sits. Again never
any rust issues. As you can see the factory power antenna is mounted in the truck and
works perfectly. The factory “Reverbatone” Speaker System components are in the proper
place, mounted in the trunk and working perfectly.
Engine Compartment:
The original numbers matching 394 C.I. 345 Horsepower engine still sits under the hood.
See the "Mechanical" section below for information on this rebuilt power plant. As you can
see from the engine compartment pictures, it is correctly and highly detailed. Anything or
any part that is black, including the wheel wells, core support, all suspension parts are
powered coated black, not painted. Everything was professionally stripped and powered
coated.
The factory Air Conditioning system received many new NOS components, including the
compressor, evaporator, condenser, dryer and lines. The system was converted to R134. It
is charged and is blowing cold. However the fan/blower is kind of wimpy, not very strong
even on high. I hear guys are converting the fan to a stronger type, if someone wishes to do
that.
Undercarriage:
The underside of this car is as clean and detailed as the top. Please view all the
undercarriage photos to understand the level of this restoration. Again, it received an
extensive total rotisserie frame off, nut and bolt restorations. The underside is painted in its
base coat/clear coat Sheffield Mist, silver body paint. Anything you see that is "Black" is powder coated, including the gas tank, rear end housing, suspension and brake system
parts. All new body mounts, bushing, ball joints new front end parts and all 4 new springs.
All high end MOOG parts, no junk here. Car sits just right. Also the steering box was
upgraded to a quick ratio box, for better feel and drivability.
Nine times out of ten, people selling a car would not talk about or take any photos of the
underside. The undercarriage tells you a lot about the car, that is why there are a few
pictures of the bottom.
Engine:
The original numbers matching 394 C.I. 345 horsepower engine was rebuilt. (probably a
bit more HP now) This 10.50:1 "Ultra High" compression engine was completely and
professionally rebuilt, blue printed and balanced during its major restoration in 2004. It
was bored 40 thousandths and is now 406 cubic inches. A new correct grind special Starfire
cam was installed. Yes, Starfire cams were different than other 394 cams for the 88’s and
98’s. Receipts for the rebuild will go along with this car. Please see a few pics of the engine
rebuild, note new valves in heads etc. All high end parts used. This car runs extremely well
and smooth, very strong. There are only about 6,500 miles on this engine and vehicle since
it was restored. There may be a slight oil leak when the car sits for a while, but just
probably needs to be driven more.
Transmission & Rear End:
Bolted to the engine is a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission with O/D. This is
probably the best thing that makes this car so fun and a true pleasure to drive. This
transmission conversion was professionally done and uses a Bendtsen’s adapter.
Sonnax Industries drum, and
heavy duty clutches, shift kit, Corvette servo,etc. Over $5,000 invested.
H Pipe exhaust
