Oldsmobile's revolutionary Rocket engine debuted in 1949 and immediately became the favorite of racers. Designed from inception to take advantage of "Boss" Kettering's research into high compression ratios, it evolved steadily with the availability of high-octane gasoline and was a consistent winner in stock car racing. By 1955, Olds engineers were getting 202 horsepower and an impressive 332 lb-ft of torque from the Rocket. Oldsmobile's performance engine injected new life into the brand, which became a styling leader and leaped to fourth place in Detroit's sales race in 1955, selling 583,179 cars in only two series. That wasn't bettered until a decade later, and Oldsmobile had to offer four distinct models to do it. 1955's image-maker for Oldsmobile was the Starfire convertible, a luxurious trendsetter that offered a host of options in addition to the full complement of deluxe-level standard features, which included turn signals, dual horns, cigarette lighter, padded dash, clock and courtesy lights. One memorable attribute of the 1955 Starfire was its spinner wheel covers, artfully designed and distinctive, which became favorites of customizers and street rodders and spawned a sea of imitators. The Starfire covers were, however, the genuine article, and were avidly sought after. The 1955 Oldsmobile Starfire offered here has received a careful and high-quality restoration which has now mellowed but is still exceptionally attractive. Beautifully and impressively liveried in black, its red leather upholstery has waffle-pattern centers, the most expensive of several interior options available on the already luxurious Starfire. The top boot cover is also red, while the top is white vinyl. Equipped with power steering, power brakes, power top, six-way power front seat adjustment, power windows and the automatic headlight-dimming Autronic Eye, this Starfire is one of only 9,149 built in 1955. A showpiece in any collection, this Rocket V8-powered 1955 Oldsmobile Starfire is ideal for tours, events or just a leisurely summer Sunday cruise.Less-well-equipped '55 Chevys sell for more, and don't provide nearly the visual excitement or driving pleasure
SCM Analysis
Detailing
| Vehicle: | 1955 Oldsmobile Stafire |
| Years Produced: | 1954-56 |
| Number Produced: | 24,530 |
| Original List Price: | $3,276 in 1955 |
| Tune Up Cost: | $250 |
| Distributor Caps: | $32 |
| Chassis Number Location: | Left door pillar |
| Engine Number Location: | Block above water pump, left corner of block above generator, front of left cyl; head at negative battery terminal, plate on floor inside right door |
| Club Info: | Oldsmobile Club of America, PO Box 80318, Lansing MI, 48908 |
| Website: | http://www.oldsclub.org |
| Alternatives: | Dual Ghia,1954-55 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, 1954-57 Buick Roadmaster convertible |
| Investment Grade: | B |
This 1955 Stafire sold for $47,000, including buyer’s premium, at Christie’s Rockefeller Center auction in New York, held June 5, 2003.
The original Oldsmobile Starfire, named after the Lockheed F94B Starfire fighter jet, was first introduced as a show car in the 1953 GM Motorama, along with the Buick Skylark and Cadillac Eldorado. All three nameplates became special top-of-the-line models. With a fiberglass body and bucket seating for two, the Starfire show car had a wraparound windshield and a combination bumper/grille on the front end. It was in many ways a Corvette for Oldsmobile; however, it remained a not-for-production styling exercise.
In 1954, the first production Starfire was introduced. (All Olds 98 convertibles that year were called Starfires.) Although it still had styling cues from the show car, it was no longer a sporting two-seater, but a more conventional four-seater. With a list price of $2,963, a respectable 6,800 were built. In 1955, however, the Starfire took off, with sales of 9,149 despite an increase in price of $313, a tidy sum in mid-’50s car dollars. Some of the changes for 1955 included a combination bumper/grille with “floating” horizontal crossbars and changes to the chrome side trim, as well as numerous styling “updates.” Going against the American tradition of always making new models bigger and heavier, the ’55 Starfire actually weighed 269 pounds less (3,890 vs 4,159 for the earlier model) than the ’54.
At a price of about $1,000 less than the Cadillac Eldorado convertible, the Oldsmobile 98 had plenty to offer the driver of the time, and was well equipped right out of the box. A plentiful assortment of options could be placed on a 1955 Starfire, including air conditioning, a $550 item. Safety power steering could be added for $120, Pedal-Ease power brakes for $58. Power seats and a variety of radio and antenna options were available.
The car pictured here had great visual appeal. The black paint (many Starfires were two-toned) with red leather was an understated choice for a mid-’50s convertible with plenty of chrome-a reminder, perhaps, that while turquoise and white or two shades of blue are colors that evoke the ’50s of one’s imagination, not every car was painted to match the décor of a local rock-‘n’-roll diner. Described as “mellowed” in the catalog description, after personally examining the car, I would describe the condition of the restoration as “matured.”
While the price was strong, given that this was not a fresh, trophy-winning restoration, nonetheless the amount paid seemed fair to me. Less-well-equipped ’55 Chevys sell for more, and don’t provide nearly the visual excitement, or driving pleasure, that this car will. I expect to see the prices of ’50s Buick and Olds convertibles continue to climb, as enthusiasts discover what bargains properly restored ones are at current prices.
This is a car that would not look out of place in a parade on a Saturday morning, at a neighborhood show ‘n’ shine in the afternoon and a moonlight drive that same evening. And if properly taken care of, it’s hard to see it ever decreasing in value.-Dave Kinney