1961 Oldsmobile Olds Starfire Convertible in Garnet & Ride on My Car Story with Lou Costabile
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- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- On "My Car Story" we're in the Western Suburbs of Chicago IL on 9-21-24.
We're looking at a 1961 Oldsmobile Starfire Convertible in Garnet Paint. The car comes with the 394 CI V8 “Ultra High Compression” engine and an automatic transmission.
The car's Owner is Frank Smego. Frank’s had this car since 2024. Frank shares he had convertibles when he was younger and though he might like one more. After looking for around 5 years, he found this one. It’s the first 1961 Oldsmobile on the Channel and I’m happy to share this comfortable ride with you.
ENJOY!
Hi, If you like this video, please click on SUPER THANKS ❤ with the $ in the middle which is the SUPER THANKS button under the video. Thank you! Lou
What a nice Olds convertible. Cant beat the quality of Oldsmobile. Love a great survivor. This car has it all. Thanks Lou!
Happy to read "This car has it all" :-) You're welcome John!
This car just screams Oldsmobile. The styling is truly a work of art. I am so thankful that I lived through this era..it was a exciting time in the industry.
Happy to read "The styling is truly a work of art." :-) Thanks for viewing and sharing.
A stunner of a car! There is so much chrome and style. Thanks again, Lou. Kurt
Hi Kurt, Happy to read you enjoy this "stunner of a car!" :-) You're welcome, Lou
Wow, Lou.
Another fine example of American mid century Auto Craftmanship. Such styling!
Thanks a lot!!
Hi Billace 90, Happy to receive a "Wow" from you :-) You're welcome, Lou
Those 1960s Olds Starfires were great will belt cars. Thank you for sharing Franks Olds.
My pleasure sharing this car with you :-)
My grandparents had a 62 Coupe, I believe, the same color. I thought it so funny my 5' tall grandmother had to sit on a cushion so she could see over the steering wheel. They had bought it new but only kept it a few years. Thanks Lou for the video on this car. It is a beautiful car.
Hi Charles, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Grandparents car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Beautiful car. Olds drop-top is not a frequently seen item. Thanks for showing it.
Hi Floyd, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this "Beautiful car" :-) You're welcome, Lou
Far and away my favorite year for Olds. My dad's friend had a '61 Starfire coupe. White with red interior. All the bells and whistles. I would sit behind the steering wheel and be hypnotized by all the chrome on the dash.
Hi Angelo, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Dads Friends car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Beautiful car !!! My dad had a 62 and 64 Olds Dynamic 88s I think. So I LOVE seeing these wonderful cars. Such detail. The knobs, the floor mats and THAT dash. So innovative. Thanks for sharing this beauty.
Hi Croix, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Dads cars :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome, Lou
@@SeaTravelr123 These cars made me an Olds guy first, and I loved almost all cars.
The first Oldsmobile I ever drove , was a '61 Dynamic 88 . They were really stylish designs . Buicks and Pontiacs were also well designed automobiles especially from that era ! There's no comparison to the cars of today ! Mark E. Switzer
Man that's a beautiful car 🚗
Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-)
@loucostabile I've always loved classic car since I was a kid watching cars riding by with me and my friend saying that's my car as they drove by I've been following your channel for some years now and I'm truly glad I ran across it 👍🏾
Thanks Lou and Frank, I have only ever seen photos of this type of car. The car itself is phenomenal!
You're welcome Daniel. First one I've seen. Happy Frank is willing to share his car with us to enjoy on the Channel.
Beautiful Olds- just spectacular!
Thanks Frank and Lou!
Hi Jeff, Happy to read "just spectacular!" :-) My pleasure sharing this one with you. You're welcome, Lou
Dealer: Which options would you like?
Original owner: Every single one!! 😁
That's correct :-)
Hi, Lou! Yeah, nothing like a little wind-in-the-beard top-down fun in an Olds Starfire! 1961 was the first year for the Starfire, and at $4,647 it was the most expensive model in the line. But with the leather buckets and console, all that stainless steel trim and all the other goodies you got, it must have made all its owners proud! Those rocket fenders and that fancy dash with the ribbon speedometer were, as we in New England would say, wicked cool! The convertible Starfire lasted through 1965. A hardtop Starfire entered the scene for 1962, and carried on through 1966, when the Toronado was introduced. A small Starfire, based on the Chevy Monza 2+2, was sold from 1975 to 1980, and I remember you featuring one of those a few years ago.
Many thanks to you and Frank for taking us along on this ultra high compression Rocket ride!
Hi iscw27, Happy to share this "wicked cool!" car with you :-) Thank you for sharing your Starfire knowledge. My pleasure sharing with you. You're welcome, Lou
1961 wasn't the first year. They had Starfires in 1954, already
Wow! You never see one of these anymore. Beautiful styling and color! GM design at that time had a sense of art and style that they've totally lost today. This car has jewelry and easter eggs that are not tacky but enhance the designs. Look at the rear fender sculpting and flow. It is almost as if the car is in motion and the rear fender becomes a motion blur as the rear bumper area is like the last part of the car to move while the front has already moved.
Hi ultraviolet tp, First one I've seen, and happy Frank is willing to share. Happy to read "Beautiful styling and color! GM design at that time had a sense of art and style that they've totally lost today." :-) Lou
Love these Starfire's they were beautiful cars . Thanks Lou God Bless.
Hi Leroy, Happy to read "Love these Starfire's they were beautiful cars" :-) You're welcome. Blessings received. God bless you too, Lou
A very nice looking car Frank has, great work with your camera thanks Lou!
Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Appreciate the kind words on the camera work. You're welcome Floyd T!
Hi Lou, it was great to get together and talk cars. We had a really nice day for a drive with the top down. Another outstanding video, well done my friend, well done.
Hi Frank, My pleasure sharing your car, and yes, lot's of fun talking cars, and the best part was riding in this car :-) Thank you my friend, Lou
I had the pleasure of riding to junior high school every day with my friend and his mother in her car like this only a hard top. Late 1960's.
Hi BAtadCrazy, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your friends mothers car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
That’s a great ride.
Nice :-)
My Aunt bought one just like this, same color, and drove to visit at my home. It was beautiful, well assembled, and sounded powerful. I think it had air conditioning which was pretty rare in a convertible - a lux item even in hardtops. Love the design. Maybe this is her car? Who knows. For now, this, and others, are temporarily in the hands of those who enjoy and care. Thanks Lou.
Hi M A, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Aunts car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
"This is not your father's Oldsmobile" 😍😍😍😍😍 Thanks Lou!
Hi motorTranz, Nope, this one's not :-) You're welcome, Lou
That’s a car worth to see. A beautiful example. The rear end is gorgeous. And being convertible makes it a great drive. Greetings Lou.
Hi César, Happy to read you enjoy the looks and drive in this one :-) Greetings, Lou
What a glorious American special car.I swear it is art work! So incredibly beautiful.I love this car, just love it, thank you for sharing it with the world!
Hi William, High praise. You're welcome, Lou
🙋♂️LOU,FRANK A GREAT SURVIVOR 🤗 AND 🤩 WE 💕 CHROME AND CONVERTIBLES,ENJOY YOUR CAR FRANK 😎💚💚💚😊
Happy to share this "GREAT SURVIVOR" with you Budget Audiophile Life-long
Oh my! My dad had the hardtop version of this car. My dad put away his '57 Packard Clipper and bought this red on red car. He really got hooked on Oldsmobile. He could afford a Caddie, but used to say, "Caddies are the rich, fat cat clergy."
In '65 he traded it for a new Olds Starfire, later to be traded for a '69 Olds Toronado...
Hi Island Don, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Dads car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Nice! I'm definitely a huge fan of muscle cars, but I also agree with Mr. Smego that luxury cars are great, and Oldsmobile knows how to make them classy. What a gorgeous color that is well complimented by its chrome trim, too. Thanks, Lou!
Hi TheGunfighter45acp, Happy to read you enjoy this "gorgeous color that is well complimented by its chrome trim, too." :-) You're welcome, Lou
Why can't a muscle car not also be a luxury one? What then were the Pontiac Grand Prixs, Buick Rivieras and Wildcats, then?
Hi 👋🏾 Lou, Ivan I J here
What a rare find very rare find it is. Frank with that Magnificent 1961 Oldsmobile Starfire convertible he found and searched on eBay to add to his collection and to you Lou C on the production of making this video to share with us. What can I say about that Ride? But what class, what distinction,what elegance,what joy,what magnitude,what magnificent machinery, what profile,what splendrous and wondrous work of art 🖼️ of a Masterpiece. You can’t even get no better than that 61 Oldsmobile Starfire Convertible and to have it all factory 🏭 fully and I mean fully equipped,fully functional,fully loaded and fully powered with a Big Block 394 V8 Ultimate High Compression Power Plant with Factory Air-Conditioning. What more can or could an individual have besides want? Frank has it and videod and took a ride in that artful 🖼️ masterpiece that Oldsmobile created,built,made,manufactured and produced in the years from 1961 to the mid 1960’s. My Hats🎩🧢 off and two thumbs👍🏾👍🏾 up to the Big 3 FORD or FOMOCO,CHRYSLER or CHRY CO,GM or GMCO AMC or AMCO. They really had going on back in the day during days through out the years of their hey days of which these new cars cannot even hold a candle to. But you know with no disrespect and all do respect I’d still would choose,pick and take an Antique,Classic and Vintage Ride to what or whatever they are call themselves creating, building, making and manufacturing today. Lou C always outstanding videos you and your team do on the videos that you share with us and Frank S on his very rare find on eBay he found to add to his collection very rare.
Sincerely Yours Truly
Your Brother👨🏾from another different Mother🧑🏽👵🏽and Father 👨🏾👴🏾 our mom went on home 🏠🏡 to Glory But Our Dad👨🏾👴🏾is still here with us of whom we all just Celebrated 🎉😂😅😊 his 94th Birthday
Ivan I J
Hi Ivan IJ, Happy to read "You can’t even get no better than that 61 Oldsmobile Starfire Convertible" :-) High praise. Belated Happy Birthday to your Dad! Lou
I think the word you're looking for is "skeg". A skeg is a fairing that streamlines the flow from the point a propeller shaft leaves the hull of a ship to the attachment of the propeller.
Hi Tony, "I think the word you're looking for is "skeg"" I think you're right. Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge, Lou
@@loucostabile The only reason I know is because I sub the YT channel on the Battleship New Jersey and it just came out of drydock
Beautiful! 11:43 That missing pencil blending in with the edge of the mat. A great highway car.
Hi R. Crompton, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this "great highway car" :-) Lou
Styling at its finest 👌
High praise.
A very nice accurate presentation of an authentic premium 1961Oldsmobile.
Happy to read you enjoy this presentation of this car :-)
These cars are just beautiful. I should add one to my collection.
I agree, they are beautiful. Ready to help you find new toys for your collection :-)
Good luck trying to find one
I love the Starfire! Closest I got was a '61 88, I mulched the transmission pulling it into reverse while trying to get low gear and that was the end. My uncle had a brand new '62 Starfire, same color convertible with a white top. Those steering wheels are one of my favorites, but in '62 there's even more stainless and brushed aluminum side trim. Beautiful, beautiful cars! We took a long trip in the '62, Grandpa was concerned about the tires holding up at 70 mph. This was not my grandfather's Oldsmobile. 😊
Hi Mark, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car & your Uncles car too -) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
What a gorgeous Olds! Has to be probably my favorite model year! I drive a 1990 Oldsmobile, so I have a really soft spot for the brand! I sure wish they were still around today, they made great cars! Great video Lou!
Hi Zach, Happy to read this Olds is your favorite model year :-) Glad to read you're enjoying your 1990 Olds, Lou
beautiful example of a classic car younger gearheads may not know existed this is one of the first turbo charged cars made in America at one point in the mid 1970s 3 of my now deceased grandparents had Oldsmobile's my maternal grandparents had a 1972 98 Holiday Coupe and Delta 88 sedan both had the 455 or 7.5 L V8 under hood and paternal grandfather had a 74 Cutlass S with the 5.7 L engine under hood. while for example my grandmothers used 1984 Buick Skylark had a 166 cubic in or 2.7 L V 6 engine under hood the largest engine that car came with that gen where as in the last 2 gens that came after you could have the GM 231 cubic in 3.8 L V6 oh and there was a 4.1 L V6 offered as well
Hi Courtney, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Grandparents cars :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge, Lou
The Starfire was never turbo charged. You are thinking of the 62 1/2 and 63 Jetfire.
Herr Lou and guest car owners, The channel and all the efforts "makes my day". ..
Many thanx from the Colorado Rocky Mountains. .(Vail 8,250ft) Cheers, M/S
Hi Michael, Happy to read the channel "makes my day" :-) Thank makes my day reading your comment. You're welcome, Lou
Beautiful car. Love the stainless strip down the sides, gives it a nice sporty look. Love the detail of your video concerning the engine. Love the detail of the front/read ends! Best part of the car. Great interior and dash too. Great job, Lou.
Hi Brian, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Thanks for sharing the details in the video you enjoy, Lou
GM had a great styling re-do for '61, including this Olds. I've always loved the extra silver trim on the Starfire. This one even has a colour-coordinated license plate!
Hi Jay, Happy to read you appreciate the looks and styling of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Can’t beat the early 60’s STAR FIREs!!! Just works of ART. I fell in love with this car in Aqua with a White Conv. Top. Little old lady owned it and it stayed in the garage 364 days of the year. It was an occasion when she opened the garaged doors. I still remember her sitting in the car warming it up with the garage door open. I use to think what a Cool looking car. I thought far too cool for this rich senior citizen. Mrs. Murphy. Had the Best Hills in her back yard we all used in the winter to go sliding if there was no snow left on the roads. We live in the second hilliest city in the US. No one got good MPG ever with those hills. Very Nice example Lou I definitely don’t remember those wheel covers for this car that are in the trunk.
Hi gene978, Happy to read "Just works of ART" :-) Glad to read this car brings back memories of Little Old Lady's car you remember :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Great video and beautiful car! Just a note it was not just the 1961 Cadillac Eldorado that had the lower “skegs”, but all Cadillac models for ‘61.
Hi Doug, Happy to read "Great video and beautiful car!" :-) Thank you for sharing your observation, Lou
A true luxury gem!!!
Happy to share this " luxury gem!!!" with you :-)
Lou promised that there's a an Oldsmobile automobile review coming out soon and sure enough he DELIVERED like he promised; And I really appreciate him and the fact that he replies and interacts with his fans 🫡🌷.
Omar, Happy to bring this special delivery to you :-) Lou
Very nice and the fanciest interior ever!!
Hi Rich, Happy to read you enjoy the interior of this car :-) Lou
I’m telling you that guy’s got a great lawn for that size of a lawn. I don’t see any weeds. It’s a beautiful car. I have 71 years old. I grew up during these cars and I don’t remember that car. We could tell every year of a Chevy and Ford but the Oldsmobiles and Pontiac kinda don’t get decisive on each year in my head.
Hi Noface Cat, Happy to share this one with you :-) Lou
Another beautiful ride.
Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-)
Beautiful Olds! It's a year older than George Hansen's beautiful Starfire. Both are awesome cars.
1961 & 1962 - Two Winners :-)
You got that right Lou. I would love to be able to cruise in any one of them. Olds had that distinctive purr.@loucostabile
What a Beautiful Oldsmobile love the Starfires,so Elegant Thanks so much ,
Hi Joseph, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) You're welcome, Lou
I watched specifically to hear that glorious Slim Jim upshift and I wasn't disappointed. Start at 14:30 and listen. Classic Slim Jim - accelerate and... wait for it... wait for it... wait for it... *clunk* and the engine drops back to idle as the front clutch locks the engine to the output shaft through the front planetary. This one is very well set up and it's about the best 1-2 shift I have seen yet.
Nice :-)
Good morning, Lou that olds is nice, Lou my uncle Andy had one a hard top coupe silver out side, red inside, he brought it in 1968, came to my house, with my aunt, pick up my sister, and was driving 🚗 to church just four blocks away a man driving 🚗 went thru a red light, and T-bone my uncle Andy olds on the passenger side. My sister, had pain and my aunt had pain , God heal their pains, Lou the olds got repaired like new again. That's my car 🚗 story Lou on my uncle Andy 1961 olds
Take care Lou, God bless us all.
God morning, Robert I'm glad to read "that olds in nice". Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Uncle Andy's car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Yep. Its a beauty, and a convertible, better still.
Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-)
Nice 😊
Happy to read "Nice" :-)
Our family had a white 61 Starfire eith silver interior. They came eith glass packs snd resignators on exhaust system. Sounded great. Only convertibles in 61. Ours had power vent windows. I would give anything to have another one.
Hi Nancy, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your family's car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Factory a/c and power windows on a 61 olds convertible..very impressive!
Happy to read "very impressive!" :-)
There wasn't a Starfire that was made that I wouldn't want,any year. A personal luxury hot rod in its day much like the 66 tornado when it came out in 1966. BTW the 394 was a very stout motor and had all kinds of power back in those days.
"There wasn't a Starfire that was made that I wouldn't want, any year." NICE!
That grill is amazing
Thank you for sharing what you notice.
My mother had this car in blue. I was 10 years old and my friends wanted to go for a ride in it.
Hi Steve S, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Mothers car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
The sixties was such a fun time for car enthusiasts. Everything was about jets or rockets. My cousin had a blue 61 Starfire convertible which was blue in and out. The top was white. The engine was a 400 something, 421? Can’t recall.
Hi Jeffrey, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Cousins car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
This is a beautiful car!
One of your best!
High praise.
Thanks, Frank & Lou: GOOD OVERVIEW OF a Classic! I faintly remember seeing these Oldsmobiles early sixtie’s( the Interiors/ Tach memorable, etc!!!!.): my *1961 Ford GALAXIE CONVERTIBLE in Red/ White Top/352/ 4 BBL, Dual / Auto( oddly, memory unsure,May have been two speed?)……worn out & Rusty by late 1967,,AND not quite THE OptionS/ Builds as this 1961 OLDS Beauty!
Hi Opera, Happy to read this one brings back memories :-) Glad to read this reminds you of your 1961 Ford too. Thanks for viewing and sharing, Lou
That's a real Beauty there very sharp
Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-)
The Starfire and Olds 98 were the top line cars for Oldsmobile during these years. I believe the Olds Starfire and Buick Wildcat were GM's answer to the full size Ford Thunderbird by 1961 or earlier.
Hi Tommy, Thanks for viewing and sharing, Lou
Гарний кабріолет! В ньому є все, дуже подобається! Дякую!
Hi Сергій, Happy to read "It has everything" :-) You're welcome, Lou
I like the script on the dash Starfire word it Harkins back to the Stardust hotel in Las Vegas before they changed the sign to a more modern one. You know the Stardust if you lived in Chicago, you were to Stardust when you were in Las Vegas.
Hi Noface Cat, Thanks for sharing the details you enjoy and notice :-) Lou
My all time favorite model of my favorite brand . I had a 64 convertible,red,should never sold it.
Hi Richard, We have a WINNER! Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Hey Lou my parents had the same car..it was black tho with a black convertible top..I remember the speedometer it was like a thermometer
Hey Daniel, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your parents car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
A very genuine big , red beauty. 👉 by "baby lou" . 😅.
Hi Big Hank, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Lou
The very similar 1961 Oldsmobile Super 88 convertible was the car used in the TV series: Full House in the 1980's, 90's , starring Bob Saget, John Stamos and the Olsen twins !
Hi Mike, Thank you for sharing TV trivia with us in your comment, Lou
Actually it wasn't a Starfire.
My second cousin just down the road had a light blue 61 convertible in his shed and I got to get out and running for a double date to the Submarine Races on the Moon it had only been sitting for 2 years with a full tank of Premium and Stabill fuel additive popped right off and went back into hibernation about a week later topped off with 93 and Stabill
What Frank doesen't seem to be aware of yet (until we send him a lead-filled right shoe) is that those were indeed the Muscle Cars, back then. They're made for taking them out on the freeway, now and then, to blow the carbon out of them
Sounds fun :-)
Yup - great design inside and out. . . :>/
Happy to read you enjoy the design of this car :-)
cruising to the A & W… root beer float… extra napkins please
NICE! Let's go!
One of my first cars .
Mine was white with white convertible top . Trans was a nightmare .
Exquisite. Not an auto, a chariot.
Happy to share this "chariot" with you :-)
Looks like the Oldsmobile from FULL HOUSE?
Thanks for sharing what you noticed.
Lovely car! The weakest aspect of Oldsmobiles of the early 1960s was the horrible, unreliable Roto Hydramatic. Old designed it, but it was also used on the short wheelbase, Pontiac, Catalina and Ventura models. Completely different transmission from the regular dramatic and just not up to the strain of the extra horsepower of full-size cars. Pontiac use those same metal floor mats in several of their show cars, but not their regular lineup. I always thought it was interesting with Olds Also that there are air-conditioning equipped cars like this one only had three small vents for the air. At the time, Pontiac had five, and it was great for cooling the interior.
Hi LoveIsAll, Happy to read "Lovely car!" :-) Thanks for viewing and sharing your knowledge, Lou
@@loucostabile You know the best part of the interior, to me? That amazing steering wheel! I know it was styled for looks rather than safety back then, but look at it: in a serious accident there's a long way for it to collapse before the column hits the chest, unlike most contemporary wheels. I was also surprised to see that the back seat ashtrays had lighters in them. I think the 98 was like the Electra in having one lighter in the back of the front seat. Just baby that transmission! Best wishes as always from Texas.
👍🇺🇸
:-)
I would have looked at the new for 1961 redesigned Thunderbird
No😊
Thanks for viewing and sharing.