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January 27, 2009
CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot: 1962-63 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire
By Jim Brennan
UDMan
Welcome to the CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot, a regular feature which aims to expand the notion of what a muscle car is, and to have some fun in the process. This week, the featured car is a pioneer of sorts. It is the first production turbocharged V-8 built in America: the 1962 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire. Continue reading…
It was described as the hottest new Oldsmobile since the high-compression Rocket V-8s were first introduced in 1949. To continue with the advertising theme, it’s nothing but pleasure the way Jetfire takes the hills and grades with performance plus. For Jetfire harbors a new kind of power under the hood—the sensational Turbo-Rocket Engine with fluid injection. Here’s turbocharged performance to the tune of one horsepower per cubic inch of displacement! And for a bonus, Jetfire features bright new hardtop styling with bucket seats and console as standard equipment.
Canadian Journalist Bill Vance published this story on the Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire turbo in 2007.
According to published sources, only 3,765 Jetfires were produced for 1962, and another 5,842 of the redesigned version were produced for 1963. Oldsmobile phased out these unique cars when the new 1964 intermediates were introduced with body-on-frame construction, and a conventional 330 Cu In V-8. This also spawned the more conventional Oldsmobile 442 in response to the Pontiac GTO.
So, is this first turbocharged V-8 worthy of being included in the CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot? Leave a comment, and let me know what you think.
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olds68
Sep 26, 2010 at 6:04 am
I think that photo of that red 63 was a Main car, back in the 1990s and might be in MAss now.
The CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot Year End Wrap-up: The 1960s Unknowns – CarDomain Blog
Dec 31, 2009 at 1:54 am
[...] what is your favorite little known Muscle Car from the period dominated by muscle cars? – The 1962-1963 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire, Americas first Turbocharged V8! – The 1963 Studebaker R2 Super Lark, and the R2 Super Hawk, both [...]
Texan90
Oct 8, 2009 at 8:18 am
It’s Oldsmobile. It’s a V-8. It was made in America! HELL YES IT’S A MUSCLE CAR!!!!!
RAD
Feb 20, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Of course its a muscle car. Its an OLDS!
1963 F85 Oldsmobile Oldsmobile Casting Numbers 1964 Oldsmobile Cutlass Parts | Jeanbourget
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:55 am
[...] Rocket To High Speeds With The 1962- 1963 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire … [...]
Kevin
Feb 8, 2009 at 7:47 am
We have been restoring a 62 Jetfire with the original Turbo for 4 years and just about ready to start the car. It has been fun! I tried to leave everything original except, we added an air conditioner. The car is original red on red just like the first 4 pictures you have. Yes to your question.
Rocket To High Speeds With The 1962-1963 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire | Rear Viewed
Jan 28, 2009 at 12:18 am
[...] Car Domain « Fly With The First Generation HB [...]
James
Jan 27, 2009 at 9:22 pm
the Jetfire F-85 was the FIRST turbocharged production car. FIRST. That’s kind of an important distinction. Not just first turbo V8, first turbo production passenger car.
Krash Kadillak
Jan 27, 2009 at 6:07 pm
My first car was 1963 Olds Cutlass post coupe with the 215 aluminum V8 and a hyramatic. Not the turbocharged model, but it went pretty good, and I thought it handled OK for a small compact. I would have been jazzed to get the Jetfire, but they didn’t sell too many of them. Obscure Muscle Car – yeah, this would qualify. My third car was a ’66 Corvair Corsa with the turbocharger in it. Frankly, i was a bit disappointed in the power it made…was expecting more.
retroman
Jan 27, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Any car that looks that good and comes with forced induction equating to one hp per cubic inch deserves to be a muscle car.
Aaron
Jan 27, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Go Check out my Cutlass
Oldsmobile>>>>>
Jeff
Jan 27, 2009 at 11:50 am
I Love It. Most people seem to have forgotten about Oldsmobile. My 89 cutty feels like it’s got a rocket under the hood, I guess it technically does lol.
Don’t forget about the Oldest American Automaker. It was before they stopped production.
HEY tell them damn automakers to bring back the Cutlass name. I’ll buy One
Video’s hilarious.
Maffew
Jan 27, 2009 at 11:49 am
VERY yes.