Maiden voyage

[Firedome]

The dash has always been a major factor for me, as it's the one thing you look at it all the time.
'61/62 Cad dashboards are awesome, as is the one on the '61 Olds 98, which may be my favorite GM dash of all time, it's absolutely jewel-like when in pristine condition, this pic of a '61 Dynamic dash doesn't do it justice really. The '62 to '64 Olds dashes were kind of boring-ish in comparison, though of equally high quality.

[William]

I always loved the Oldsmobile steering wheels of that era. The depth of the horn ring area from the actual steering wheel part was cool.

Bill

[walyfd]

The flush has begun. Had to poke through crud to get flow from the block drains. Haven't taken it out on the road, though.

Here's some interior shots. That's makore veneer I replaced. 2 coats of sanding sealer, 7 coats of lacquer and hand polish. Replaced the headliner, too...

Of note is Oldsmobile used the same cruise control in '62. Found a n Oldsmobile guy in Canada that reproduces the dial gears that disintegrate.

[electra225]

Buick put the Guidmatic sensor in the middle of the dash like your Cadillac in 1962. They put it at the right of the steering wheel in '63. The window controls and door consoles, door handles, that kind of thing will fit a Buick. Buick got power door locks, vacuum, on the '63 Electra 4-door sedans only. Tilt wheel and cruise control came in 1963. Cadillac and Olds both beat Buick to those options by at least a year, maybe two years in Cadillac. Did Cadillac ever get a factory tach option? Or aluminum valve covers? That is a gorgeous car, Walter. Brings back lots of fond memories. The doctor's son had a '64 Coupe DeVille that would run off and hide from my Buick. I learned not to mess with a 429 Cadillac. He had a '59 before that. It was no match for a 401 Buick.

[walyfd]

Tilt wheel was '63 in cadillac. Cruise was 1959. Chrysler beat GM to that...

No aluminum valve covers but they did do that abysmal aluminum block 4100 in '82. Never had a tach until MAYBE the Cimarron??? This is all idiot lights. There's an unused green lensed socket in the cluster to the left. I added an "engaged" light for the cruise. Pretty sure the other GM makes had cruise lights.

[electra225]

Cadillac got tri-power along with all the other GM divisions except Buick. Buick did get dual fours and aluminum valve covers. The single AFB four barrel jobs were actually faster. Two AFB's overfueled even a 425. Tachs started in Buick with the 1962 Wildcats and some Skylarks. Never an option on LeSabre or Electra, but mine has one. Solid state ignition, three-angle valve job and radial tires were the biggest improvement for my Buick. It drove like a shopping cart on bias ply tires.

[TC Chris]

The dash has always been a major factor for me, as it's the one thing you look at it all the time.
'61/62 Cad dashboards are awesome, as is the one on the '61 Olds 98, which may be my favorite GM dash of all time, it's absolutely jewel-like when in pristine condition, this pic of a '61 Dynamic dash doesn't do it justice really.

The best '61 Olds was the Starfire, which had the center console that blended up toward the dash--and leather, and the chrome seat surrounds. The '61 Starfire was the first really cool car I ever fell in love with.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

GM never built an ugly Oldsmobile Starfire.....

I'd lean more toward a '63-'64, but I wouldn't turn down a '61, that's for sure.

[walyfd]

Went for a haircut and ride through hills and on the hiway. Got the car good and hot. Even ran the air again. Temp isn't much better but I'm hoping the crap is breaking up.

Now... I recapped the radio 3 winters ago and it worked fine. Picked up stations on lowest sensitivity on the wonderbar. About 3 months ago, it wouldn't pick up anything. Today, it started working again. Picked up 6 stations on the bar and 4 with foot switch... if I can't drive it, at least the radio works.

[Firedome]

That Cad interior is stellar! White with blue brocade is the bees knees!
Hmmm, have to differ there on Starfire! No one loves Olds more that I, but...the little '70s Chevy Monza based one was an insult to the name. I owned one briefly and it was nothing but a rehash of the Monza & Skyhawk, no great beauties themselves, cheaply and poorly assembled, rattly, a real POS foisted on the car buying public during the gas economy years. I did like the Buick V6 and 5 spd drivetrain however, why I bought it. That said, I'd totally agree that GM never built an ugly "Full Size" Starfire however! I'd take a '61 or '62 in that order.

[TC Chris]

Now... I recapped the radio 3 winters ago and it worked fine. Picked up stations on lowest sensitivity on the wonderbar. About 3 months ago, it wouldn't pick up anything. Today, it started working again. Picked up 6 stations on the bar and 4 with foot switch... if I can't drive it, at least the radio works.

After sitting for 40 years, my Chevy has an antenna problem. I have to get the telescoping sections just right. You might try fiddling with the antenna while the radio is on and see if that affects it in any way. My guess is that there are some spring bronze contacts inside mine that have gone awry.

Chris Campbell

[TC Chris]

Hmmm, have to differ there on Starfire! No one loves Olds more that I, but...the little '70s Chevy Monza based one was an insult to the name..... That said, I'd totally agree that GM never built an ugly "Full Size" Starfire however! I'd take a '61 or '62 in that order.

Yeah, that wretched mess of a 70s car did not deserve the name. I love the '61s and '62s and the '63 too. My '65 doesn't have quite the pizzazz, although it has lots of power with the new 425 engine and the new TurboHydro transmission.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

I should have clarified, my bad.......

They never built an ugly Oldsmobile Starfire from 1961 to 1966.

[Firedome]

Or 1954 to 1957! Don't forget that all '54 to 56 98 convertlbles were called Starfire, after the '53 GM Motorama cars that also featured the Skylark and Eldorado, and in 1957 all models of Olds 98 were called Starfires, coupes and sedans as well. The name was dropped for '58 to '60 then was resurrected for the glorious '61s and later.
'
About 10 years ago I thought I had a chance at a '55 Starfire in a pretty white and metallic blue with white and blue leather interior, it was super solid but needed restoration, but he wasn't quite ready to sell, then I lost contact and don't know what happened to the car, it would have been a beauty.

[electra225]

Didn't Pontiac or maybe Olds have metallic material in the seats or door panels? It looked live vinyl with metal flakes in it. I liked the Olds "Holiday Hardtop" nomenclature.

[walyfd]

I believe so. I remember a guy around here had a '58 Bonneville with copper and silver and maybe black interior. The carpet was copper loop pile with silver threads woven in. So cool.

[electra225]

I believe that may have been something I was thinking about. I also seem to remember maybe a '62 Bonne with metallic material on the seats.

The '57 Roadmaster 75's had silver "straw" woven into the seats and door panels. Those and the '60 Deuce flat top four doors had maybe the flashiest interior ever put into a Buick. The '55-'56 Century models had three-tone interiors, but I can't say I'd call them flashy. Nothing like the Pontiac and Olds cars had.

[Firedome]

Olds used the "Holiday" appellation for a long time, my '69 was officially known as a "Cutlass Holiday Sport Sedan" meaning 4 door hardtop, and my '56 was a "98 Holiday Coupe".

[William]

Yep, it was Pontiac for sure, and since Pontiac, Buick and Chevy were the three GM cars sold in the little town of Hart I can remember that Pontiac had the sparkle fabric.

Bill

[walyfd]

YUCK!!!

Drained it this morning before the rains come. The crap in the glass is from the radiator. The pan is from the block, so is the rust on the magnet.

I have my doubts it'll make a huge difference but I'm still impressed. Put a gallon of vinegar in it and topped it off. Plan to run that through just idling in the driveway and see if it's still black.