Oldsmobile F-85

Oldsmobile F-85
Production period:	1961-1972
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Successor:	Oldsmobile Omega

The Oldsmobile F-85 was an upper middle class passenger car built by Oldsmobile , a brand of General Motors , from 1961 to 1972 . It was always Oldsmobile's entry-level model. In 1964 it increased significantly in size and formed the basis for the later Cutlass and 4‑4‑2 models .

Year by year

1961-1963

F-85 (1961–1963) F-85 Cutlass (1962–1963) F-85 Jetfire (1962–1963)
Oldsmobile F-85 Deluxe Cabriolet (1963)
Production period:	1961-1963
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.5 liters (116–158 kW)
Length:	4780 (1963 model 4880) mm
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	2845 mm
Empty weight :	1208-1306 kg

In the 1961 model year, Oldsmobile offered a “compact car” that was significantly below the previous entry-level Dynamic 88 in terms of price and size . The car was cut similar to the larger contemporary models and had twin headlights in a wide, flat grille. The cars were available in standard and deluxe versions as a 2-door coupé, 4-door sedan and 5-door station wagon with five or seven seats. The deluxe sports coupe was nicknamed the Cutlass .

There were no stylistic changes in the following year. A 2-door convertible was added. The station wagons were available in the standard version with six or nine seats, the deluxe version with only five seats.

In 1963 there was a facelift that gave the car a modified grille and a largely new body. Little changed in terms of body variants and technology. The 9 ‑ seater station wagon was omitted and the convertible was only available as a deluxe.

Motorization

All models were with the from the Buick Special known V8 equipped -Motor of aluminum with 3523 cc capacity, of 155  bhp (116 kW) at 3800 min ^-1 and from 1962 Cutlass optional 185 hp (138 kW) gave.

In Jetfire an intern worked Rocket -called version of this engine with a turbocharger from Garrett . This not only made it the first engine from the USA to produce 1 hp per 1 in ³ displacement, but also the world's first gasoline engine with a turbocharger in a mass-produced car; almost 10,000 pieces were produced. In order to prevent ringing noises and dangerous spontaneous combustion caused by extreme exhaust gas temperatures, a methanol-water mixture was injected behind the carburetor .

After the production of this V8 engine, which was regarded as too small on the US market , was discontinued at General Motors in 1963, the automobile manufacturer Rover continued to produce it in Great Britain, slightly modified. From 1967 he drove the P5B, later the P6B , SD1 and various Landrover , Morgan and TVR . Its largest expansion stage was the 4554 cm³ engine of the Range Rover P38 4.6 HSE.

1964-1972

F-85 (1964-1972) F-85 Cutlass (1964-1966) F-85 4-4-2 (1964-1966)
Oldsmobile F-85 Sedan 4 Doors (1964)
Production period:	1964-1972
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.7–6.6 liters (108–257 kW)
Length:	5128-5273 mm
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	2845-2946 mm
Empty weight :	1203-1617 kg

In 1964 the F-85 appeared completely revised. Its wheelbase had increased by 3 ″ to 2921 mm and was therefore no longer a compact car by US standards, but clearly belonged to the middle class. The Jetfire with its turbo engine had disappeared and there were three sub-series: A 2-door coupé, a 4-door sedan and a 5-door station wagon with six seats were available from the Standard and the Deluxe . The Cutlass had a coupé, a hardtop coupé (called Holiday ) and a convertible, each with two doors. For all versions, there were two engines to choose from: a V6 engine with 3687 cc engine, the 155 bhp (116 kW) at 4,400 min ^-1 gave and a V8 engine with 5408 cc and 210 bhp (157 kW) at 4400 min ⁻¹ (the same as the Jetstar 88 model ). Another new feature was a 4‑4‑2 package, which offered a quadruple carburetor, four gears and two exhaust pipes for an extra $ 136 (so the explanation for 4‑4‑2).

Another slight revision of the styling gave all Oldsmobile 1965 a grille in "bone shape". The V8 engine was 250 bhp (186 kW) at 4,800 min ^-1 risen. The high-performance V8 engine for the 4‑4‑2 with 6555 cc displacement and 345 bhp (257 kW) was also new. The first “4” now meant “400 in ³ ” (= 6.6 liter displacement). The coupé was no longer part of the deluxe series.

In 1966, in addition to the previous models, there was a 4-door hardtop sedan as a Deluxe or Cutlass. The V6 engine was replaced by an in-line six-cylinder from Chevrolet - the first at Oldsmobile since 1950. The new engine drew usual 155 bhp (116 kW) at 4200 min ^-1 from 4097 cc. A slight revision of the body made a fashionable "hip swing" appear over the rear wheel cutouts.

In 1967 the names "Cutlass" and "4‑4‑2" disappeared. The Cutlass formed a separate model range that year, the 4‑4‑2 only reappeared as a separate model range in 1968. The cabriolet and the two hardtop models had also disappeared. There was only the basic F-85 as a coupé, sedan or station wagon with an R6 or V8 engine.

In 1968 the station wagon was also given up; the new Cutlass series was more attractive and stole more and more buyers from the F-85. In 1961 75,821 F-85s were sold, in 1967 there were 24,007 and in 1968 only 15,309. The wheelbase of the remaining models grew by 1 ″ to 2946 mm. The V8 engine was bored out to 5735 cc and performed like its predecessor 250 bhp (186 kW), but even at 4400 min ^-1 .

In 1969, the dismantling of the F-85 continued. The sedan was also given up, so that only the coupé remained, of which 8,440 units could still be sold. As with the first F-85s, the wheelbase had shrunk to 2845 mm and the front of the vehicle showed, as with Cutlass, a wide, painted strip as a nose in the middle of the vehicle. There were no changes in the following year, sales rose again to 11,110 cars.

In 1971 the coupé was given up on the F-85 and a 4-door sedan was made as the only model. The wheelbase grew back to the old 2946 mm. The in-line six-cylinder only delivered 145 bhp (108 kW), the V8 was content with 240 bhp (179 kW). Only 4419 pieces of this model could be sold.

In the last year of production, 1972, the six-cylinder engine also disappeared. The performance of the 5.7 liter V8 dropped to 160 hp (119 kW), which already at 4000 min ^-1 systems. But one could also major Rocket V8 from the desired 98 top model cc with 7456 cubic capacity and 225 bhp (168 kW) at 4,000 min ^-1 can be installed. This year, 3792 buyers opted for an F-85.

In the following year, the Oldsmobile Omega took over the role of the entry-level model.

Web links

Commons : Oldsmobile F-85  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

swell

• Gunnell, John (editor): Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 , Krause Publications Inc., Iola (2002), ISBN 0-87349-461-X .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Heiner Buchinger: Rover V8 Story, in Roverblatt, pp. 17-18