Oldsmobile Starfire

Oldsmobile Starfire is the name of several models and series produced from the summer of 1953 to the end of 1979 of the former US car manufacturer Oldsmobile , which had belonged to the General Motors (GM) group since 1908 . The name goes back to the US Lockheed F-94 fighter aircraft .

Oldsmobile Starfire (1953)

Motorama Show Car

Oldsmobile Starfire Coupe (1963)

Oldsmobile first used the name Starfire for a show vehicle that General Motors presented to the public at Motorama 1953. The five-seat convertible had a fiberglass body. This technology was still in its infancy in the bodywork area; to date there has only been a small series sports car Woodill Wildfire / Glasspar G2 (1951–1953) in the USA . Production of the most famous car with a plastic body, the Chevrolet Corvette sports car , did not start until the summer of 1953.

The Starfire was powered by an in-house Rocket V8 engine whose output had been increased from 170 HP (127.5 kW) Rocket V8 to 200 HP (150 kW). It remained a one-off.

In mid-1953, however, Oldsmobile brought out the Oldsmobile Fiesta, a luxury convertible built in small series, which, albeit with a conventional steel body, incorporated elements of the Starfire such as its panoramic windshield , which was just coming into fashion .

Oldsmobile used the term Starfire temporarily as an addition for the Ninety-Eight model series and from 1961 to 1966 for a sporty coupé or convertible based on the Oldsmobile 88 .

Lower middle class coupe

The name Starfire, once used for the most expensive model in the Oldsmobile program, came back to life in the model years 1975 to 1980, but this time for the cheapest model. The coupe was based on GM's H platform, which had been introduced in 1971 for the Chevrolet Vega (from 1974 also known as the Pontiac Astre ) in the lower middle class.

In the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis , an economical model was quickly sought. GM therefore expanded the H series considerably. This is how the Chevrolet Monza , Pontiac Sunbird , Buick Skyhawk and the Oldsmobile Starfire were born. GM's body department Fisher Body Co. prepared three variants: a 2 + 2-seater hatchback coupé, a notchback coupé and a 2-door station wagon.

H-Bodies have rear-wheel drive, motors installed lengthways at the front and a wheelbase of 97.0 in (2464 mm). While the front wheels are suspended from conventional double wishbones , the rigid rear axle is guided by the lower longitudinal and upper trailing arms. 1976 the trailing arms are omitted, with the "torque arm rear suspension" the axle is supported by a bolted-on bracket at the front of the transmission A Panhard rod is used for lateral guidance. Coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers act at the front and rear. A further development of this came later in the 3rd and 4th generation of the F-Bodies ( Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird / Trans Am ). A cornering stabilizer was standard in the front. The design should also be able to accommodate a Wankel engine planned by GM , which was never ready for series production.

The starfire was 179.3 in (4554 mm) long, 65.4 in (1661 mm) wide, and 50.2 in (1275 mm) high; the length of the other H-Bodies can vary by a few millimeters.

According to the American interpretation, these vehicles, which are quite stately by European standards, were classified as " subcompacts " (like Chevrolet Chevette or Opel Kadett ) because they were slightly smaller than compacts , i.e. cars like GM's X-Bodies ( Chevrolet Nova , Pontiac Ventura , Buick Apollo and Oldsmobile Omega ). In advertising, Oldsmobile coined the name supercoupe for the Starfire ...

GM used rectangular double headlights for the H-Bodies and in some full-size models, as they were then in fashion.

The H-Bodies were manufactured in the Lordstown , Ohio and Sainte-Thérèse plants in Québec ( Canada ). They were at dealerships from the beginning of 1975 (the Pontiac Sunbird in autumn 1975), although not all body variants were offered by all brands. The vehicles of the different brands looked almost the same, they differed primarily in the front end.

The version from 1971 to 1979 is not related to the H series with front-wheel drive, which has been built since 1986.

The Vega and Astre models were temporarily continued to be built in parallel and did not expire until 1977. In contrast to these, the new H-Bodies were temporarily available with V8 engines as well as with 4 and V6-cylinder engines. Depending on the version, the weight was between 1,270 and 1,360 kg. H-Bodies are identified in the VIN by the letter "H" in the 4th position.

The market segment of the lower middle class was of less importance for Oldsmobile than, for example, for Chevrolet or Pontiac. Accordingly, the brand's commitment was more or less limited to mere presence. This was expressed in the fact that only the hatchback coupé was offered and that there were only two equipment variants. The Starfire's share of the brand's total production during this period was around 6%.

Model history

Oldsmobile Starfire (1975)

1975

In the first model year, the Starfire was only available with a V6 engine developed by Buick. The V8-derived engine with a 90 ° fork angle (works code LD5; for California LC6) had a displacement of 231 ci (3785 cm ³ ) and made 110 hp (82 kW) at 4,000 rpm. Double carburettors and a four-speed gearbox were standard. Five-speed gearbox and three-speed automatic GM "Turbo Hydramatic THM200" were available for an extra charge.

The equipment variants Sport (base) and Coupé S were offered, plus a GT package with decorative stripes, sports wheels, sports instrumentation including rev counter, five-speed gearbox and rear stabilizer from spring. The Coupé S was recognizable by a narrow colored band on the flank. All had disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear as standard. Power assistance for the brakes was also standard, but for the steering it was just as expensive as adjusting the steering wheel.

There were five standard and five metallic colors available. The interior consisted of high-back single seats covered with synthetic leather and a console at the front as well as a folding rear bench. An adjustable backrest for the driver's seat was subject to a surcharge. Four colors for the interior were available; Three different leather covers were optionally available.

For reasons of space there was only an emergency spare wheel that was housed in a side compartment of the luggage compartment.

Model year	Model name	Model no.	List price	production
1975	Starfire S	D07	$ 4,144	2,950
1975	Starfire	T07	$ 3,873	28'131

A total of 31,081 Starfires left the factory in the 1975 model year.

1976

Minimal changes were due for 1976. The V6 had a nominal output of 105 hp (78 kW). The five-speed gearbox now came from Borg-Warner. The fifth gear was still designed as overdrive and served more to reduce fuel consumption than sportiness. The SX model replaced the Coupé S version. It received a similar color band with the model name. The SX was a little cheaper than the S from the previous year, but the prices for the basic version were raised slightly.

Model year	Model name	Model no.	List price	production
1976	Starfire SX	D37	$ 4,062	20,854
1976	Starfire	T07	$ 3,882	8,305

29,129 vehicles were built.

1977

Oldsmobile Starfire SX (1977)

The Starfire received a new front mask . The two horizontal slots gave way to vertical bars. The basic / SX / GT equipment levels were retained. The basic version now has the technically interesting OHC in -line four-cylinder engine with 140 ci (2294 cm ³ ) and double carburettors known from Vega and Astre . It developed 84 hp (61.8 kW). The engine block was injection-molded from aluminum, but the cylinder head was made from gray cast iron . To make things easier, the camshaft's toothed belt also drove the water pump, which also served as a belt tensioner. The oil pump sits on the crankshaft and is shaped so that it also serves as the front cover of the engine.

The previous V6 was still available for an extra charge (standard in the GT package). The prices were increased slightly.

Model year	Model name	Model no.	List price	production
1977	Starfire SX	D37	$ 4,140	14,181
1977	Starfire	T07	$ 3,942	4,910

Production collapsed to just 19,091 units.

1978

Production of the 2.3-liter four-cylinder came to an end at the end of the 1977 model year. It was replaced by a slightly larger four-cylinder built by Pontiac (code LS6; LS8). The engine, nicknamed Iron Duke , made 85 hp (63 kW). The well-known V6 was still available as an option. A five-liter V8 from the Chevrolet shelf (305 ci, code LG8) with 145 PS (106 kW) was added during the model year. However, the combination of this high-torque motor with the weight-optimized THM200 automatic transmission proved to be prone to breakdowns. There was a new so-called "Firenza" package for the SX. In addition to rather eye-catching visual accents such as a color-contrasting flank with additional decorative stripes and color accents on the bonnet, it included the tighter " Special Rallye " suspension, front apron, spoiler, flared wheel cutouts, sports wheels and other details.

Oldsmobile Starfire Firenza (1978)

Thus, the customer could choose between the basic version, SX, SX Firenza GT and SX GT. The latter had the V6 as the standard engine instead of the four-cylinder.

The prices rose again slightly; the base model cost over $ 4,000 for the first time.

Model year	Model name	Model no.	List price	production
1978	Starfire SX	D37	$ 4,306	k. A.
1978	Starfire	T07	$ 4,095	k. A.

With 17,351 vehicles, the production reached the second lowest level of all years of construction.

1979

A facelift brought the bonnet to the same height as the fenders. The brand-typical theme of two groups of two with vertical bars was further developed for the front. Single instead of double headlights were also new. Overall, the new design appeared more harmonious but also less full of character. The four-cylinder was now available with 85 or 90 hp (63 or 67 kW). The V6 developed 115 PS (84 kW), the V8 only 130 PS (95 kW). It is unclear whether this was a result of the stricter emissions regulations or the reaction to the automatic problems associated with the V8. Sometimes stronger THM250-C seem to have been installed.

The equipment levels remained unchanged. Unlike in the first model years, the basic version now sold significantly better than the SX and derivatives. Oldsmobile decided not to offer a version of the V6 with 3.2 liter displacement developed for the H-Bodies for the Starfire because it offered practically the same performance as the "Iron Duke".

Model year	Model name	Model no.	List price	production
1979	Starfire SX	D37	$ 4,475	7'155
1979	Starfire	T07	$ 4,275	13,144

At least production recovered somewhat: 20,299 vehicles left the plant.

1980

After the facelift last year, the Starfire underwent few visual changes. The V8 engine was omitted in the entire H series, as was the five-speed gearbox. The output of the four-cylinder sank to 86 hp (63 kW). It is unclear whether the 90 hp version remained in the program. Oldsmobile also refrained from offering the latest version of the V6 with 4.1 liter displacement and 125 hp (93 kW) at 4000 rpm as a replacement for the V8 in the Starfire. The 3.8 liter V6 engine still developed 110 hp (81 kW).

Model year	Model name	Model no.	List price	production
1980	Starfire SX	D37	$ 4,950	k. A.
1980	Starfire	T07	$ 4,750	k. A.

Little facelift and less performance at significantly higher prices are bad prerequisites for high sales figures. When production of the Starfire ended on December 29, 1979, only 8,237 copies had left the assembly line.

The end

In order to secure a higher production share in the new, more promising X-Bodies with front-wheel drive and transverse engine ( Chevrolet Citation , Pontiac Phoenix , Buick Skylark and Oldsmobile Omega ), Oldsmobile ceded its share in the 1981 H program to Chevrolet and Pontiac. This led to a gap in this (but not crucial for Oldsmobile) market segment for the 1981 model year. It could only be closed from spring 1981 (model year 1982) with the new J platform with front-wheel drive. Their best-selling model was the Chevrolet Cavalier , the Oldsmobile variant was called Firenza .

From early 1975 through late 1979, Oldsmobile produced a total of 125,188 Starfires - just over half of the first-year production of Chevrolet's sister model Monza (excluding Vega).

swell

• Contemporary advertising literature
• Flammang, James M./Kowalke, Ron: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976–1999 , Krause Publishing, Iola (1999), ISBN 0-87341-755-0
• Encyclopedia of American Cars from 1930, Ed. Consumer's Guide, Publications International (1993) ISBN 0-7853-0175-5
• The Production Figure Book For US Cars, Jerry Heasley, Motorbooks International (1977) ISBN 0-87938-042-X

Web links

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

• The Old Car Manual Project (online prospectus scans)