Oldsmobile Starfire Convertible With 51,000 Miles on 2040-cars

1961 Olds Starfire Convertible

I bought this car last year some time. It is raw and original with nothing hidden from view. It looks rougher on the surface than it is in reality. It is also a low mileage car. The major issues are all cosmetic. Please read this for a good description. It sat for several years in a building. The building leaked, the moisture collected under the car causing the cosmetic body issues that need repairing. I contemplated restoring this car for some time before realizing that I am not able, nor do I have the desire to do a restoration at this time. I do however think it is a great car and would be a lot of fun once finished

Miles 51,xxx, I believed it to be actual and indeed it is quite obvious that the miles are right. Everything I have found is in keeping with it. There are still some restorable low mileage cars out here.

Please note when looking at the photos. It was love bug season here when taking the photos. If you will look closely, much of what looks like flaws are actually bugs. Sorry for that! 

Please pay close attention to the photos loaded into the texts and also the EBay photos viewer at the bottom of the page. They show what the car needs and also how solid it really is.

Condition

Motor

The motor is original and runs very strong with no missing or leaks. I have not noticed it leaking any oil. It idles a little rough because it needs to be driven. I have driven it one time for 3 miles and there were no issues. It does need to have the original starter rebuilt. It turns slowly, but should hold up for transport and has started every time. The original dual action fuel pump has been rebuilt. I also temporarily had an electric fuel pump installed to help it before realizing that the starter was the issue. It is my opinion that the motor is too solid to consider rebuilding it at this point. I would break it back in before going there. I had it tuned and serviced, including zinc additive for the flat tappit cam.

Transmission

Seems Excellent! It shifter for me just fine through all the gears just fine on my three mile drive with it. It seems quite solid.

Suspension

The car steers and rides well. The suspension seems solid to me, though the front springs are a little compressed from age and sitting. I don’t think you will have any real issues here.

Brakes

I had the wheel and master cylinders replaced last year. It stops, but I do believe that they need some more bleeding to really get a good pedal. The brake booster may need to be rebuilt or replaced, but it may also need vacuum lines.

Rear End

Seems Solid, no noises or any other noticeable flaws.

Exhaust

The exhaust appears to be original. The mufflers may have been replaced. They didn't hold up well in those days. I had a section of pipe welded in. It is quiet for the most part with no major issues

Body

The body is the part that appears worse than it really is. It will need the rear bottom quarter on the passenger side and at least the forward part of the driver rear. Just behind the wheel. These are flat and pretty easy to make. I think most of the lips are fine, though the front of both wheel lips need work. The inner rockers are fine, but the outers need repair. There are isolated spots on the corners of the doors also. The areas around these spots are solid and there is plenty of good metal to work with and weld to.

Paint

The paint is original with the exception of some touch ups and also the trunk lid, which has been replaced. Will need repainting, but I think shows that there is nothing hidden.

Floor & Trunk Pans

The floor pans are really nice and solid for the most part. There are some isolated previous repairs to the fronts. They have beed marked with fresh red primer to show them in the photos. I think the pans are overall quite solid and usable. I would not replace them. The trunk floor is also very solid. The flat area behind the tail panel will need to be replaced, but the trunk floor itself has only scale that needs to be cleaned and painted. It is solid otherwise. 

Frame

Excellent! The frame is solid and rust free. My Son went over the entire thing with a ball peen hammer and tested it. You will have no issues here.

Fuel Tank

I had the tank pulled thinking that it would need to be cleaned and lined. I was wrong. Much to my amazement, it was clean, bright and shiney like new inside. It was painted on the outside and reinstalled. I think the fuel gauge works also.

Tires

It has correct wide white wall tires. The right rear appears to be an original. They are older, but decent.

Interior

The interior is original. The seats will need to be redone and the carpet replaced. The dash pad, console, door and side panels, as well as the rear ash wells are excellent overall. The door, side panels and ash wells will be fine just dying them. The steering wheel is also just beautiful.

Electrical

Most things seem well here. The windows have some sort of a grounding issue and won’t go down. Whatever it is affects the driver power seat also. They are both on the same fuse. The radio works, but needs an antenna. The gauges and blowers work also. Most if not all of the lights works and the interior lights as well.

Top

The top frame is exccellent! The pistons are locked up and have been disconnected in order to operate the top by hand. The motor does work when operating the switch and may be alright, but I cannot be sure about that. The top itself is original and needs to be replaced as you might expect.

Chrome & Bright Work

The wide aluminum trim on the sides is in great condition. The stainless trim around it can use some straightening and a good polish, but no major damage. The grille and trim are in good shape. The pinch weld and windshield trim are also nice. The bumpers will need some repair and rechrome. The rear bumper was changed. The center can be chromed as it should be. It also comes with better ends. The car also comes with a set of full deluxe wheel covers and clips. The original rocker panel molding are with the car.

In Summary

If you like ’61 Starfire’s and want one to restore, this should be a good one for you. It is very solid overall. It needs seat upholstery and carpet, but the interior is nice otherwise. It needs some metal work, but the body is solid overall. It is mechanically strong. This is a good canvas for you. It is also a car that you can drive while restoring if you’d like. It is a good car if you need one that isn’t a fortune to purchase or restore.

Contact

I have done my level best to describe this car as best I can. I may have missed something however. If you feel that I have or just need to know that there is a real person on the other end, please feel free to call. (409) 550-1644

Payment Terms

U.S.

The terms assume that you have the funds in place to purchase and pay for this truck before bidding. Please make the $500.00 non-refundable deposit through PayPal immediately after the close of this auction, regardless of the PayPal default time frame. The balance must be paid through bank wire transfer within three days after the close of this auction. Any other terms must be agreed upon before bidding, no exceptions.

International Buyers (You are Welcome Here)

The terms assume that you have the funds in place to purchase and pay for this truck before bidding. Please make the $500.00 non-refundable deposit through PayPal immediately after the close of this auction, regardless of the PayPal default time frame. The balance must be paid through bank wire transfer within three days after the close of this auction. Any other terms must be agreed upon before bidding, no exceptions.

My Feedback

I have had this account for 9 years. Most, if not all of the items sold here have been cars or trucks that I have had over the years. I have never had an issue until recently when selling a Black ’62 Pontiac Bonneville. I was left a scathing neutral feedback for this excellent car unjustly. The car is listed for sale on Ebay at this time at a much higher price, item number 190920404595. If you are considering purchasing my car, please have a look at this man’s "feedback left for others". I think you will see that I am far from being the only guy that he has been through this with this man.