We tend to think of the Oldsmobile Cutlass as Oldsmobile’s core mid-size offering, but the Cutlass initially got its start as a buckets-and-console coupe within the F-85 series. One of these cars, a 1963 Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass convertible, is our Pick of the Day. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Milford, Michigan. (Click the link to view the listing)
When Oldsmobile introduced the F-85 in 1961, it was the least interesting of the trio of what became known as the “Senior Compacts.” The Pontiac Tempest featured a transaxle and an inline-four that was literally half a V8, while Buick introduced a novel V6 and aluminum V8 for the Special. The Buick V8, which measured 215ci, would also power the F-85, though Oldsmobile engineers got ahold it and called it the Rockette V8. All three models ran on a 112-inch wheelbase, which may have been considered small back in the day but a few years later it would be considered a typical measurement for a mid-size car.
For 1963, Oldsmobile redesigned the F-85 with a slab-sided design featuring styling that properly resembled the updated styling of the full-size models. Though on the same platform as before, the F85 looked larger — perhaps a more appropriate bridge between General Motors’ compacts like the Corvair and Chevy II, and full-size models. And, in the interest of equal parity, it’s worth mentioning that Oldsmobile finally earned its Senior Compact engineering wings with the 1962-63 Jetfire, the first production car with a turbocharger.
The 1963 Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass convertible you see here is one of those upscale, sporty cars that were catching on in the market and would eventually lead to the creation of pony cars, if not the 4-4-2. The standard 215 V8 featured 10.25 compression and a four-barrel carburetor for 185 horsepower; optional was an ultra high-compression with 10.75 compression and 195 horsepower. No word which engine this Cutlass has but it’s an honest-to-goodness four-speed car, which adds to its sportiness, if not its collectability. “This 63 convertible is quite a stunning vehicle, painted in a beautiful burgundy complemented by a white roof,” says the selling dealer. “Take a seat inside and you are greeted to a spacious and well-appointed cabin. Eye-catching vinyl really makes the interior pop, and the gauges are set up well for driving.”
If this was a Chevrolet, everyone would be going gaga and commanding something twice as much as what this dealership is asking: $25,500. And if you’re a hot rodder at heart, maybe you can add the Jetfire’s turbo system to this and amaze even more folks beyond what a cool find you’ve found.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Source: www.classiccars.com