Tom Canfield

Hello fellow Oldsmobile fans, I just bought a rather interesting vehicle and I am hoping someone on this forum can help me. I have read this forum for awhile now but this is my first post. So thank you now for anyone who reads this and gives any advice.

I have attached some picture of the car/truck below. Here is what I know about the Olds.
-VIN 814F######
- This tells me it is a 1964 Oldsmobile F-85 Deluxe built in Fremont California
- Someone transplanted a Oldsmobile 403ci motor with a TH400 transmission into it.
- It has a posi-traction rear end, not sure what gear ratio yet though.
- The original owner lived in Colorado.
- They were a Harley Davidson fan (rear window has a very intricate etching)

I am thinking that this was either an el-camino conversion OR a funeral home flower car. The reason I think flower car is because there is no tailgate, and I would think that if you did a conversion, you would add a tailgate, right?

I understand finding information on old Oldsmobiles can be tricky, which is why I am here. Maybe someone here can decipher the cowl tag, or maybe even recognize the car. You never know your luck. Anyway, thanks again for any help, I appreciate it!

-Tom

oldcutlass

Welcome to the site, interesting and unique car. I have no idea, but others on here might have an answer for you.

Charlie Jones

According to the body tag , this vehicle started life as a four door sedan.
Someone did a LOT of body work to make it into a truck .

MDchanic

That's some good quality body work.

Take a look for a coachbuilder's tag somewhere. I'm thinking flower car.

- Eric

BangScreech4-4-2

Well, it sure ain't no El Camino.

Tom Canfield

I have searched around for a tag with no success. I have yet to really dig into it though. I am thinking if it was a coach builder, maybe Cotner-Bevington? They seem to have used Oldsmobiles a lot in the '60's.

Olds64

That's a cool car. I saw it or another one like it for sale on-line awhile ago. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

joe_padavano

As others have pointed out, this was originally a four door F-85. The rear window and roofline are from a four door, as are the short front doors. I'm also thinking flower car.

oldcutlass

You might propose your question here, very knowlegable group.
http://www.professionalcar.org/

joe_padavano

Compare this photo to the OP's car and you can see how it was fabricated from a more-door.

Tom Canfield

I will check out that site and make a post there later, thank you for the link oldcutlass. Also that is a good photo comparison joe, thanks for posting that. If you look carefully on the car, you can see where the rear doors were welded shut. Whoever did it though did a good job of hiding the seam.

joe_padavano

There is a noticeable "bump" in the quarter panel above the rear wheel opening where the roof originally flowed into the fender.

Tom Canfield

That makes sense now that you mention it, I just thought is was bent there. I will have to check and see if there are signs of another bump on the other side as well. Thanks for pointing that out.

Joffroi

It looks a lot better then this one that was posted.
http://www.oldsmobilecentral.com/for...hing-diffe.php

BangScreech4-4-2

Flower car seems plausible, except if you had really wanted an El Camino, why wouldn't you have just bought an El Camino?

Tom Canfield

I thought of that as well, why put so much effort into converting the Olds into a truck when you can just by an El Camino? Unless you really wanted an Oldsmobile/El Camino...


It is a win-win for me though, I was looking for a light truck, and being an Oldsmobile fan, you can't get much better then this

oldcutlass

I see a lot of potential and uniqueness there. Let us know what you find out.