anybody have some reference photos of a tach for the 61 dynamic 88? my car is a stripper model so it never had one and I would like to track one down and install it in the stock location if possible.

 

Could you even get a factory tach in '61? I know you could on a Chevy SS, but that was an aftermarket Sun lashed to the steering column.

 

The only tach available was in the Starfire and it is on the console not in the dash.

 

I don't think any Oldsmobiles in 1961 had a tachometer. I do think there was a "Power/Economy" vacuum gauge on the floor mounted console of Starfire's. I think the tachometers may have started in 1963-64 on Starfire's, 1964-65 442's.

What are you calling an SS ? Super Sport (car model) ? Super Stock (409 factory race car) ? "Back in the day" they were either mounted to the steering column or top of the dash.

 

The only tachometer offered in a 1961 Olds was built into the console on Starfires. Not going to work without bucket seats.

 

I'm referring to the 453 Impalas built with the first SS option in 1961. I believe a Sun Tach strapped to the steering column was part of the package.

 

Joe P. thanks, I stand corrected and better informed.

 

I guess I have to plead uninformed about this "SS option". Fill me in on some of the details.

 

 

As noted only the Starfire convertible got a tach in 1961 and it looks like the one in Joe P and 61Bat pictures. 61Bat has shown us what a 1961 Starfire coupe would have looked like had it been built (there were none, the coupe appeared in 1962).

1961 Impala SS. An enigma if ever was. One source I have says 453, another 142, one says dealer installed on any Impala model, another factory installed only and only on 2dHT and convert, one says all had 409, another it could have any V8 engine. These figures are from well-known and respected Chevrolet historians who were around when the cars were new.

The only thing I can say for sure was the SS had a 7k RPM Sun tach and narrow band whitewall tires. Only it and the Starfire convertible got those 1" whitewalls in 61. Everyone else stuck with wide whites.

 

My understanding is that 453 SS's were built and of those, 142 were late-year option 360-hp 409s. All cars with the SS option were at least 348s, no six-cylinder or small-block SS cars were built in '61.

I don't know of any factory stipulation with regard to availability on various body styles, but by the same token, neither have I seen (or even heard of anybody who's seen) a '61 SS that wasn't a 2-door hardtop or convertible.

 

Rocketraider, thank you. I was unaware that the 1961 Starfire only came as a convertible. I am appreciative of the additional information. My "Daily driver" in 1961 was a Schwinn.

 

NB: '61 Bat -- Beautiful bubbletop Olds!

 

You're welcome. My dd in 1961 was a Murray tricycle! Candy red and white!

If I ever saw either a 61 Starfire or Impala SS before I was an adult, either I don't remember it or didn't know what I was looking at. Neither would have been common in this area.

 

Thanks for the info folks.