Check out page 41 of the Dec. 2011 issue and you will find a photo and write up (written by the man himself) in the "Backfire" / letters section. Great car (though I'm a bit biased).

 

Yes, that's neat! And his Jetstar is also the feature car in the most recent e-edition of the Wild About Cars magazine. Real power and a manual transmission in a big car. I saw a '65 Delta 88 at the nationals that also had a factory 4 speed (pictures below). It didn't have the power of the Jetstar, but still, a manual transmission in a big car is about as intriguing as it gets!

Randy C.

 

Actually, that is Dom Spinetta's car, and has the Starfire engine (option L75 on that window sticker), same plant as the Jetstar I, so its every bit as powerful as Kurt's . That particular car has a boxed frame and 3.42, among other unique options. Without hyperbole, its one of the coolest Oldsmobiles ever built in my opinion. I think Kurt might agree, and thus would not be offended by my saying so even in a thread about HIS car.

 

I saw Kurt's car at Sturbridge and it's beautiful and very cool (though I like oddball cars like a manual trans full size).

 

Any 4-speed big car is way past cool in my book, and that includes ALL makes. Plus, being as I'm a big car kind of guy...

Can you imagine being a pony punk with an attitude in a Mustang and having one of these blow your doors off?

 

Fab car! It would be so interesting to see it go tire-to-tire w/ Pontiac 2+2 or GP 421 4-speed of same year.
I don't know if any instrument option was available on the '65 Olds, but I always liked that dashboard design... very businesslike.
Just for the record, I still dream of actually having an original window sticker or build sheet for my car! Wow, that would be sweet....
John

 

Thanks guys. The ‘60s had some spectacular dashes, and the ’65 Olds B-bodies were great examples, IMHO. But no special gauges for the big Olds. The consoles did have a tach, but looking down at your feet to check yours revs is just not a good idea.

Yes, a head to head with Pontiac’s models would be interesting. As opposed to Oldsmobile’s solitary engine offering, Pontiac had basically 5 engine options, but you’d have to pony up with the top-of-the-line Tri-Power 421 at 376 hp to match the 370 hp Starfire 425. Since the Olds rears are actually Pontiac units, they all share the same 12 bolt (10 bolt cover) rears. However where Olds offered just the 3.23 and 3.42 ratios, Pontiac had ratios up to 4.33 available. Without a doubt, Pontiac was more performance oriented with their big cars of the era. But with identical rear gears, the Jetstar 1 could run with anything Pontiac could bring to the table in ’65.

 

Congratulations! Great car, great magazine!

 

Congratulations. That is a very nice car.