Turbo Rocket-Oldsmobile COPO?

[69SSZL1]

Finally, after all these months of working on it, I took the Turbo Rocket powered Jetfire out for a drive. It runs great, and really moves. I am really impressed with the engineering Oldsmobile put into these. With this Jetfire now running, that makes 10 known 1963 Turbocharged Jetfires on the planet.
The way these were modified on the assembly line is similar to the COPO program. When a Jetfire was ordered, Oldsmobile would pull a F85 convertible body off the assembly line and weld a Buick hardtop to it (Olds wanted the Jetfire to be a true hardtop, and they did not make a hardtop F85/Cutlass at that time). Then, the special Turbo Rocket engine was fitted and other body modifications were done to accommodate that engine. A special rear axle was installed, and a special code "OX" transmission (if an automatic) was installed. I know its an RPO and not a true COPO, but a lot of modifications over the regular F85 were done to make it. So, my question is, what would this car be considered, a Musclecar, a Factory tuner car, or what? (I know it's not a 500hp Rat motor, but the car is 1000lbs lighter then a Camaro).

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r206/OAKLYSS/1963%20Jetfire/DSC01690%202_zpsjt2lqrcd.jpg (http://s145.photobucket.com/user/OAKLYSS/media/1963%20Jetfire/DSC01690%202_zpsjt2lqrcd.jpg.html)

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r206/OAKLYSS/1963%20Jetfire/DSC01675_zpsax4v3xih.jpg (http://s145.photobucket.com/user/OAKLYSS/media/1963%20Jetfire/DSC01675_zpsax4v3xih.jpg.html)

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r206/OAKLYSS/1963%20Jetfire/DSC01698%202%201024x768_zpsdhgijntz.jpg (http://s145.photobucket.com/user/OAKLYSS/media/1963%20Jetfire/DSC01698%202%201024x768_zpsdhgijntz.jpg.html)

[MosportGreen66]

That's awesome... thanks for sharing.

Amazing you got it running again. That motor looks daunting

[ne70ss]

So cool.

[CamaroNOS]

" So, my question is, what would this car be considered, a Musclecar, a Factory tuner car, or what? (I know it's not a 500hp Rat motor, but the car is 1000lbs lighter then a Camaro)."

Greg, you know what this is considered......freakin awesome! Man that is really a piece of art and ultra rare. I really like the car.

You and it should be travelling north to Chicago in November with it. Way too cool to leave under wraps.

Paul

[DW31S]

It's about time you "non-believers" (joking you know) took notice of our beloved Oldsmobiles! Olds engineers were on the forefront of technology on many clandestine operations that most of the public (car guys included) are/were not unaware of. Some of the ideas never made it past the drawing board or prototype stages, and not all were 100% successful (late '70s -early '80s diesels), but many were quite innovative such as the rarity discussed here. This was not the first turbo-car from Olds that was available to the masses. I personally like the '63s a little better than the '62s, (I like the '64 f85 post body style best). I'd love to own this car if I had the means to store it properly, and YES!, that engine does look daunting. Please tell us more about this car's history and how you came to acquire it; if that info has been posted I missed it.
Great car and thanks for sharing!!! Love the color, too!!!

[PLATINUM6BBL]

Cool car. There is one that use come to shows around here. Also knew of one that was crushed out of a yard not far from me.

[69VN]

Incredible piece of Oldsmobile history right there! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif

[markinnaples]

Really a cool vehicle. More information and pics please.

[black69]

That is one amazing ride. Outside of the obvious rarity of it, is that power bucket factory? I had a 65 chevelle convert with power buckets, and they only made <span style="font-style: italic">20</span> of those power buckets on that car, so had to ask. Love the way the interior (especially seats) look. I am sure there is a flux capacitor somewhere in that engine bay!

I definitely want to learn more about Methanol injection and what that does for engine performance. Don't say anything about that option to a drug user though, they might get some ideas to use your car in their lab.

[Verne_Frantz]

Do you know what the total production of the Turbo was in '63? A fellow who owned a small motel near me growing up had one. A two-tone.
Verne

[olredalert]

----Greg,,,There is one other Jetfire out there with less than 10,000 miles. Turquoise with a white gut, auto. I owned it way back in 79/80 time period. Should have kept it but had house payments back then. They are great little cars and yours hs turned out fantastic. Congrats!!!!......Bill S

[69SSZL1]

Oldsmobile only made these 2 years, 1962-63, a few thousand were made. They were very expensive, base price was $3,048.00. In 1965, Oldsmobile offered to remove the Turbo if you did not want it. People were not re-filling the Turbo Rocket Fluid tank (<span style="font-style: italic">Turbo Rocket Fluid</span> available at your <span style="font-style: italic">Oldsmobile</span> dealer) and performance would suffer. The fluid is just methanol and distilled water, and is injected into the air stream after the carb to stop detonation (engine is 10.25:1 compression, boost is 5-7 psi). When the fluid runs out, the Turbo waste gate opens to prevent engine damage, so you lost your extra power. There is no Turbo lag due to this design. All detonation control was done mechanically. The more boost, the more fluid injected. The methanol added a little extra kick.
After the Turbos were removed, the cars would change hands, and the history was lost and forgotten. Many were rusted out, crushed, and lost as people did not know they were anything special. Now only a handfull exist.
Jetfire Commercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iieDedNEYuI&amp;index=1&amp;list=HL1375564262)

[olredalert]

----Back in the day everyone that knew anything about these rare little cars called the methanol/water mix &quot;Moose Milk&quot; as it was sort of milky in the GM bottle, I guess.......Bill S

[Stefano]

Kool Car.

[69SSZL1]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: black69</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That is one amazing ride. Outside of the obvious rarity of it, is that power bucket factory? I had a 65 chevelle convert with power buckets, and they only made <span style="font-style: italic">20</span> of those power buckets on that car, so had to ask. </div></div>

Power seat was an option, but was added by the original owner. He said he found a complete assembly in a junk yard back in the day. I have been in contact with him and he has told me a lot about the car. He was taking his 1957 Buick to the dealer to fix a steering leak and saw this car in the showroom that had just arrived. He bought it right off the showroom floor. He owned it from 1962-2003. He took it to the dealer in 1965 and they removed the Turbo and put on a 4bbl. He kept the Turbo stuff.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r206/OAKLYSS/1963%20Jetfire/DSC01471%202_zpsoxiaujzt.jpg (http://s145.photobucket.com/user/OAKLYSS/media/1963%20Jetfire/DSC01471%202_zpsoxiaujzt.jpg.html)

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r206/OAKLYSS/1963%20Jetfire/2%20TURBOROCKET_zpsoxojds4t.jpg (http://s145.photobucket.com/user/OAKLYSS/media/1963%20Jetfire/2%20TURBOROCKET_zpsoxojds4t.jpg.html)

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r206/OAKLYSS/1963%20Jetfire/1%20CAR%20SHIPPER_zpsjmgshxex.jpg (http://s145.photobucket.com/user/OAKLYSS/media/1963%20Jetfire/1%20CAR%20SHIPPER_zpsjmgshxex.jpg.html)

[69SSZL1]

Turbo is not really as complex as it looks, carb is a Rochester model RC, side draft, large bore, single barrel. The methanol injector valve is right behind the fuel filter bowl. The waste gate is safety wired with a lead seal to prevent tampering. People were known to wedge it closed to bring in more boost.


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r206/OAKLYSS/1963%20Jetfire/DSC01479_zpsqj3pigph.jpg (http://s145.photobucket.com/user/OAKLYSS/media/1963%20Jetfire/DSC01479_zpsqj3pigph.jpg.html)

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r206/OAKLYSS/1963%20Jetfire/DSC01671%202%201024x768_zpsdv5l4rxk.jpg (http://s145.photobucket.com/user/OAKLYSS/media/1963%20Jetfire/DSC01671%202%201024x768_zpsdv5l4rxk.jpg.html)

[The Dude]

Explain the process of how they took a convertible body and welded on a Buick roof. It doesnt make sense to me, but I dont know much about these cars. What I do know is GM quarter panels extend to the top of the C pillar with roof skins welded over the inner roof structure. Everything was welded together on a jig. Why would Olds weld together a complete vert body THEN add a roof? Id think Fisher body already had the capacity to build the car, so why was it removed from the regular line to add a roof? Im just trying to understand the process, thanks.

[earntaz]

Are there any performance fiqures? 1/4 mile, top end, etc. ? TAZ

[69SSZL1]

Good question.
The 1962-63 GM Y body quarter panels did not go into the roof at all. You can see the roof seam extend below the top on the quarter panel when you look in the trunk. That is the purpose of the chrome molding along the bottom of the roof on all Skylarks, Cutlass, etc GM Y bodies from those years, is to hide the seam.
It would make sense that it was pulled off the Fisher assembly line, since Fisher did the bodies. The body number for these cars is 3147 is on the trim tag.

[The Dude]

Cool. Know something now that I didnt yesterday. Is much known in the differences in assembly from Southgate to Lansing? Southgate made Buick Skylarks so Id guess they had the capacity to build the Jetfire better than Lansing, which didnt build Skylarks.

[The Dude]

I took some photos of this 62 at the OCA 2014 Nationals.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/jjram69/olds/DSC_0106_zpsb9zc3tud.jpg

[DW31S]

Wow! You sure find some neat stuff and your taste in collector cars is quite diverse! Kudos are definitely in order. Please understand that I'm not knocking you or your car, but those tires just don't (IMO) stack up to the rest of the car. Judging from the pictures, that car is way too nice for those tires. The shipper invoice lists WSW which would look good (better IMO), than those late model RWL. I can't think of a performance type tire that would be era correct, but I REALLY think a set of Gold Line tires that were used on vintage Corvettes would change the entire appearance and attitude of that car. I highly doubt if there is a set of those made in your size, but I can envision them now.........

[69LM1]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CamaroNOS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Greg, you know what this is considered......freakin awesome! Man that is really a piece of art and ultra rare. I really like the car.</div></div>

Best Answer! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

Rich

[442w30]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: earntaz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Are there any performance fiqures? 1/4 mile, top end, etc. ? TAZ </div></div>

It's not muscle car material - I can tell you that.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-Oldsmobile-Jetfire-Turbo-Article-wl7045-E869CP-/370773457718

[earntaz]

Thanks -- still a pretty neat little ride.

[442w30]

http://bringatrailer.com/2016/01/22/worlds-first-production-turbo-1962-oldsmobile-f-85-jetfire/

[Xplantdad]

And a barn find with two extra jugs of the Turbo rocket fluid in the trunk: Clicky here (http://www.hotrod.com/cars/barn-finds/1510-oldsmobiles-lost-turbo-v8-discovered-in-an-illinois-garage/)