61 88

[86 2dr.ltd]

I've always been set back by the 60 Impala I must confess. I've always wondered if Oldsmobile or Buick used this roof line. Now I guess I know. I really , really like this model. What do you guys think ? Anything you can tell about it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayIS...p;category=6406

Maybe someday.

[rocketraider]

Other than the Slim Jim these cars weren't bad mechanically. 394 in general seem to have valve guide problems, but that's usually due to the knurling wearing down.

I don't think this is a $5500 car judging by the amount of trim it's missing, and it needs paint. 61 stuff isn't easy to find either as it's one of the forgotten Oldsmobiles. But boy what lookers- you think this one is cool, ever seen a 61 Ninety Eight sport coupe? They had an angled C-post and were really tough looking cars.

[86 2dr.ltd]

61 98 sport coupe ? Dont think so. We were looking at some interesting models a while back but they were Starfires or Jetstars. Still so confusing to me. This roof line as the Impalas is so sleek looking. I bet no one survived rollovers though. I've got some files started on floppys of Buicks and Oldsmobiles that catch my eye. Eventually I will get a better handle on the models and years.

Unless the body and undercarraige is excellent its definantly over priced but hard to find. Really doesnt look to bad with out stainless but lowers value. What a great era of cars though. Just dont see many early 60's. Theres one guy around here that was campaining a lone 60 Impala. Sitting in a row with the 63 & 64's it just made them look so plain. I always like them too but when they sit next to a 60 the 60 draws your eyes away.

I may have a drawing of a 98 sport coupe on the front of an old Kanters catalog. Seems like it might have had a rear roofline like the early Rivieras but it had the BIG side mouldings like I believe belong on this 61' 88.

Is this car lowered ? Missing taillenses?

[66400]

The roofline on the '61 98 Olds had thin rear pillar posts and lots of rear glass area, had a very open look about it. Henry

[Centurion]

I love the '61 full-size GM cars. These were beautiful designs with sculptured bodysides that make the '63 and '64 models seem quite conservative in comparison. The '61 big Olds is very rarely seen. There was a gorgeous '61 Super 88 2-door hardtop for sale several months ago that certainly lit my fire. If I can dig up the photos I received via e-mail, I will post them here.

I must confess that I also have a fondness for that fantastic "C"-Body 2-door hardtop roofline used only on the '61 Olds 98, Buick Electra and Cadillac Coupe deVille. If I could add another car . . .

By the way, the '61 Olds 88 2-door hardtop roofline was shared by the '61 Chevrolets, Pontiacs, and Buick LeSabres and Invictas, as well as the '62 Bel Air. This is a different roofline than that used on all GM '59 and '60 2-door hardtops, including the '60 Impala you've mentioned. The concept, however, is quite similar.

Here's the '61 roofline again, this time on a '61 Buick Invicta:

[Centurion]

I found a photo of that beautiful '61 Super 88. As I recall, this one was for sale for around $13,000, and it's now marked "sold". The trunk and engine compartment were far from perfect, but it was a sharp car in a great '61 color.

[Centurion]

Okay, I got a little carried away, but here's one of the few website photos of that unique 2-door roofline offered only on the '61 98, Buick Electra and Cadillac. This example is, of course, the Cadillac.

[rocketraider]

Thanks for all the gorgeous pics, Brian. I've never seen a 61 Buick in that shade of red before. Olds called it Garnet Mist and Pontiac was Marimba Red. Buick?

Was the Fawn Mist 61 Olds out of New Jersey? If so, I saw it at Fall Charlotte and was mighty impressed. You rarely see them in any condition.

And a 61 Caddy is also a favorite car.

My next carp as always- WHY can't they build cars like that now?! I keep forgetting- they'd cost $60,000.

[Centurion]

Rocketraider, I'm not sure where that '61 Super 88 was located, but it certainly looks sharp. I think that the '61 88's look great even in basic-level 4-door sedan form.

Buick called that color "Rio Red" in '61. This car is owned by a friend of mine who picked it up in 2001 from the original owner with only 23,000-miles. The car has the seldom-seen triple-color "jewel tone" vinyl bucket seat interior, but is, oddly, a radio delete car.

And, yes, I agree with you about the '61 Cadillacs. Apart from the first FWD Eldorados of '67 and '68, it is one of the few Cadillacs of the 1960's that holds great appeal for me. I find that I generally prefer the B-O-P cars in the '60's-era styling department.

1961 marked the final year for General Motors' Motorama, and I wish I could roll back the clock and admire all of those stunning designs. At least I have several great memories from the fall of 1960. I was a car-crazy 7-year old, and loved it when Mom and Dad brought home a brand new '61 F-85 for a test drive. I distinctly remember inspecting the trunk of a new '61 Catalina sedan in the showroom, and I'll never forget the new-car smell of the '61 LeSabre that became ours. General Motors, whatever happened to you?

[86 2dr.ltd]

Thanks for the pictures and info Mr. Laurance <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> . They'll be in with some of those 70's B body you sent me last year. I'm a little anoid I didnt get pictures of the Starfires and Jetstars Glenn and I were looking at on ebay last year.That Invictas a beauty. Interesting that Buick Olds have a similar width center contour with the point at opposite ends . If you parked two back to back it would make for an interesting photo. Whats the Buick grill and tail look like ?

One of the coolest things I noticed at car shows about these earlier years was the 2 tone steering wheels with chrome and all the contours in them. Nothing like a painted dash with individual gauges and chrome accents also.

I believe maybe in another 10 years I would love to save an early 60's Buick/Olds unless that GenII Riv or Gen I Toro interfere but I'm really getting taken by these now. Its a whole nother kind of car where the later 60's & 70's were more fimilar slowly fading glory.

[Centurion]

The early '60's GM cars really seem to be catching on with collectors at present. One well-known Buick parts vendor who sells at many of the swap meets said recently that he was seeing greater demand for '61 - '62 parts than for any other years.

[86 2dr.ltd]

OK I started my early 60's Gm file is the eBay car I found that started this thread properly labeled as a Dynamic 88 ?

The Caddy is? Coupe Deville ?

[rocketraider]

I don't see any DeVille scripts on the Cadillac so I'll say it is a Series 62. I believe DeVilles also had longer tail ends. I know Caddy offered long and short deck versions of the hardtop sedans in 61 and 62.

[Centurion]

I couldn't resist posting a photo of another '61 Olds that is currently for sale on Ebay. This is the very unique 4-window 4-door hardtop offered only on the '61 Olds 98, Buick Electra and Cadillac. My impression is that this body style was produced in far smaller numbers than the 6-window style. This particular car is really loaded with factory A/C, power windows and vents, Guidematic, etc. It's a neat car, although I don't agree with the exterior color change to blue.