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Posted

Does anyone know if T-10 4 speeds were available in '61 Olds full size cars, and beyond that if any '61 Olds full size were delivered with a T-10?

Thanks,

John

Posted

I've never heard of one, and shop and parts books don't address it, but I have learned to never say never with GM. Since 61 big Pontiacs could have them, it stands to reason it would work in an Olds too. Aftermarket 51-64 Olds bellhousings are fairly common on ebay if you can't find an OE Olds stick setup.

Posted

In 61, we were living in Oakland Iowa for the summer because my dad was working on a gas pipeline going through the area. Dad was looking at the new Oldsmobiles at the local dealer and I was with him. As a late teen, I was always interested in the new cars. He was looking at a Super 88 4-door holiday and I spotted a Fawn colored Super 88 Holiday Coupe. I looked at it and I will sware to this day it had the long skinny, four speed shifter in it. I know it was a manual trans because it had brake and clutch pedals. Can't swear it was a four speed, but it was a factory looking floor shifter.

Posted

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm the fella who picked up a '61 Olds stick shift station wagon last fall. It is a complete car and my plan was to get it going and then sell it, and put the money into my Pontiacs. I've now got it running and am having a hard time putting it up for sale. I watched a '61 Olds 2 dr. sedan go by on ebay and it didn't sell for very much. Then I watched a '61 88 sport coupe sell; it too didn't go for very much. I've got an extra t-10. Since I do Pontiacs I'm familiar with 3x2 setups. I've been thinking what a neat car a '61 Olds 2 dr sedan or sport coupe with a j2 and a t-10 would be. If I'd picked up either of the two mentioned cars I could have switched out the transmissions, sold the station wagon, and had a really unique '61 Olds muscle car. I'd better sell the darn thing.

Posted

<img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> And what's wrong with a tri-power four-speed wagon?

The trouble with Oldsmobile was that having "invented" the HydraMatic they were pretty proud of it (along with their Ultra High Compression Rocket engine). So they didn't push stick installations much after the early 50s. I read somewhere that usually less than 5% of yearly production was stick shift. Shame too, because Oldsmobile had the engine to push a four-speed, they just didn't see the market coming. By the time they offered 4-speeds in the big cars, it was too little too late. Though I have to admit watching a 1965 or 66 4-speed big Olds stir the gears is exciting - for all their heft, they would flat move. I've heard several A-body musclecar guys say it was all they could do to run with one.

Posted

Edzolz rather than saying "having trouble putting it up for sale" I should have said "having trouble calling the folks who said they want it". I want $2,000 and there are two people who have said they would give me that when I'm ready. Thay may back out and if they do I'll put it on here. If you like I'll put you down as #3 and send you an email or message on this board.

Sour Lake is on Hwy 105 about 20 miles west of Beaumont, towards Cleveland and Conroe. As a historical point it is the home of Texaco and the lake was named Sour Lake because it had oil floating in it.

Posted

Put me down as #3 please. My dad bought a 61 Super 88 and I have liked the 61's ever since. I have a 78 442 now w/4-speed. I'm in Red Oak, Just south of Dallas on I35E. My wifes folks were from Conroe and area.

Posted

Edzolz I've put you down as #3. If the first two back out I will send you a PM on this site. I'm going to look around for a month or three and see what comes up in the way of '61 Olds 2 door cars.

I know well where Red Oak is. We lived in Lancaster in the late 60s and I belonged to a gun club that was near Red Oak.

Posted

Yep that would be the DeSoto skeet and trap club. We used to be able to shoot rifle, pistols and black powder, but the developers are encroaching and the club banned all but shotguns.

  • 8 months later...
Guest D. Yaros
Posted

Do not know anything about the T-10, but can tell you, "back in the day" I did own a 1960 Olds Super 88 with a factory synchromesh 3-speed manual tranny (3 on a tree). It would flat out haul. Put her in 2nd gear and one was thrown back in the seat and catapulted to 95 mph in no time. Ah, those were the days!

Guest Joe_Varley
Posted

There used to be a guy in the OCA by the name of Harry Soenksen. He was from Illinois, the Chicago area I think. He had an absolutely spotless all original '61 Super 88 2 door hardtop with a special ordered engine and factory 4 speed. I first saw the car in '72 or '73 at an OCA Nats. It was light green metallic with a green cloth interior. He had every piece of paperwork with it too--the original dealers order, build sheet, sticker, etc. If I remember correctly, he special ordered it to go Nascar racing in 1960 and Nascar changed the rules for '61 so he could not use it. He kept it, drove it a little in the nice weather and planned to keep it always. Harry died unexpectedly in his 40's back in the 80's and I have never seen the car since. I asked guys from the area about it a few times and was told his son got the car but they did not know what he did with it or where he was located. What an odd car. No PS or PB, 4 speed, posi, etc. It seems the paperwork listed a special Nascar engine option. I know it said something special. It had a large 4 barrel , a lumpy cam, and low restriction pipes, all original. What a neat cart to find now, with the paperwork.

So, yes, Olds did have 4 speeds in 1961.

Joe Varley

OCA # 1448

AZ

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