Sean and his Junkyards and Barn Finds with Sean YouTube channel reveal another Florida classic car find in a new episode. This time, he's in Fort Myers just a few days before Hurricane Ian steams towards this area. Ahead of an informal car show meetup, Sean connects with the owner of a pristine 1965 Oldsmobile Jetstar 88 convertible to discuss its unique place in pop culture history.
A Time Machine Oldsmobile
One look at this gleaming white Oldsmobile easily brings up thoughts of another era. The 1960s are arguably the peak of America's automotive dominance. Fuel economy and emissions rarely came up in conversation and the folks in Detroit operated under the "bigger is better" mentality.
This was also the decade that gave birth to the Pontiac GTO, the vehicle generally credited as the first muscle car. While this Jetstar 88 doesn't have the historical significance of its corporate cousin, the condition and rareness of this Olds still make the car a standout.
Where Limited Production And Celebrity Meet
The '60s were also the height for General Motors, including Oldsmobile. For the 1965 model year, Olds sold 592,804 units across its entire lineup—one of its best years. But, for all this steel leaving the factory, only 2,879 Jetstar 88 convertibles got built. So, check off one for rarity.
But things get more interesting as Sean speaks with Chris, the car's owner, a former radio and TV personality. Through his connections, Chris got Mike Love of The Beach Boys to autograph the Olds' glovebox door, giving the car even more of a 1960s vibe. Chris also reveals that the vehicle provided top-down transportation for some contestants in the 1965 Miss America pageant.
About This 1965 Oldsmobile Convertible
While Chris has only owned his ragtop Olds for six years, he's well-versed in its details and specs. Except for a new convertible top, an exterior respray, replacement dash pad, and aftermarket gauge package, the vehicle is original. Of course, the warm Florida climate and the car's 41,000 original miles don't hurt longevity.
Given this is the Jetstar 88 (the Jetstar 1 was the top-trim), power comes from the standard Jetfire 330-cubic-inch V8 with a two-barrel carburetor. It's paired with an optional two-speed automatic transmission (the same unit Chevy marketed as the Powerglide). The engine was factory rated for 260 horsepower.
Sources: YouTube/Junkyards and Barn Finds with Sean, automobile-catalog.com