Oldsmobile Concepts 1903-1985

Jump to: bottom of page
		1903 Pirate (Set land-speed record 54.38MPH)

		1953 Starfire X-P Rocket Two-seater was named after Lockheed's F94B Starfire fighter. It included several ideas that would reach production, although not necessarily by Olds: fiberglass bodywork, wraparound windshield, combination bumper-grille and bucket seats. BHP was over 200.

		1954 Cutlass Concept Featured: Aircraft-styled instruments and sleek tailfins.

		1954 F-88 Concept (styling order #2265)

		1955 "88" Delta Concept

		1956 Golden Rocket Featured: Seats that elevated and rotated toward the entering occupant when the door was opened.

		1957 F-88 Concept

		1957 F-88 Concept Mark II

		1959 F-88 Concept Mark III (with retractable hardtop) Built as Harley Earl’s retirement car. Six-speed transmission in the rear with swing axles. (Thanks for this info Owen!).

		1962 X-215 A custom F-85 convertible, this Firefrost silver sportster had a fiberglass tonneau cover incorporating an airfoil section roll bar. Bucket seats, functional air scoops for brake cooling and a concave grille housing regular and long-range driving lights were other features.

		1963 J-TR Featured: Custom interior and exterior colors and materials, cast-aluminum wheels, rectangular headlamps and louvered rocker panels housing stainless steel exhaust outlets. J-TR was a 4 passenger F-85 custom convertible designed for the Chicago Auto Show.

		1963 el-Torero Featured: Multiple coats of Firefrost gold paint on exterior, the interior reflected a Spanish-motif. The presenter wore a cape that matched the gold brocade fabric used to upholster the inside door panels. Two-plus-two white naturally contoured bucket seats accented with red satin striping. El Torero was a custom version of the 1963 Olds 98 convertible.

		1966 Toronado Concept

		1969 442 Apollo Featured: Fireball red paint with black accent stripes and hood panels. Interior featured four metallic red and black leather "contour couches" and head restraints.

		1971 Toronado styling mock ups These cars were made by Olds to test out design concepts for the 71 Toro. Note how the upper and lower fenderlines change and only at the very end do we see the quad headlights. Pictures are in order of early to later works (from mid-year 1968 to December 1968).

		1972 Contessa (Show Car) Featured: Not much is known about this particular car. GM photostore lists it as a show car, so it was likely very close to a production model car, perhaps only had minor visual differences. If anyone has further info on this car, please let me know.

		1977 Mirage J-coupe model This photo was originally posted on Dean's Garage (website), it was one slide that was part of a slideshow likely shown in 1975 as a preview of upcoming 1977 Oldsmobile models.

		1977 Toronado XSR Featured: Electrically retractable t-tops. XS was the production model. XS did not have the power t-tops, but did have the wrap around rear windows which showcased a new 'hot-wire' technology for bending glass.

		1985 FE3-X Calais Concept Featured: 3.0L V6 125HP engine. 16" rims with 225/50VR-16 tires. Monochromatic paint, window tinting, functional aero/ground effects package, headlight and grille covers, front air dam, flush emblems, rocker panel extensions, wheelwell evacuation ducts, brake cooling ducts and an adjustable rear deck spoiler. Was later re-painted to match Aerotech colours (last photo). See this site for more FE3-X info!

		1985 FE3-X Hurst Olds Cutlass Concept (aka Darth Vader) Featured: 5.0L, 307-cid V8 200HP engine. 16" rims with 245/50VR-16 tires. Monochromatic paint, window tinting, functional aero/ground effects package, headlight and grille covers, front air dam, flush emblems, rocker panel extensions, wheelwell evacuation ducts, brake cooling ducts and an adjustable rear deck spoiler. See fe3x.com for info on this car and this site for other general FE3-X info!

		1985 FE3-X Firenza Concept Featured: 2.8L V6 120HP engine. 16" rims with 225/50VR-16 tires. Monochromatic paint, window tinting, functional aero/ground effects package, headlight and grille covers, front air dam, flush emblems, rocker panel extensions, wheelwell evacuation ducts, brake cooling ducts and an adjustable rear deck spoiler. See this site for more FE3-X info!

Jump to: top of page