Photo: Napoli Classics
I don't want to start a debate about which was the first car to come with a turbo system in the production phase because many people believe it was the Corvair Monza Spyder Turbo, so I'll call the Oldsmobile Jetfire "one of the first" to adopt this concept.
The turbocharged engine, known as the Turbo-Rocket, was seen by many as a revolution. It developed 215 horsepower and 30% more torque than its non-turbo system.
However, despite the performance boost, the new engine, which Oldsmobile described as "the first of its kind and full of surprises," was indeed full of surprises. One of them was the presence of a special tank with rocket fluid, whose purpose was to cool the system. Many customers found it overwhelming, as they already had a tank to fill, so some forgot to put the rocket fluid, which was a mix of methyl alcohol and water, into the special tank.
When the car ran out of this special mix, it entered a low-power mode, leaving the Jetfire without the highly praised power boost. Oldsmobile's brilliant idea backfired when people started bringing the car back to the dealer due to the power loss. The carmaker eventually decided to install a four-barrel carburetor instead of the turbo system.
One of the Jetfires still fitted with the original turbo is now looking for a new home, with the folks at Napoli Classics claiming it's one of the only 50 units in existence. It's because most owners installed the four-barrel carburetor, and of the remaining Jetfires with a turbo, most were eventually abandoned, God knows where.
This Oldsmobile has the original turbo, which is unaltered and untouched. It still works, with the car exhibiting a flawless condition thanks to a frame-up restoration. I won't comment much on the car's shape because it's obvious you won't find anything to complain about, and it's clear that this Jetfire's main selling point is the original Garrett turbo system. It also comes with the original rocket fluid bottle.
The engine starts and runs, but this is not a surprise, considering the car has already been restored. The vehicle is in tip-top shape and is ready for someone's garage, with the odometer indicating approximately 75K miles (120K km).
As anyone can expect, this Jetfire doesn't sell cheaply, though many people would've expected it to be even more expensive, considering how rare it is (the garage says Oldsmobile produced only 3,765 units in 1962, and only 50 are still alive today). The garage in charge of finding a new owner wants $39,000 for the car, with financing options also available. You can see the Oldsmobile in person in Milford, Connecticut, and it'll be interesting to see how long the vehicle remains available.
However, despite the performance boost, the new engine, which Oldsmobile described as "the first of its kind and full of surprises," was indeed full of surprises. One of them was the presence of a special tank with rocket fluid, whose purpose was to cool the system. Many customers found it overwhelming, as they already had a tank to fill, so some forgot to put the rocket fluid, which was a mix of methyl alcohol and water, into the special tank.
When the car ran out of this special mix, it entered a low-power mode, leaving the Jetfire without the highly praised power boost. Oldsmobile's brilliant idea backfired when people started bringing the car back to the dealer due to the power loss. The carmaker eventually decided to install a four-barrel carburetor instead of the turbo system.
One of the Jetfires still fitted with the original turbo is now looking for a new home, with the folks at Napoli Classics claiming it's one of the only 50 units in existence. It's because most owners installed the four-barrel carburetor, and of the remaining Jetfires with a turbo, most were eventually abandoned, God knows where.
This Oldsmobile has the original turbo, which is unaltered and untouched. It still works, with the car exhibiting a flawless condition thanks to a frame-up restoration. I won't comment much on the car's shape because it's obvious you won't find anything to complain about, and it's clear that this Jetfire's main selling point is the original Garrett turbo system. It also comes with the original rocket fluid bottle.
The engine starts and runs, but this is not a surprise, considering the car has already been restored. The vehicle is in tip-top shape and is ready for someone's garage, with the odometer indicating approximately 75K miles (120K km).
As anyone can expect, this Jetfire doesn't sell cheaply, though many people would've expected it to be even more expensive, considering how rare it is (the garage says Oldsmobile produced only 3,765 units in 1962, and only 50 are still alive today). The garage in charge of finding a new owner wants $39,000 for the car, with financing options also available. You can see the Oldsmobile in person in Milford, Connecticut, and it'll be interesting to see how long the vehicle remains available.
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