Starfire-Styled, Rocket-Powered!

Detroit in the late Fifties was turning out cars that were getting bigger, brasher and flashier and yet, some would say, less functional in terms of practicality and driving enjoyment. In the styling departments at most of the major manufacturers it was a case of who could out-chrome who, and Oldsmobile was no exception. Along with other GM Divisions, Oldsmobile showed off its latest styling and design ideas at the GM Motorama show of 1953 in the form of the Starfire Convertible. It never saw production, but a number of its features did make it into Oldsmobile designs later on. In 1956, Oldsmobile’s advertising described the new Oldsmobiles as ‘Starfire-styled’, and by 1957 Starfire had become a nameplate on the ‘98 Series Holiday Coupe and Sedan models.

Despite having huge chrome bumpers, chrome strips along each body panel crease and even