The 1962 Starfire could be ordered with a 394 (6.5-liter) V8 – it was Oldsmobile's most powerful engine in 1961 when the carmaker launched the first-generation Starfire.

A niche automobile, the Starfire wasn't as popular as the more common 88 and 98. While the latter moved more than 100,000 units a year, the Starfire found some 42,000 customers in 1962.

The Starfire name laid dormant for the next two years when it was brought back as a standalone series for model year 1961. This new Starfire, considered the first generation of the name, was ...