1965 Oldsmobile Resources

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1965 Oldsmobile Service Manual – Covers All Models
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1965 Oldsmobile Service Manual

1965 Oldsmobile Wiring Diagrams
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1965 Oldsmobile Wiring Diagrams

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• Starfire
• Series 98
• Jetstar 1
• Delta 88
• Dynamic 88
• Jetstar 88

1965 Oldsmobile Facts – Body Paint Color Codes

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1965 Oldsmobile 

1965 Oldsmobile Facts and Specifications

General Year Information – 1965 Oldsmobile Facts

All 1965 Olds models featured all new styling and engineering. 88, Jetstar, Jetstar I and Starfire models featured more rounded styling than previous years with Coke-bottle profiles and semi-fastback rooflines on Holiday coupes while Jetstar I and Starfire coupes got a more rounded variation of the squared-off 1963–64. The 98 featured many of the lines found on the B-Body cars but with more squared off styling.

This year the new 425 CID Super Rocket V-8 was introduced. It had horsepower ratings ranging from 300 to 370. A new three-speed Turbo Hydramatic transmission replaced the Roto-Hydramatic used since 1961. Also new to the option list for 1965 on all B-body cars was a 4-speed manual transmission with Hurst floor shifter.

98 Series
The 1965 Ninety-Eight was completely restyled from the ground up. The Ninety-Eight featured many of the lines found on the 88 series but with more squared off styling. The Series had five body styles. Surprisingly, the Custom Sport Coupe was gone and the 4-door 6-window body styles were replaced with 4-door 4-window body styles. The Luxury Sedan was no longer a hardtop but still featured a more luxurious interior and had more standard amenities than the Town Sedan – for example – power seats. Most 98 Luxury Sedans also were fitted with a vinyl roof, which was offered in black only this year. For the first time since 1962 all hardtops were once again called Holidays.

A new three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission with torque converter replaced the three-speed Roto-Hydramatic. The engine was the new 425 CID Super Rocket V-8 that was a more efficient design than the 394 CID Rocket V-8 previously used, and more powerful yet lighter in weight. The four-barrel “Ultra High Compression” version of this engine was rated at 360 horsepower. Ninety-Eight models were built in Lansing. only

Starfire
The Starfire also received new styling, while the Starfire Coupe still had a modified version of the 1963–1964 roofline with an inversely curved rear window. This hardtop Sports Coupe body-style was shared with the Jetstar I. The new version of the Rocket V-8 engine was offered generating 375 HP at 4800 RPM – the most powerful engine in the Oldsmobile lineup. The Starfire also received the new three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Added to the option list for the first time on Starfire models and other B-body cars was the 4-speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter.

Jetstar I
The Jetstar I, like all other full-size Oldsmobiles, was completely restyled for 1965 with bodylines receiving a more rounded rendition of the 1964’s squared-off roofline. Also new for 1965 was the 425 CID V-8 engine and the new Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. The new 425 with 370 horsepower. Oldsmobile boasted in a 1965 press release that “a Jetstar I proved to be the top accelerator of the entire event” at the 1965 Pure Oil Performance Trials in Daytona Beach. Those trials were sanctioned and supervised by NASCAR.

The 370 horsepower Starfire V-8 was the largest and most powerful V8 in Oldsmobile’s market segment in 1965. Buick produced 360 horsepower from its largest V-8 even with dual four-barrel carburetors, Chrysler topped out at 413 cubic inches and 360 horsepower and Mercury offered with a 390 cubic-inch V8 of as much as 330 horsepower except for buyers willing to pay an additional $700 for an optional 427 CID V-8 with dual four-barrel carbs and 425 horsepower.

Trimmed down 65 pounds to 3,963 pounds and equipped with the new 370 HP  425 CID Starfire engine – it turned the 1965 model into an overlooked performance car. The equivalent power was only available in a Grand Prix or other full-size Pontiac via the top-of-the-line 376 HP 421 CID HO Tri-Power engine, a $376 option.

Although the Jetstar I was priced similar to the Grand Prix, unless one bought the basic model, there was little incentive for an Oldsmobile buyer to purchase one over the Starfire. Adding power steering ($107), power brakes ($43), and automatic transmission ($242.10) – all standard on the Starfire – brought the Jetstar I’s $3602 base price within $150 of the $4,148 Starfire, without its genuine leather interior and distinctive exterior trim. On the other hand, the performance-minded could elect for the comparatively plain and 200 pounds lighter Jetstar I. Often confused with its lesser brethren, the low-priced Jetstar 88 series, the Jetstar I concluded its two-year run with only 6,552 sold in 1965.

Jetstar 88
The Jetstar group continued to be the bottom line of the 88 Series offerings in 1965. Styled just like the Dynamic and Delta 88, it was merely slightly de-chromed and the interiors were more plain. Otherwise, the main difference was still that it utilized the new for 1964 330 Cid V-8 in lieu of the other B-Body model’s 425 Cid V-8, and also did not have the advantage of the new Turbo Hydra-Matic – choices made, supposedly to keep the costs down. it was available with the newly available 4-speed transmission.

Delta 88
The Delta name in 1965 was an upscale trim line of the Dynamic 88, the Dynamic 88 Delta, replacing the previous top-series B-body Olds, the Super 88. Early ’65s were referred to as Dynamic 88 Deltas, but within a few weeks after the start of the model year, Olds began marketing the line as a separate series known as the Delta 88. Other full-sized Oldsmobile model lines included the low-priced Jetstar 88, the volume-selling Dynamic 88, sporty Jetstar I and the sporty and luxurious Starfire, all riding on a 123-inch (3,124 mm) wheelbase. Oldsmobile had some marketing successes naming the Starfire after a United States Air Force fighter  Starfire F-94  and tried the approach again, naming the Delta 88 after the  F-102 Delta Dagger.

About the 425 CID V-8
The 425 shared many components with the smaller 330 CID V8 introduced in 1964 for Oldsmobile mid-sized cars, was lighter in weight than the previous 394 despite the increase in displacement. It included bigger valves and improved cooling capabilities. You can learn about the 425 by viewing this Press document released by Oldsmobile HERE.

The Turbo Hydra-Matic 400
Also new was the three-speed Turbo Hydramatic 400 transmission, which was considered a vast improvement over the previous three-speed Roto Hydra-Matic, whose basic design dated back to the original Hydra-Matic introduced in 1940. You can learn about the T-440 from this article HERE.

Note on Station Wagons
1964 was the last year for  Oldsmobile to offer full-sized station wagons until the 1971 model year. The division recognized that families wanting wagon s were likely younger and more tuned into the new mid-sized car, so they introduced the new Vista Cruiser wagon in 1965.  It featured a raised roofline and skylights over the rear seat and cargo area. The models were offered with six- or nine-passenger seating. The Vista Cruiser used a six-inch stretched wheelbase version of the mid-sized car.

1965 Oldsmobile Facts – Powertrain Options

• • A three-speed manual transmission was standard on the Jetstar 88, Dynamic 88, Delta 88, and Jetstar I.
  • A four-speed manual transmission was optional on the Jetstar 88, Dynamic 88, Delta 88, Jetstar I and Starfire.
  • A two-speed automatic transmission was optional on the Jetstar 88 and not available on others.
  • The 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic was optional on Dynamic 88 & Delta 88 Series, and standard on 98 and Starfire. It was not available on the Jetstar 88.
  • The base Jetstar 88 motor was a 260-horsepower 330 CID V-8.
  • The optional  Jetstar 88 motor was a 310-horsepower 330 CID V-8.
  • The base Dynamic 88 & Delta 88 motor was a 310-horsepower 425 CID V-8.
  • The “Low Compression” Dynamic 88 & Delta 88 motor was a 300-horsepower 425 CID V-8.
  • The standard powerplant on the 98 was the 360 horsepower 425 CID V-8. It was optional on the Dynamic 88 & Delta 88.
  • The 370 horsepower V-8 was standard on the Jetstar I and Starfire Only. It was optional on the Dynamic 88, Delta 88 and 98 (on the Dynamic 88, Delta 88 and 98, it was only available with automatic transmission).

1965 Oldsmobile Facts – Significant Options

Prices where known – some options standard on Series 98 & Starfire

• • Air conditioning ($441).
  • Backup lights, Jetstar 88 ($11).
  • Clock ($16).
  • Convenience lamps ($8).
  • Courtesy lamps ($9).
  • Cruise control ($91).
  • Outside mirror ($5).
  • Outside mirror, remote control.
  • Power antenna ($27).
  • Power brakes ($45).
  • Power seats ($71).
  • Power steering ($109).
  • Power windows ($106).
  • Radio, AM/FM ($165).
  • Radio, push button ($88).
  • Rear speaker ($21).
  • Rear window defogger ($22).
  • Seat belts.
  • Tilt steering ($44).
  • Tinted glass ($44).
  • Trunk release ($10).
  • Two-tone paint ($21).
  • Windshield washer ($5).