1963 Oldsmobile F85 Specifications

• 1963 was the final year that Oldsmobile offered the F85 as a compact car. The car's size was increased to the intermediate class for the 1964 model to compete with Ford's popular Fairlane line and in an effort to boost disappointing sales. Even before the 1964 change, the car had already been lengthened in 1963 as a sign of things to come. The F85 was produced for a total of 36 years. However, the first generation of the F85, which included the 1963 model, has steadily been increasing in popularity among collectors.

Body Styles and Model Numbers

• The 1963 F85 was offered as either a coupe or a convertible. The coupe was assigned model number 3117, while the convertible was assigned model number 3167. Both styles were available only with four doors.

Dimensions and Weight

• The dimensions were the same for both body styles. The F85 was 192.2 inches long, 73.4 inches wide and 52.7 inches tall. Its wheelbase was 112 inches long. The front and rear tread width was 56 inches. The coupe weighed 2,858 lb. The convertible weighed 2,833 lb.

Engine

• Both the coupe and the convertible were equipped with the 215 cubic inch V-8 engine. The engine featured a 3.500-inch bore and a 2.796-inch stroke. The 215's compression ratio was a moderate 10.25:1. The 215 produced 185 horsepower at 4,800 rpm and 230 foot-pounds of torque at 3,200 rpm. The 215 was available only with hydraulic lifters. As with most Oldsmobile products of the time, the 215 was equipped with a single Rochester dual downdraft carburetor.

Brakes and Suspension

• Both models were equipped with duo-servo self-adjusting drum brakes that were 9.50 inches in diameter. Power brakes were optional equipment. The front suspension system consisted of an independent ball joint with coil springs. The rear suspension utilized coil springs.

Optional Equipment

• The following equipment was optional for the 1963 F85: radio, power antenna, power steering, automatic transmission, power brakes, air conditioning and power seats.

Base Price and Production Numbers

• The base price of the coupe was $2,971. The convertible's base price was $2,889. There were 41,343 coupes produced and 12,149 convertibles were produced.