Tech & Auto
What Made Oldsmobile's F-85 Jetfire Engine So Ahead Of The Curve
By JOE CAPRARO
One of the earliest turbo systems was the Jetfire Turbo Rocket add-on that Oldsmobile introduced as an option on the F-85 Cutlass Coupe midway through the 1962 model year.
The Oldsmobile Jetfire System required a mixture of distilled water, methanol, and a special rust inhibitor to be added to a dedicated tank under the hood.
The system boosted the F-85 Jetfire V8’s output to 215 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. The Jetfire was available in 1962 as a station wagon and in 1963 as a coupe.
Paired with the Borg Warner four-speed manual transmission, a 1962 Jetfire-equipped coupe could go from 0 to 60 in 8.5 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 107 mph.
Despite the remarkable boost in performance, it ultimately proved to be too far ahead of its time as owners didn’t drive aggressively and use the turbo system often.
Keeping the Turbo Rocket tank full was also often neglected. Improper care of the tank resulted in the system shutting down.
Oldsmobile began offering owners the option of swapping out the system for a conventional four-barrel carburetor and intake in 1965. This made the F-85 Jetfire engine rare today.