Missouri Barn Find: 1961 Oldsmobile F85 Deluxe Station Wagon

If there's one style of car I've always wanted to collect, it's classic American station wagons. Growing up, my parents owned a 1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser in maroon; I loved the third-row seats and the overall styling. Classic American station wagons are up-and-up in the collector-car market, and a station wagon is the perfect style of classic people-hauler. This 1961 Oldsmobile F85 station wagon is a two-row model with desirable air conditioning that was a Missouri barn find. Check it out here in West Allis, Wisconsin, with an asking price of $8,000.

Introduced in 1961, the F85 was Oldsmobile's new senior compact Y-body car, sharing a platform and similar styling to Pontiac's Tempest and Buick's Special. Measuring two-feet shorter and costing $451 less than the next smallest Oldsmobile, the F85 came initially in two styles: a four-door sedan or a four-door station wagon, both of which came in base or Deluxe trim. After initial sales were dismal, a two-door sedan and a sport coupe (named Cutlass) were introduced in May. This F85 is a station wagon model, and is one of 1,283 built for the 1961 model year. Rescued from a barn in Missouri, this F85 station wagon appears to be fairly solid and straight. The front edge of the hood does have some surface rust, and there are spots missing paint altogether, but the rest of the paint presents fairly well. Additionally, the tailgate leaks and fills up with heavy rain in the rear well, and the front bumper is wavy and has tow-bar marks in it; a new bumper and a NOS tailgate gasket is included. Chrome reverse wheels with spider caps look pretty cool, and the seller offers uprated 14-inch wheels at extra cost. I also dig the chrome roof rack and overall lines of the car. I would drive this car for a while as-is before springing for a repaint.

What distinguished the F85 from GM's other Y-body senior compacts was the fact that the F85 came with a V8 standard. This one is the standard 215 two-barrel V8, rated at 155 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. Backed by the automatic transmission, the transmission slips from first to second gear when driven gently (the seller thinks it needs a TP rod adjustment), and the transmission also leaks from the rear seal and pan gasket. The exhaust also leaks at the y-pipe, and there's a rattle at the rear exhaust hanger due to the muffler being welded in wrong; a new y-pipe is included, and I would source and install a new muffler. Air conditioning is  one of the nicest options on the car, but the compressor is currently removed due to the steering box needing adjustment (to do so, the compressor and hoses for the A/C need to be removed). On the plus side, the 215 two-barrel benefits from a new water pump, A/C belts, a fully-rebuilt and balanced two-piece driveshaft, new rear air shocks, new rubber brake hoses, a flushed brake system, new front wheel grease seals and bearing repack, and NOS valve seals. I would fix the rest of the drivetrain and source a stock air cleaner to replace the aftermarket one.

Remember when interiors looked as good as this? Inside, this F85 station wagon boasts tri-tone vinyl upholstery, which appears to have aged nicely. There is some wear and mouse damage on the passenger side of the carpet up front, the clock doesn't work currently, the electric rear window only goes down partially due to deteriorated window channel felt (which bunches up in the track, and there are some water stains in the back where the tailgate leaks. I would fix the carpet, address the window, and at a later date replace the carpet and vinyl in the rear cargo area. Otherwise, everything else presents very well, and the rear cargo area is very cavernous. Though in need of a few things, this 1961 Oldsmobile F85 station wagon is a cool, unique automobile from a time that is still missed even today. This would be a great cruiser and or project for any classic car enthusiast. What are your thoughts on this rare F85 station wagon?