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24/10/2023 10:58 am
1961 Jackie Kennedy Oldsmobile Starfire
R. E. (Bob) Brown Jr. of Sacramento, California writes:
I thought you might be interested in a '62 that had some famous history to it. The attached picture was taken in the fall of 1961, probably late September or very early October. My father worked for Oldsmobile and was assigned to the Washington D.C. office. Somehow, (the details of this part are lost to time), it was made known to Oldsmobile that Jackie [Kennedy] didn't like to ride in normal cars due to the fact that her hats would hit the headliners. Open cars were not much of an option due to the wind messing up her hair. This would have been sometime late in the 1961 model year. Oldsmobile came up with a solution and the result is what you see in the picture below.
I know that in the book "Setting the Pace", a history of Oldsmobile, it shows a '61 convertible with this roof, but that was what was used to mock-up the top, as both '61 and '62 B bodies are the same above the beltline. If you look at the picture carefully, you see that the roofline is raised about 2 inches above the original hardtop/convertible level.
My father went to Lansing and drove this car back to Maryland, and he told us that he had to be careful because people would not pay attention to their driving while they stared at the car. He also said that Oldsmobile made at least 3 of these roofs, one for the car, one as a spare, and one for an executive in the Lansing home-office. He took us for a ride in the car and it was fun, especially since it rained that day. Imagine sitting in a convertible and not getting wet.
I don't know what happened to the car, but I can guess that it wasn't used after November, 1963. I think it was a normal convertible, you can see the boot covering the top in the picture, so it might have been sold to someone without them knowing the history.
One last comment, that is my father in the passenger seat, with a "cool" 10 year old me with the shades.
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
24/10/2023 11:59 am
I've actually seen/heard of this car before. Based on what transpired of course, this once "well intentioned, thoughtful-gift" automobile connotes an altogether different and visceral reaction today.
One can't help but to ponder just how different America would be today if not for one tragic day 60 years ago.
David Green and John Kuvakas reacted
24/10/2023 12:41 pm
Just inspired me to wonder how that '61-'62 Olds might look with a "formal" roof instead of the plexiglass.
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
24/10/2023 1:14 pm
Interesting story, but I'll take a REAL top.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
24/10/2023 2:40 pm
I love stories about these unique cars, especially when their are family and historic connections.
John Kuvakas reacted
24/10/2023 3:55 pm
........ One can't help but to ponder just how different America would be today if not for one tragic day 60 years ago.
It is interesting but the clear top for the President Kennedy limousine was not bulletproof.
1961 Jackie Kennedy Oldsmobile StarfireR. E. (Bob) Brown Jr. of Sacramento, California writes:....................One last comment, that is my father in the passenger seat, with a "cool" 10 year old me with the shades.
That is a fascinating Oldsmobile and story behind it. And what a memory and picture for that 10 year old !
Jack Dodds and John Kuvakas reacted