The turbo system used a wastegate and pressurized fluid injection, both advanced for the time. In a weird twist, it also had a manual transmission option with a floor-mounted shifter—something that became more performance-oriented later in the decade. The Jetfire was also one of the first cars to pair a high-compression engine with forced induction, a formula that would later be refined in sports cars and tuner machines for years to come.
Our local dentist, now retired, had one. He loved it. He used to tool around town and on the highways. He also had the bucket seats, which if I remember correctly, were standard.
ReplyDeleteWas this the first, or the second? From Wikipedia...The Turbo-Rocket V8 was offered exclusively on the Oldsmobile Jetfire, a special version of the Cutlass compact hardtop coupe, which is noteworthy as it is one of the world's first (in fact the second) turbocharged passenger car ever offered for public sale. The Chevrolet Corvair Spyder Turbo, likewise a forced induction i.e turbo-powered car, predated the Oldsmobile Jetfire Turbo, however by only a few weeks,
ReplyDeleteI was was wondering about the Corvair myself! But I didn't have time when I posted this, to research the comparative dates of the Jetfire and the Turbo Corvair to see if Hotcars.com and Wheelz.me got it right
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