Features

• The 1959 Oldsmobile 98 Starfire series remained on the 126-inch wheelbase chassis, but grew nearly 9 inches in length and was 223 inches long. The car was also 3 inches closer to the ground, and while still 59 inches tall, it provided more headroom. The price also increased from $3,655 to $4,366. The car was available as a coupe, sedan or convertible.
  
  

Power Plant

• The 98 had a 394 cubic-inch valve-in-head V-8 engine. All Olds 98 engines were called Rockets. The engine produced 315 horsepower and 435 ft.-lbs. of torque, or pulling power. The engine used a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, which provided an air-and-fuel mixture that was compressed to a 9.75:1 ratio at ignition.
  
  

Power Train

• A hydramatic four-speed transmission was standard on the 98 with rear-wheel drive. The tracking, or distance between wheels, was 61 inches. The differential ratio (times the crankshaft must turn to turn the wheels once) was 3.42. The car used independent coil springs on the front and leaf springs on the rear. The car used a 20-gallon gas tank, and rode on 9-inch-by-14-inch tires.