In April 1966, my parents, expecting their third child (me), needed a better family car and bought this Olds. The F-85 Club Coupe was the most basic, least expensive Oldsmobile of 1964. No chrome moldings or plush carpets, just basic transportation. It did have an AM radio and the 330/three-on-the-tree. It served as our family car for the next several years, eventually getting repainted in metallic green and sporting chrome reverse wheels.

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By 1974, Ohio winters were taking their toll and rust was advancing. My father, Chuck, patched all the rust and sourced a high-compression 455, a four-speed, and a posi rear. He painted it Hugger Orange, added '67 GTO seats and console from a friend's recently totaled car, and put on station wagon springs to get the rear end up in the air. We street raced (don't tell Mom!) and cruised the local drag. Great childhood memories.

In 1980 the car was hit and rebuilt, this time with highway gears, cruise control, and a low-compression 455 (as the hi-comp 455 blew up). It was used as our vacation car and traveled the East Coast.

I took ownership from my father in the late 1990s. Since then I have replaced the low-comp 455 with a 1968 Toronado 455, and replaced the transmission with a built Mustang GT five-speed and the rearend with a Moser 9-inch. I also added Appliance wheels of 1970's vintage.

The fact that today she looks like a contemporary build is a credit to my father's taste.