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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Climate of confusion ... Guest Opinion: A family tragedy revisited ... Learning how to survive ... Our View: Climate of confusion ... Guest Opinion: A family tragedy revisited ... Learning how to survive ... Cars We Remember: 1964 Olds F-85 owner seeks information Comment By Greg Zyla More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Greg Zyla More Content Now Posted Apr. 13, 2015 at 9:35 AM By Greg Zyla More Content Now Posted Apr. 13, 2015 at 9:35 AM » Social News Q: Hi, Greg, I have a 1964 Oldsmobile F-85 two-door sedan, and it came with a 330-inch V-8 engine. I would like to know how many of these were made in 1964. I have seen your columns in newspapers and online for years, and really enjoy them. Through all the years, I have only seen one F-85 like mine for sale in publications like Auto Roundup, Old Car Trader and Deals on Wheels. I am hoping you can help me. Thanks much, Joe E. Phillips, Jonesville, Virginia. A: Joe, thanks for your letter. You have an interesting and rare car on your hands, as most of the questions I receive on the F-85 Oldsmobiles from that era are about the aluminum 215-inch V-8 that appeared in the 1961 to 1963 F85 compact car line. Your 1964 F-85, however, is way different as it grew in size and was the prelude to the great days of the Olds 442, which stood for “four” barrel carb, “four” speed transmission and “dual” (two) exhaust. That big 330-inch V-8 under your hood is either a 230 horsepower engine or the high performance option B-09 powerplant, which stands for the “Police Apprehender Pursuit Package” and develops 310 horses. The standard engine on the F85 was a Buick developed V-6 in 225-inch design, while the 330-inch V-8 was optional. The “police” option was available solely on the F-85 or the Cutlass for 1964, and scooted in underneath strict “no high performance” General Motors edicts of the day. Best part of the deal? You didn’t have to be a policeman to order it, although collectors have found out that few knew about it back then. So, be it the standard 230 horse V-8 or the high performance Police 310 horse V-8, your car in good shape is scarce and in demand by enthusiasts and collectors. Over at Pontiac, John DeLorean and Jim Wangers were doing the same thing, stuffing a 389 with either a four barrel or tri-power two barrels into the Tempest line, which were similar to the mid-size F-85/Cutlass, Chevy Chevelle, and Buick Skylark, all of which ran on intermediate size 115-inch wheelbases. The next year, even the stuffed shirts at GM couldn’t stop the muscle car market from taking off. Specifically, in 1965 Oldsmobile “officially” entered the muscle car era with the 442, where a 400 cubic inch engine sat under the hood developing 345 horsepower with a single four barrel. At that time, GM would not allow anything bigger than a 400-inch powerplant in its mid-size line, as evidenced by Chevelle’s very rare 1965 Malibu SS396; the 1965 Corvette with the 396/425-horse engine; Pontiac still with the 389 in 1965 with its now famous “Little GTO;” and finally “bad boy rule breaker” 1965 Buick Skylark GS 400, which was the only division not to adhere to GM’s mandate on engine size when it stuffed a 401-cubic-inch “Nailhead” V-8 into the Skylark engine bay. Buick got away with this move by advertising the engine as a “400-inch” V-8, much to GM’s dismay when they found out. As for numbers, 167,000 F85s were sold that year, many with the six-cylinder engine. The 330-inch B0-9 V-8 engine, a $285 option, was sold to just 2,999 individuals, police included. That’s a real low number, so if you do have the Police 330 V-8 under your hood, you are sitting on one very collectible car. As for pricing, if your car has “just” the 290 horse engine, its average retail is $11,500 with a high retail of $20,585. If it is indeed a B0-9 police package car, listed by NADA as a “442,” prices of $33,000 average to over $50,000 for a pristine B09 “442” are expected at major car auctions, perhaps even more. Thanks for your letter! Greg Zyla writes weekly for More Content Now and other GateHouse Media publications. Write him with your questions on old cars, auto nostalgia or old-time racing at 116 Main St., Towanda, PA 18848 or at [email protected]. By Greg Zyla More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Greg Zyla More Content Now Posted Apr. 13, 2015 at 9:35 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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