Sterling With Olds 455 Cubic Inch Engine and Transmission

[Russ]

Based on this entire thread, I think there's a very good chance that THIS is your car(!) It's from a brochure introducing the Sterling GT and my notes say it's from 1984. Fascinating.

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View attachment 9717

Obviously the wheels, new doors, and some other stuff is different, but you said those are things you changed.

But, see... In the bigger story, it has bothered me for years that the photos of the few GTs we know about show different lower side scoops than the car that was pictured in that brochure. That's been so very difficult to reconcile. It's almost like the car in the brochure never actually was reproduced but obviously contributed 99% to the Sterling GT that was actually produced.

The lower side scoop for the car in that brochure -- and your car, which we now think are the same car -- looks like lower scoop from the original Sterling (and Sovran for that matter.)

In the next two photos -- which are definitely of actual Sterling GTs -- Note how the lower side scoop LOOKS like it's higher on the body. It's not. It's an optical illusion from the fact that they made the rocker panel under the scoop a little taller to help hide the lowered floorboards.

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You might have solved the mystery of that car from the brochure. (I never would have bet on that ever being solved.) Ha!

Based on this entire thread, I think there's a very good chance that THIS is your car(!) It's from a brochure introducing the Sterling GT and my notes say it's from 1984. Fascinating.

View attachment 9716

View attachment 9717

Obviously the wheels, new doors, and some other stuff is different, but you said those are things you changed.

But, see... In the bigger story, it has bothered me for years that the photos of the few GTs we know about show different lower side scoops than the car that was pictured in that brochure. That's been so very difficult to reconcile. It's almost like the car in the brochure never actually was reproduced but obviously contributed 99% to the Sterling GT that was actually produced.

The lower side scoop for the car in that brochure -- and your car, which we now think are the same car -- looks like lower scoop from the original Sterling (and Sovran for that matter.)

In the next two photos -- which are definitely of actual Sterling GTs -- Note how the lower side scoop LOOKS like it's higher on the body. It's not. It's an optical illusion from the fact that they made the rocker panel under the scoop a little taller to help hide the lowered floorboards.

View attachment 9718

View attachment 9719

You might have solved the mystery of that car from the brochure. (I never would have bet on that ever being solved.) Ha!

Wow , the car in the brochure is my car ... It had red gelcoat and a cream colored interior when I got it . The first owner had a Mazda RX7 rotary engine in it which I didn't like [it sounded like an outboard motor ] so I pulled it out and upgraded .

 

[Nic]

Hi Russ - Thanks for sharing your car. It's amazing that after all these years we, the community, are still finding fascinating examples. Out of curiosity, where are you in the world?

 

[Russ]

Hi Russ - Thanks for sharing your car. It's amazing that after all these years we, the community, are still finding fascinating examples. Out of curiosity, where are you in the world?

HI , I live in California near Fresno .

 

[Nic]

I'm just a few hours from you, in Concord.

 

[sector]

Looks like you went to the other side of the spectrum by switching from the rotary, low torque but very light engine to 455 beast with hight torque and very heavy cast iron block.
Just curious, what made you choose that setup over any other more compact front will drive setup? Seems like there are plenty of other high power FWD options available.

 

[Russ]

I chose the big block V8 engine back in the 80's before all the high powered , low weight , front wheel drive cars started to appear . The giant Toronado engine / trans seemed like the ultimate powerplant to stuff into the back of a Sterling .

 

[455SterlingProject]

Semi old thread resurrection. #SemiSorry. But i have now come into ownership of this Beast/Project. As far as i can tell. Russ sold it to a guy named Cole. It then sat in the driveway untouched for 6ish months before posting it to Bring-A-Trailer where i picked it up. One trailering from Santa Rosa Cali to Atlanta later its now in my hands. The transporter who brought it said that he was the one who delivered it to Cole originally. Was in the same spot he delivered it in.

No idea why Cole never got it going. Less then an hour of tinkering (without the key even) i got it running and idling. She needs a ton of work and tlc but she wants to run and live and i plan on doing the best i can for her.

Russ, if you see this message or email thread ping. I would love to get in contact with you. The seller has been nearly mute to me and i have ZERO info on it. I also sent you an email to the email you listed in the for sale ad here.

I'll make a thread for this build alone in the coming days/weeks maybe. If anyone's interested lol. Cheers~

 

[letterman7]

Welcome aboard. Some of us have been following the story on that car. You've seen the possible history in this thread and history buffs like me simply cringe about the "doors" that were added. Good luck with your (re)build.