The world's first car to be turbocharged was a forgotten V8 muscle car

  • This is the world’s first ever turbocharged car
  • It had a V8 with 215HP and did 0-60 in 9 seconds
  • Only around 3,700 were made

Published on Mar 15, 2025 at 11:14 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis

Last updated on Mar 15, 2025 at 11:14 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Emma Matthews

The world's first car to be turbocharged was a forgotten V8 muscle car

This is the Oldsmobile Jetfire, a half-forgotten V8 muscle car from the 1960s.

The name might not ring a bell, but it probably should.

In a way, the Jetfire has certainly earned its spot in the history books.

That’s because, believe it or not, this was the world’s first turbocharged car.

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The story behind this obscure V8 muscle car

So many people forgot about Oldsmobile, and it’s a shame.

This is the company that gave the world the first muscle car, the Rocket 88, and also the automaker that pioneered futuristic designs in 1980s.

The Oldsmobile Jetfire was based on the much more famous Cutlass, but it had a slightly different design with no pillars and a hardtop.

It was unveiled in 1962 and had a V8 with 215HP, and as the world’s first turbocharged car, it was considered pretty fast at the time.

It did 0-60 in about 9 seconds.

This, of course, is not exactly impressive nowadays.

Unfortunately, it didn’t do too well in market considering Oldsmobile only sold around 3,700 of them.

Turbocharged engines are the norm now

Naturally aspirated engines are becoming rare, and nearly every vehicle is turbocharged these days.

This is largely due to the fact that turbocharging a car is like a cheat code.

You get more power and more torque with a smaller engine, which is also good for emissions, something automakers keep an eye on now.

A couple of years ago, Mercedes launched what is probably the most technically impressive turbocharged engine in the world.

It’s a small 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid unit but, thanks to the turbocharger, it puts out 680HP.

It may be technically brilliant, but customers aren’t loving it.

Sales of the C63, the model that Mercedes chose to introduce the engine, aren’t great, which is why the automaker is bringing back more V8s.

Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.