Questions about... a Toronado!

[pabster]

Howdy folks,

This question may be heresy, but here goes. I've seen an old Olds Toronado near where I live, looks to be the late 60's body style (see below- not the actual car). I talked to the owner a while ago, and he sounded like he just wanted to get rid of it, sounds like I could get a stealin' deal on taking it off his hands. Body looks pretty solid, haven't driven it yet or even seen inside yet.

So before I start looking at this seriously, does anyone on this board have an opinion on these? Yeah, I know it's not a Mopar, but I've always loved the look of the swoopy 2 door pimpmobile that is the Toronado. Are they total dogs, are they solid, are they worth bothering with?

If anyone has any input, I can post pictures when I take some and what he's asking for it when I find out. Thanks for the input, folks- please try to keep the "everything by every other manufacturer sucks" stuff to a minimum if possible.

 

[Cranky]

The first gen came with either a 425 or a 455...neither were dogs but the 455 ran much better. If I'm going to have a GM product like that, I'm going after the Ry Vera!

 

[WP29440SE]

some of them were front wheel drive, i dont recall the years

 

[Cranky]

All of them were FWD....

 

[Budnicks]

I think that is a 67-68 in the photo, My step dad Bob had a 66 Toronado, Gold with Black leather interior, he was a GM/Mopar/Ford guy too... They are cool big roomy old cars, big gas pigs too, pretty powerful depending on which engine it has, they were rated by torque #s instead of cubic inches, they are Torque pigs, they are also Front Wheel drive & anything related to the front suspension & transmissions will be costly, if repairs are ever needed, they are really nice driving big cars thou, kind of float like a boat, kind of torque-steer in the windy corners/mountains thou, typical FWD stuff, good tires & good gas shocks will help some, with the handling... I'm not sure how much stuff is available for them, if any stuff is even reproduced, maybe Original Parts Group OPG, I've had some 442's 64-65, but never a Toronado, maybe OPG would have some reproduction stuff, they have allot of stuff for the big Chevy's, Pontiac's, Caddy's, Buick's & some other GM/Olds stuff.... Good luck, do some research before buying, get familiar with the product & availability of products/parts etc...

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The first gen came with either a 425 or a 455...neither were dogs but the 455 ran much better. If I'm going to have a GM product like that, I'm going after the Ry Vera!

I love the early Riv's too, 63-65's especially...

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prior to the FWD era

 

[RustyRatRod]

I love those. My uncle (RIP) had a 70 with a 455. That thing would literally broil the front hides till you got tired of it. Those cars coupled two of the best engines and transmissions GM ever made, IMO. Actually though, I prefer the Nailhead. They are just different. You know Jay Leno did a car like that. Put some kinda stroked LS motor in one and converted it to RWD. Awesome body style. I say if it's in any kinda decent condition, grab it.

 

[WP29440SE]

All of them were FWD....

thanks Cranky i wasnt sure, tells you how much i've pay attention to them LOL

 

[Dennis H]

I too love the body style. No floor hump! I grew up across the street from an Oldsmobile Dealer. A freind has about ten of them.

 

[super-bee_ski]

My girlfriend's Mom and Dad had one in 1970.
I got to drive it once or twice.
Incredible ride quality.
NOTE: By yesterdays standard. But, truly a nice car. Yes All were FWD as Cranky noted.
I do know this...
Some service issues were prominent with the FWD system.
But yeah, a 17 year old kid driving his "gal" in that car was...swell!
Well made, a "pre-runner" to the FWD Eldorado Cadillac. (Hence forth the name Toronado)
I think a Stephen King movie debuted one. "He" was a writer, his "dark-side" OR alter-ego took over.
The car was all black.
Bumper sticker? : "High tone Son of a Bitch"

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Rusty's correct!
I could literally "fry" the front tires. LOL

PS: Pabster, I do remember "it was thirsty"

 

[Propwash]

Weight: 4,496lbs...Needed a 455 to get moving. BawwOOOOgga!

'68 RR....#3,450

 

[super-bee_ski]

Yeah,
It definitely sounded like a Quadrajet opening up.
I remember it well.
1. Leather seats (I'd never seen Leather before in a car)
2. AC (Nope, we did not have AC in my moms 69 VW)
3. Electric seats. (The seats move by them selves ? ...Huh? )
4. It was truly "quiet" inside the car.
5. AM / FM stereo sound (Unheard of in a 69 VW)
6. Power EVERYTHING!
7. Tinted windows...
I do remember not wanting to get out of the car.

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FROM: Cars On Line:

Oldsmobile Toronado 455 engine. 1969 Toronado offered with brand new, period correct Michelin radials, new paint from bumper to bumper. The interior is show room new. Car has a telescoping steering wheel, tilt steering, and power front seat, innovative for its time. The dash is outer space elegance, unique rolling drum speedometer. Finned drum brakes are a design element visible, steel wheels. Headlights are power folding and work great. Front wheel drive, hefty 455 engine with 375 HP. A/C is not connected but parts are present. Engine & ride- smooth and quiet. Brand new battery. Luxury car with the soul of a muscle car.
Price - $ 8,600 lets talk if you're serious about owning this luxury muscle car

 

[sublimegtx]

4th time trying to post reply...no posts for me, Had an early 80's was a nice luxury car and it went pretty good. Could blast right through snowbanks with all the weight over the fwd

 

[67 coronet]

when new they where not bad cars.however,they have far too many specialized parts that break very easy and are a nightmare money pit as far as i am conserned.my buddy tore the front out of one and put it in the back of a d50 pickup.widdened the whole truck 6 inches to make it work.he developed one of the first aluminum cnc machines,ya he was a math wiz engineer.prob still find pics of it online,ran the show circuit several years ago.

 

[egrand1508]

Yep, all Toros were FWD. They shared their drivetrain with the Eldorados and GMC motorhomes. Rivs were RWD until 1979, but used body parts with the Toros. FWD parts are hard to find, but they are pretty reliable. I've got a buddy with a GMC motorhome and those guys scavage Toros for parts a lot. Trim parts are hard to find too.

They were great cars, I nearly bought one in the early 90s. They drive really nice for late 60's luxury barges. As has already been said the 455 and Hydramatic were some of GM's best. A few issues that I know about: these cars are a lot heavier in the front end then the back. They eat front tires pretty fast, especially cheap ones. The brakes were probably ok by 1968 standards, but they are kinda scarry now. As has been said, they do suck down gas, but the 455's don't need lead additive. And, I know this because I did it, most big Olds' from that era had big hoods that are heavy. Be careful pulling down the hood with rusty hinges as you can bend the hood in half real easy. I did it to a 71 98 and it left a big crease half way across.

 

[Budnicks]

You know Jay Leno did a car like that. Put some kinda stroked LS motor in one and converted it to RWD. Awesome body style. I say if it's in any kinda decent condition, grab it.

yep a 66 Riviera, RWD, full C-5 Corvette style Chassis/suspension, with a bad boy/twin turboed massive inter-cooler, trick 1000+hp Chevy V8.... It was on the old show Rides I think...

 

[egrand1508]

[video=youtube_share;zO4FNkQWkMk]http://youtu.be/zO4FNkQWkMk[/video]

 

[RustyRatRod]

Yeah I knew I remember it bein a Toronado.

 

[Budnicks]

Yeah I knew I remember it bein a Toronado.

That's a differnt show that's my classic car... I could have sworn he did a 66 Riv too, the 1966 Riviera was the car of the year, I remember him saying that too...

 

[RustyRatRod]

Here's the car I'm talkin about. 66 Toronado.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G05J7x6LARM

 

[Budnicks]

oh well I'm wrong again, won't be the last time either