This 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado is located in Jacksonville, Florida. This was the introductory year for the front-wheel-drive Toronado and its stunning modern looks. It is listed here on eBay for auction with four days remaining at no reserve. The Toronado is currently bid to $6,100 after seven bids. The Toronado was a huge success for Oldsmobile and was produced from 1966 to 1992, covering four different generations of the luxury car.
There are only three pictures of the interior and this is the best one. The 1966 Toronado had a lot of cool features. Check out the odometer and the push button controls. One of the pictures shows a pod of aftermarket gauges under the dash. Most of the chrome looks dingy and corroded. I would hope it could be cleaned up and reused. The interior appears to be all there but just not in that good of condition. Check out the cool key chain for the dash ignition. The interior carpet was recently replaced.
The Toronado used the GM E platform that was introduced in 1963 with the Buick Riviera. The 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado was equipped with a 425 cubic inch V8 factory engine rated at 385 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. Considerable mechanical work has been done, including a new alternator, carburetor, oil pump, fuel pump, water pump, and battery. Work has been done on the air conditioning, including a new compressor and replacing the air conditioning fan. The radiator fan was also replaced, and the seller states the engine is running and driving.
The ad states that the carburetor and lifters were recently replaced. I don’t know why you would replace the lifters, not the cam, but that would be a good question. The seller stated that the car is currently having a problem getting started but is replacing the starter. It appears that the car has a pop-up sunroof, which I would assume would distract from the value of the vehicle.
At first glance, this one looks nice, with lots of recent service. The cheapo add-on gauges, and tach in clock position can be rectified relatively easily. Replacing the aftermarket MacGuyver turn signal switch will involve somewhat more effort and expense.
The deal-breaker for me is the big hole in the roof. I remember when the addition of a glass pop-up sunroof was a fad in the 70s. I think it ruins the collectibility of this ride.
If it goes cheap, it may be fun for someone, but it will probably stay cheap with that sunroof.
Yes, I agree.
I have 6 Toronados.1 67 4 68s and 1 69. All in perfect condition. I am their care taker and do all maintenance and repair.
One of my 68s has climbed Pikes Peak 4 times. A real show stopper.
Wouldn’t part with any of them.
The perfect auto in all weather and road conditions.Had the all since new.
These were fast and fun and realgas guzzlers back in the day I don’t think they will become a prized antique in the future, but they sure are a lot of fun if you can afford to run it. I think they were pretty reliable though, a lot more than I can say for the modern day Mary Barra GM premier Cadillacs of today.
Always liked these. Our neighbor got one in ‘66. My dad was an Olds guy so he was really jealous. For some reason they don’t bring big prices now, have seen nice examples in the $20’s. Getting the dash and interior sorted will be pricey and the hokey sunroof ruins it anyway. Pass.
The “drum” speedometer is cool…one of our neighbors had a 70 tornado. I remember seeing “drum” speedometer on some models of Mercedes Benz. The hole in the roof sucks and would take some highly skilled metal work to “patch” or Frankenstein a “modern” up/over sunroof in its place. Too 😞
I think the fix for the “hillbilly pop top” is a dark-tinted solid moon roof.
I wonder how hard it would be to have a new panel welded in.
By hard I probably mean expensive, because a good body man could replace a panel.
Boy I do like these and this color especially. The front wheel drive always made me weary but I guess I could figure it out if something broke. If clean examples are still available sub 20k 6 years from now I might have to pull the trigger. Yes it’s sad that someone butchered it with the sunroof but like someone said that was kind of a big thing for awhile in the 70s and 80s- GLWTA
I had a girlfriend in 1970 whose mother owned a ’66 Toronado. I always thought that sooner or later those huge doors would snap off!
Lovely looking car. This has always been my favourite year for the Olds Toronado. Assuming everything is solid, parts are available and works like they should, this would make an awesome resto project.
I had a 76 equipped with Air Bags none of the mechanics wanted to touch the car for fear of the Air Bags going off. The car also came with an 800 no for me to call in case the bags went off. As for MPG the best I ever got was 13 MPG on the highway.
I agree that the chrome has faded in a half century and the after market sunroof was not a good investment in the collector market. But the Toronado is beautiful! The 385 gross hp will move the big car nicely. The fwd did improve traction and helped paved the way for GM to make future generations of smaller front drivers. Glad the air conditioner and key parts were replaced. Someone is going to get an now unique car with classic styling. Personal luxury cars are gone. The Toronado was discotinued. Oldsmobile itself is history. And big V8 American cars are now rare.
You would think the presentation of this magnificent car would be much better; evidently the seller was in too much of a hurry to get this car detailed. Except for the cheap sunroof, I like this car, right down to the absence of exterior emblems which gives this car a stealthy appearance. Given their historical significance, these have been underpriced for far too long.
I own a 1966 (in Burgandy or Maroon). It has the original engine and transmission. I also have 2 1967 Toronados with access to a couple more parts cars.
Good condition, not good of condition.
Detract, not distract.
Always an english major in the crowd ………. !
Good command of English is one of the things BF asks for if you want to write for them.
Danger Will Robinson!
I have always loved the styling of this car but the aftermarket pop up sunroof detracts from it. Looks out of place and I am sure it will affect the price.
Interesting color what is it ??
Hole in the roof, original gauges don’t work ? Is that an aftermarket turn signal switch ? Hole punched out for tach ? No underside photos,lifters w/o cam ? You would have to wonder what other gremlins exist. Love these cars as original as possible but this one needs too many hugs and kisses.
Back in the late 1960s, a buddy and I used his ’66 to drive back and forth to races at Watkins Glen. Same color, too.
Paint looks recent but could be hiding rust. Need underside and interior photos. Dash looks very worn. This is one of those cars you’d have to lay eyes and hands on before buying.
These were fast and fun and realgas guzzlers back in the day I don’t think they will become a prized antique in the future, but they sure are a lot of fun if you can afford to run it. I think they were pretty reliable though, a lot more than I can say for the modern day Mary Barra GM premier Cadillacs of today.
With all that power under the hood I’d be afraid of that sunroof taking away some of the structural integrity here! What I think he means when he said the lifters were replaced is most likely the rocker bridges! Anyone who knows Oldsmobile’s can relate to this problem that’s sent WAY TOO MANY of these to the junkyard because of unscrupulous shops telling the owners they need a cam & lifters when all that it needs is a $2.59 rocker bridge. I would still ask the owner to explain it just in case he was a victim of the shop.
Replacing the hydraulic lifters and not the camshaft suggests that there was lifter noise due to dirty and infrequent oil changes. The fix is try to flush the lifters and push rod holes clean with Marvel Mystery oil and engine flush (harsh stuff) or just put in new lifters and blow out the oil hole in each push rod. At this engine ‘s fuel burn rate I understand why they replaced the lifters rather than drive and drive to loosen the noisy lifters.