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1967 Oldsmobile Toronado: Part Out Or Restore?

Sun Burnt Toronado

Here’s the parts car for the Toronado we featured the other day! It’s actually offered by the same seller and is also listed on eBay with a $200 starting bid and no reserve. It will be interesting to see which one goes for more. This car was purchased from a guy who bought it from a towing yard as parts for his other two Toronados. Apparently, he never needed anything, so it appears to be mostly complete. It is a little rough though so the next owner will have to decide what to do with it. What do you think – should it be parted out or is it a realistic candidate for restoration?

425 V8

The big 425 V8 is still in place. Even after featuring a bunch of these, it’s still hard for me to imagine why anyone thought it would be a good idea to run so much torque through the front wheels. With most of your braking and all of your turning going on up front, that’s a lot of stain to put on things. Somehow they made it all work and even if it wasn’t that good of an idea then, the engine/tranny setup went on to power RVs for decades.

Toronado Interior

The inside of the car is toast, but it looks like most everything is there. There’s a piece of glass sitting on the floor, but the photos show all the panes in place, so I’m not sure where that’s supposed to go. This car appears to have the standard interior and not as many options as the other car we featured. As with all Toronados it was still pretty well-outfitted. Looks like it has the optional power seat, but no power windows.

Toronado Tail

The more I look at this Toronado, the more I want to build some sort of hot rod out of it! Jay Leno built one, so why not? The green paint and red rust give the car a menacing look. I’d want to redo the interior, drivetrain, suspension and leave the exterior alone. Just think of the looks on people’s faces when you arrive in this thing! So, do you think this ticked off Toronado should be parted, restored, or hot rodded?

Comments

  1. Avatar Mike

    I tell what I would do with it, the same thing I did with one I bought that was pretty much toast. I took the engine and drive train, put it in the rear of a sand drag rail buggy that I ran for years at the local St Joe State Park, which has a off road area to play. The only problem with it is if I got on it I could stand it up for a pretty good distance, so I welded wheely bars under it to help me control it. I ran it for many years until I got bored of it and sold it. A local guy bought it from me and used it for a few years as push car for sprint cars at the local race track.

    Like 0
  2. Avatar Bill

    I’d restore it. Everything is there and the body looks good and straight. I hope someone restores it to its former beauty.

    Like 0
  3. Avatar Cody

    If I lived in California and the bids stay low, I’d tune and clean it up, and than daily it as is. Maybe find some OEM hub caps, to class it up a bit…

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  4. Avatar Bobsmyuncle

    “Not a good idea”? How in the world have you come to that conclusion?

    You ARE aware that front wheel drive is the norm and that HP ratings now are numerically higher. Nevermind that this ’67 is rated in ‘old’ horsepower.

    Not only was the idea “good” it was revolutionary in the North American market.

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    • Avatar Tony S

      Actually they handled fantastic. Look up some reviews. There is even a proto Cutlass with the drivetrain.

      Like 0
    • Avatar Jesse Staff

      You’re right. These cars were revolutionary. My negative remarks were pointed at modern FWD with unequal length axles.

      Like 0
  5. Avatar Blueprint

    Glass is from right door (hint: tarp).

    This shape is too awesome not to restore!

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    • Avatar Jesse Staff

      Now I can see the tarp! Looked like the headliner hanging down.

      Like 0
  6. Avatar boxdin

    Looks like a perfect candidate for a motorhome conversion;

    Like 1
  7. Avatar Tony S

    The 425s (aka Super Rocket) were incredible engines. The bore/stroke combo revved much more freely than the 455.
    I would pull the mill and part out the rest… but I am waiting for a ’70 W34 for my wagon. I believe it was the most powerful GM engine up until recently…

    Like 0
  8. Avatar grant

    If the engine sits north-south, it shouldn’t torque steer too bad. The Intrepid I just picked up is set up like that and I was impressed. This is a neat car. Always thought these were cool.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar jaygryph

    Man, the wrecking yard I bought my cougar from had one of these as one of the very first cars brought in when they bought the place.

    It looked identical to this, same color, same interior and exterior color. My father was going to see about buying it and the idiot owner decided to he wanted to move it with a bulldozer and used the clamshell bucket to crush the front clip and drag it across the yard because it was a few feet too close to a fence. Totally destroyed the whole front end.

    That guy was an idiot. That wrecking yard is long out of business.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar whippeteer

    Custom baby! Here’s what George Barris did to a ’67. I love the wrap around couch in the back. http://www.schmitt.com/inventory/ds-1967-oldsmobile-barris-70-x-toronado/#photos_section

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Jubjub

    Neat cars. Looks all straight, solid and original.

    Barris did some truly awful things to some really great vehicles.

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  12. Avatar Bob Giroux

    I have a 1967 toronado with the factor preformance package 425 hp, 550 ft lb of torque. It also has the climate control combustion, 28,000 original miles. Air, cruise, tilt, telescopic, power windows, door locks, seats, trunk and antenna. Vinyl roof. Factor electronic ingnition . Am/fm radio. It will smoke the front tires for a 100 feet if you floor it.

    Like 0

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