We’ve run across quite a few, shall I say, unusual marriages between cars over the years here at Barn Finds, where someone borrows parts from one vehicle and puts them on another, or attempts to somehow change the styling of an auto from how it was manufactured. One common denominator is that this often involves a kit of some sort, but even after an extensive internet search, I’m not so sure this one isn’t truly a one-of-a-kind example, as the seller claims. Whether you want to call this a Torobaker or a Studenado is your choice, but what we have here is a 1990 Oldsmobile Toronado with front and rear pieces from a 1950 Studebaker. We’ll dig into it below, but if you’re already envisioning yourself behind the wheel, this oddity is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and can be spotted here on Craigslist. The seller is asking $14,900, and our thanks go out to reader Tony Primo for his unusual tip here!
Some of the details provided by the seller are that he’s owned this one for 10 years and that it’s spent its downtime in a garage. What’s not disclosed is whether the conversion was done before his acquisition, or if this work of art, as he calls it, was created under his direction. I’m thinking this creation is one with little middle ground, meaning most spectators will either love or loathe it. However, regardless of which emotion you’re feeling, the workmanship here truly appears high-quality.
The transformation is reported to be all steel, so the front and rear sections may indeed be genuine Studebaker components. I’m guessing one of the more common questions the seller has to answer is WHY this was done, but I’m of the opinion that if it’s your car, you have the right to do whatever you want with it. However, I’ll also add that you shouldn’t always expect everybody to agree with your decisions. While I think the idea here is pretty cool, I probably could have made do with one of Scotty’s conceptual artistic renderings instead, but I’m also not the target audience and feel confident that somebody out there needs this in their collection!
One key point here is that the seller says this one’s a capable highway cruiser, and he has enough confidence in the reliability to believe it can be driven anywhere with no worries. The Toronado’s interior is plenty plush and looks like it would provide comfort for hours, and it has, as the owner mentions he’s traveled to Florida several times. I get that this Toronado/Studebaker contraption isn’t for everyone, but I can appreciate all the time and effort put into this one, and feel that the visionary did a decent job of turning their dream into a reality. What do you think?
Well, ya won’t see another one of these at C&C.
Or, in your lifetime.
Years ago they’d drop an Olds Rocket V8 in a Studebaker….. This is definitely one step furthur. I think the workmanship looks great and quite honestly, I’d walk over to it at a cars and coffee or a car show. It’s unique, and I’m sure its very driveable, and you can take it on the highway with no problem. I’m wondering what happened to the Studebaker that sacrificed its body panels for this conversion?
Its a cool find though, I like it, great write up Mike. I enjoyed it.
Wow. Too bad we get the CL treatment for photos. Would like to see a side view, it could be good or very bad.
The 1990 E-bodies had a boxy roof line which doesn’t suit the curvy lines of the 1950 Studebaker. In profile the car likely isn’t very attractive.
I think the lack of a profile shot is deliberate. The front overhang is comically long, and there looks to be some awkwardness where the Toronado pieces and Studebaker pieces are joined. It’s not pretty in general, but I’m betting it looks really bad from the side.
There was a company that made a front clip conversion for 78-87 El Camino’s.
The seller never said he’s owned it for 10 years, only that it has had a senior owner for 10 years and has been driven to Florida several times.
One question to ask, is a 1990 Oldsmobile Toronado with 174,000 miles worth $14,900? Is attention at a car show worth that kind of premium when the only late-80’s or early-90’s Toronado listed over the last several months sold for $7,900 after several tries with 92,000 miles.
Steve R
That’s a very good question Steve. As for me I think that the whole car is a disaster!
” . . . if it’s your car, you have the right to do whatever you want with it.”
And you run the risk of no one else liking what you’ve done.
How is that a problem?
Only a problem if you can’t sell it.
When I saw the first photo I thought it was an Avanti with the rudebaker front end. I’m with Mike, I can appreciate all the time and effort put into this…um, car. I love the full meal deal the stude tailights and the ‘fat boy’ rear fender bulges. Too bad something was done with the rear window for the green house look.
I am amazed at the amount of metal work that must have gone into the car.
The front fenders, being too long, are my only issue.
A guy in my hometown years ago had a ’50 Bullet Nose with a 348. It was cool.
It appears to be well converted, but there is one question I have: what is an Arizona car doing with a Montana license plate?
A lot of cars are registered in Montana to avoid sales tax on the vehicle. Mostly high-end exotic stuff where sales taxes can be in the 5 figures. (Not that this falls into that category!)
The owner might be a snowbird.
Steve R
I like it. It was done well and shows nicely.
The reason doesn’t matter.
Excellent !! but for the wheels
Never really cared for this style of Studebaker, blending it with a Toronado doesn’t improve either car as far as I’m concerned. It does appear that the bodywork was done quite well, if it’s mostly metal and not bondo.
I remember when the 1950 Studebaker came out: it was a love it or hate it propostion, a desperate attempt to extend the life of their dated 1947 “first by far with a postwar car” design. I thought it was neat, actually. Clearly, the man who built this modified Toronado thought so, too. But whether anyone else likes the result desperately enough to pay this price for it remains to be seen.
I kind of like it because it’s different. IMHO,they should have used the rear roof and glass off the Studie also. Then it would have kind of looked like a channeled Studie. The body conversion to me does not justify the price.
Hi Wayne,
I completely agree with you. That would look really cool!
When I saw the picture of the rear I said to myself there’s something off about it. Then I realized, besides the rear window, there was a bump up on the trunk as well as the license plate on the trunk, not under the bumper.
Am I being too picky?
Hi Angel,
No, not too picky. But I don’t think that they were going for a complete duplicate thing. BUT, as I stated before/differently. The Toro rear roof ruins the look for me. I mean if you are destroying a Studie for this exercise. Then use the rear roof section also.
I hope that you are doing well. Happy New Year!
Very…..interesting. Back then you didn’t have AI so I guess you had to just build it yourself to see what it would look like! Kudos to the craftsmanship though. This took some talented person a lot of time.
As my three year grandson might express:
Scare-wee
seller claims “a work of art”. not seeing it. all i see is a toro that was mutilated. what a shame at least the toro looked better and would be easier to sell. its good the seller thinks it’s a work of art because i think he will be looking at this mess for a long time
Considering the 1990 Toronado was ugly af, this is an improvement.
I like the rear 1/2 of the car. The only thing really wrong with the front IMO is the strange belly down just aft of the front wheel area – if they had carried the high point (crown) of the front part of the fenders more-or-less straight back to the base of the windshield and avoided that strange dip, I think it might have come out nice. I agree, they may have avoided a straight side shot for reason :) but overall, I like it, sorta.
It too thought that the rear looked fine with the perfectly matched bumper and Studebaker lights. The front, however, lacks a bumper for appearance sake likely. This is a trend, though the original bumper has to go WAY out to clear! No protection in case of accident. Forget about 5 MPH.
“…like it, sorta” is fine, but that doesn’t make it worth $14,900, IMHO.
Regardless of what you think of the project…. The creativity and workmanship is amazing!!
Ungainly.
“I’ll take Automotive Nightmares for $500, Alex”
glad they didnt ruin 2 cars, just the stude.
I feel bad abt the stude only liked 1st gen ‘Nado.