A giant in the industry, literally, by the time the 1977 Oldsmobile Toronado came out it was Oldsmobile’s largest, heaviest, and thirstiest car. The front-drive behemoth escaped GM’s 1977 downsizing effort for a couple of years, hiding out in gas stations and garages. This rare model is a 1978 Oldsmobile Toronado XS, the one with the unique rear window. It’s listed here on eBay in beautiful Boise, Idaho and the current bid price is $8,100, but the reserve isn’t met.
This car is drop-dead gorgeous, at least condition-wise. We all have our likes and dislikes regarding the looks and design of vehicles, and the big Toronados aren’t for everyone. I dream about finding cars in this condition, though. Being from dry Washington state (I know, not all of it is dry), the seller says they got it from a gentleman who inherited it from his grandmother and it appears to be a true museum piece. Oldsmobile produced just 2,453 XS models for the 1978 model year, they’re incredibly rare, especially in this condition.
Not only is it gorgeous, but having traveled just 24,000 miles since brewing your own beer at home officially became legal, this Toronado XS is in almost like-new condition front to back, top to bottom, inside and out. After its general condition, the rear window is the second biggest deal on this one. The hot-wire bent-glass rear window is one piece, wrapping around the C-pillars for one of the most unique looks of any car of the era. Check out the flexible bumper filler material! That’s how you can tell a nicely preserved Pacific Northwest vehicle from one that looks rust-free such as this example, but the soft materials are hard and cracked from living in the desert. That doesn’t appear to be the case here.
I audibly gasped when I saw that this car had tufted red leather seats. I may need a moment to compose myself. They look like they’ve never been used, looked at, or even breathed on. Another fun feature? This car has an Astro Roof sunroof. Oldsmobile offered a very rare version of the XS called an XSR, which came with troublesome removable roof panels similar to a T-Top but they couldn’t make them leakproof so the XSR was scrapped in favor of the XS.
I must be losing it, I gasped again when I saw the engine photos on this listing. LOOK AT THAT THING! As much as I like to drive vehicles and not have them hidden away in museums not being used, this one is move-in ready for one of any number of auto museums that I can think of. By 1978, the Toronado was an Olds 403-cu.in. OHV V8 with 190 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque when new. Sending power as smoothly as possible through a GM Turbo-Hydramatic THM-425 three-speed automatic to the front wheels, expect 8 to 10 mpg. This car has had a lot of deferred maintenance work done after barely being driven over the last 46 years, and the power antenna is the only thing said to not be working like new. Have any of you owned a ’78 Toronado? Bonus points if it was an XS model!
Some years ago, there was a Chevrolet dealer near Columbus, OH who had a large collection of GM cars, most of which had less than 50 miles on any of them. He had many buildings on the dealership grounds which housed all these cars.
At one point he liquidated some of the cars, and Mecum came in and held an auction. There was a ’78 Toronado, totally loaded, showroom condition, ultra-low miles that sold for a mere $7000. It had a factory CB radio!
I believe this was Bob McDorman Chevrolet. His extensive collection included many rare Corvettes. After the sell-off there were a few remaining cars which were housed in a new museum in nearby Canal Winchester. The museum was open for only a few years, being closed in 2017. The city bought the building and it is now used for city government.
Dr Olds dials up all the luxury goods, from the parts bin for the Toros.
We see a lot of Toronados on Barn Finds, but this is one of the nicest I’ve seen. Gorgeous!
Gotta agree with Todd, this is one gorgeous XS. I remember staring at that rear window in awe when I was barely a teenager, as one of these was visible from the road inside the showroom of our local Olds dealer. Liked it then, but I may like it even more now!
and it has a rebuilt carbonator!
Scotty, you certainly hit that nail on the head – this one’s a gem! It’s so good I want to find a way to like it. Unfortunately, I can’t make my eye like this one no matter what angle I try on. That roof line is just plain weird, and the front end has that very tacky looking GM late 70s square headlight Strangeness. Sadly, the tornado is one of those examples of the first was the best and every subsequent year they just got uglier, cheaper quality, and just overall unappealing. If only grandma would’ve purchased a 66or67 and we were looking at THAT In this condition……
Agree..I was 28 then and had just gotten married… the 70’s was a very nutty time… Don’t believe me ?? Liesure suits in pastel colors and platform shoes…. and Toronado rear windows….. just to get started…
One corporate fleet of vehicles I had to manage had 3 late 70s Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz cars in it. Their engine was so heavy, the front drive axles would get bent! They cost $435 each. I learned that Olds axles were the same part, but @$335. In fact many of the parts were the same,I like this but I sure couldnt park it nor feed it petrol!
There’s no way on earth that the drive axles could “get bent” by the weight of the engine. Signed, Toronado and Eldorado owner for 50 years
Yeah. Heat treated. Maybe snap. But even then..no.
I hope no one ever has to do anything with that rear window. Cool car, I remember seeing these driving around as a kid.
Great find! Leather is nice but the pillowed striped velour interior is really striking IMHO.
Imagine calling SAFELITE to replace that back window? All kidding aside, astounded they didn’t have a 450ci available, under 200hp to pull this behemoth is just too gas gussling little power. The interior is fabulous like a headliner act in vegas, driving its history 24k miles would most certainly involved me sleeping at the wheel or back seat. Beautiful design, I expect the boys over at Cadillac freaked out when they saw this baby. The Tornado had a quick demise or at least the first humpy ones are most rare today. I remember being in one in the 90s the door handles at the roof studs. Olds always had a “X” car and this takes the cake. I say fair market value is 12k-14k. Just make sure you have enough in savings for premium gas! jv smashpalace
I worked at a very busy Olds dealer from 1976 to 1981. I worked on a white 78 XS that belonged to the owners wife. She was a stunning blonde and looked great driving that car. It had the red velour interior. She always told me the gas mileage was awful.
Shame it’s not black
Back in the early 80’s I worked with a lady at the water bed store. She owned a black on black on black Tornado XS. Was a very striking car and she was a very striking woman. Also, an excellent salesperson who consistently was one of the top sales producers each month. Rode in her Tornado a few times, was a very comfortable ride. So was she. Ahhh, the good old days of being a full commission waterbed salesperson. You were only as good as your next month’s numbers. Eventually the waterbed craze died out, but I was there to ride the wave.
Simply, positively, WOW!!
They sure don’t make them like they used to…
Nor will they ever again. :(
incredible to say the least. the rear defroster must have pulled a lot of juice considering the lenght of the grid. I’d cry if i had to replace that back window.
Somebody better pick it up quick it’s that nice
ruined by the time this came out.
One of my few-liked (asa ‘ford guy’) gm vehicles as I look at them. I liked the riveria too, also ruined @ 2nd gen. Those two 1st gen, and many of the P/Us, mid (’56/60) gen C1 exterior / interior ’58/62 (oh, 3rd/last gen chevelle, fiero’s last yr) take my attention.
Noteworthy mention. Monte Carlo and the Grand Prix also had distinct back windows in certain models around that time. I have to wonder if they got the concept from the circa 50s Studebaker.
Starlight Coupe
Good call, Frog. The collonade Grand Prix and Monte Carlo were the first to use the hot bent wire glass.
I always thought these were such a cool car. The unique rear window gave new life to an old design. The owner of our McDonald’s franchise owned one exactly like this except for the leather. He also had a ’74 Delta 88 convertible with a 455. Real good people to work for and be associated with.
The Toro was like riding on a cloud. Someone mentioned the 455 engine which went away when the B/C-cars were downsized in 1977.
If this Olds has overdrive it will get upper teens on highway and 12 in town unless the driver is in race mode. I have two big Oldsmobiles.
I must admit, though it’s not my favorite year (The front looks like it came from Ford and the rear looks like it came from the Caddy parts bin), it’s in great condition!
Are you saying it looks like a Fadillac or a Cord?