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Beautiful Bargain? 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado

As if a 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado didn’t look sleek and elegant and mean and space-age enough normally, this black one really looks great. This beauty can be found here on craigslist in Staten Island, New York, and the seller is asking what seems like a steal of a price at $6,500. Thanks to Jamie B. for sending in this tip!

This car looks amazing, I can’t believe that it’s priced at $1,600 below Hagerty’s #4 fair condition value. The more a person looks at it, though, things start creeping in like why is the body so perfect, and the paint, which the seller says is around five years old. We don’t know for sure that it’s had bodywork but it does look a little wavy in spots, but who knows.

The design is so great on these cars. To say that a ’66 Toronado, its first year on the market, is collectible is a vast understatement. The famous first-generation Toronado was made for the 1966 to 1970 model years and then things sort of fell off the rails. That’s not to say that the second-generation and beyond weren’t filled with interesting designs and good cars, but it’s hard to beat the first-gen Toronado for beautiful and unusual styling that’s just absolutely fantastic.

The interior looks pretty good other than needing some upholstery work. The seller mentions that it has 71,000 miles on it and they say that it’s a 2-owner car, but I’m not sure if that means they’re the second owner or not. One quick phone call will clear up any questions I’m sure.

The engine should be Oldsmobile’s 425 cubic-inch V8 with 385 hp. This one runs and drives great according to the seller but they say that some TLC is needed. I would have to believe that almost any serious car guy or gal would want to have a 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, I know I would and this one looks great.

Comments

  1. Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

    Already gone! Too bad-it’d be an interesting one to check out further. Not too many of these around in these parts as the engine and transmission made for a great rear-drive desert racer/sand rail.
    Good description of its styling too, Scotty-it looks like something we’d of seen in a Star Wars spin-off!

    Like 6
  2. Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

    Already gone! Too bad-it’d be an interesting one to check out further. Not too many of these around in these parts as the engine and transmission made for a great rear-drive desert racer/sand rail.
    Good description of its styling too, Scotty-it looks like something we’d of seen in a Star Wars spin-off!
    The klaxon under the hood looks like a JC Whitney special.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

      Arrrggggg! I knew it was too good of a price to last long, bummer. Thanks, Nevadahalfrack.

      Like 7
  3. Avatar Jack M.

    A fellow employee used to call this type of bodywork friendly. It waves at you as you pass by!

    Like 6
  4. Avatar Kenn

    My father bought one new, and the only complaint was that Oldsmobile hadn’t yet figured out the kind of material to cover the CV joints. It would tear and come apart in just a few thousand miles and the resulting dirt, water, etc in the joint destroyed that quickly. Without the discovery of a better cover, I don’t think we would have seen the explosion of FWD vehicles. And, as an aside, I’ve wondered why they didn’t use universal joints such as on Jeeps? They had no covers, took an enormous amount of abuse, and always seem to work just fine.

    Like 4
  5. Avatar luke arnott

    I bought one of these last year from SoCal.Yes,the “boots” over the CV joints were shot,but all parts are readily available!

    Like 4
  6. Avatar Pete Kaczmarski

    Wow, someone got a great deal. Add some interior work and make the engine compartment original and it would be great car at car shows. It took me 40 years to find the right ’66 Toro. Mine is also a Deluxe model in “Dubonet” color inside and out with 47k miles. See you at the car shows.

    Like 4
  7. Avatar mark houseman

    No one has mentioned the color, black on black. Extremely rare! This car will be cosmetically restored and run thru one of the big auctions and bring minimum 20k. Of course the after market crap under the hood will have to be brought back to original. But none the less, a phenomenal car. I have a red on red with 60k miles. But black would be my choice.

    Like 5
  8. Avatar Bob S

    The other common use for Toronado and Eldorado drivetrains on the west coast, was to convert them for use as float plane launchers. Sufficient to say, the drivetrains had a 30 year working life long after the body was gone.
    There is still one in use at the local floatplane facility.
    The first Toronado I saw, was a black 66 just like the one listed. The second one I saw, was a lovely Silver 67 with a black top and interior, and the guy made me an offer on my Corvette that I couldn’t refuse. It was a beautiful car, and it was my daily driver for over 10 years.
    I put over 100,000 miles on the car, and the only thing wrong with the car when I sold it, was that one of the boots on the CVJ had cracked, and dust had ruined the joint. It was a wonderful car.
    The reason GM used the CVJ, was to reduce the turning radius of the car. At extreme angles, the front universal joints can bind, and I am sure the designers didn’t want that to happen on a luxury car.
    The big disadvantage of the car, was that the price of a good exhaust system at the time would kill your wallet, and just putting in a system with dual mufflers, looked cheesy. During the life of the car, I had to replace two, which in retrospect is very reasonable.
    It was a joy to drive, and I consider myself lucky to have owned one.
    Bob

    Like 5
  9. Avatar Dave

    Best looking tilt/telescopic steering wheel!

    Like 0

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