- Seller: Frank C
- Location: Freehold, New Jersey
- Mileage: 80,602 Shown
- Chassis #: 1G3AZ57Y4EE314473
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 307 V8
- Transmission: Automatic
UPDATE – We sent one of our professional photographers out to take more photos of this Toronado. The seller is now offering it as a Barn Finds Auction!
As crisp and clean as it is elegant, this 1984 Oldsmobile Toronado looks great without a vinyl top. And if that isn’t enough, it has a red leather interior. It’s hard to beat a red interior, in my opinion. We don’t give a second thought to front-wheel-drive vehicles anymore, even full-on luxury cars. But at one time in the 1960s, the Toronado and its cousin, the Cadillac Eldorado, were big news.
You’ll notice that I didn’t include the Buick Riviera as a “cousin” to the front-drive Toronado and Eldorado because the Riveria was still rear-wheel drive until the seventh-generation cars came out at the same time as this generation of Toronado and Eldorado. Did that make sense? Losing about 20 inches in length and half a ton in weight (!), the third-generation Toronado was made from 1978 for the 1979 model year until the end of the 1985 model year, and they came in this two-door body style – although a convertible was available as well.
The smaller but still luxurious and roomy third-generation Toronados were a perfect transition from the 1970s to the 1980s. After this, things got small, with the next and last-generation Toronados losing over a foot in length again and losing the “classic” crisp design of the second and third-generation cars. This example appears to be in outstanding condition. The seller says this car was undercoated, rustproofed, and had paint sealant at the time of sale, which I’m assuming means when it was new. With just over 80,000 miles traveled over the last four decades, it’s one of the nicest ones we’ve seen here on Barn Finds. They note that the paint has some clear coat failure starting on the roof.
Here’s the beautiful red leather, looking appropriately creased and as comfortable as it got for a big American luxury car in the mid-1980s. The interior is really in great condition and backs up the mileage claim. Our photographer made sure to capture many interior angles for closer inspection.
The engine is the 307-cu.in. OHV V8, which was rated at 140 horsepower. The seller tells us that it runs and drives great, with no smoke upon starting or driving and no engine noise. The four-speed automatic transmission works as it should. It has a rebuilt A/C condenser, new tires, brakes, air shocks, alternator, water pump and a rebuilt carburetor.
It’s located in Freehold, New Jersey, and is listed here now as a Barn Finds Auction! Have any of you owned a third-generation Toronado?
Bid On This Auction
PMD1965 bid $3,250.00 2024-08-14 12:36:12
Dominic bid $3,000.00 2024-08-14 11:07:49
I gotta admit, the THM325 transmission was a neat design. Bolting to the back of a normally mounted V8 and then the rest of it is flipped forward to power the front wheels. Neat engineering!
Elegance on wheels, tip to tail, inside and out from Dr Oldsmobile.
I hope the CV joints were replaced. Nice looking 80’s ride.
Not familiar with any factory Toronado convertible’s. The Riviera and Eldorado did have GM built convertible, Toronado’s were done in the aftermarket. My Aunt had an ‘85. Toro Caliente, white/white over red leather like this car. One of the smoothest and nicest. Riding cars I e ever experienced. The 307 was overmatched by the weight of the Toro however, I never understood why the Olds 403 wasn’t still offered in there’s, the fuel economy penalty couldn’t have been too great. This is a beautiful car without the vinyl top.
Nice clean looking ride.
However I think a partial vinyl top would really make this baby pop!
JMHO!
I have indeed owned a 84 Tornado! An awesome car that got me through a divorce, remarrige and the resulting poverty. A very nice and comfortable ride, fairly economical, never a single problem in 5 years. I would gladly trade my 2006 Cadillac DTS with similar mileage! The Tornado ruined me for life to a smooth quiet ride! New stuff, nah! I can drive what I want now.
I rustproofed these new in the early 80s at an Olds dealer. While I preferred the looks of the Eldo and Riv, these cars were essentially the same. Yeah, the 307 was a boat anchor but at least it didn’t fall apart like the 4.1 Cad engine. I had a 307 in a 1987 Caprice. Burned oil, but never broke down. Nice car here, but I can get a very nice 03 to 11 Town Car for less.
This Olds Toronado was serious competition for the Cadillac Eldorado for less with a better drivetrain in my opinion.Which begged me to wonder why GM dropped the Oldsmobile and Pontiac from the family. I wonder the same thing for Ford dropping Mercury and Chrysler dropping Plymouth years ago. I guess there comes a time when there’s not enough bread to go around.
Nice car, from when “luxury” meant style and comfort. Nice ride, soft seats, colors other than black, white, gray and silver. I wish I could buy this one.
During the 80’s I had 2 of this gen 3 Toro’s.
Really enjoyed them, both were plush cloth, not leather. Being tall in height , having no drivetrain hump was nice. Had never seen a convertible till a few years ago, when a brown one drove by me in Naples. Looked so neat , took me a year , found a cream convertible with brown leather interior in great shape. Have used it in a couple of parades and car shows. No one had ever seen a convertible Toro, so it is fun talking about it. I went from a 280Z to this front wheel drive. Guess I was tired of being beat up driving that stuff Datsun to this super smooth riding Toro boat back in the day.
Great looking car with timeless American style. Not as powerful but still as comfortable with all the presence. You don’t see that telescoping column enough.
Beautiful, elegant car. I wish your photographer would have taken pics of the failing clearcoat on the roof. Seems like a no-brainer to shoot what was basically the only flaw in the text.
you are right if it doesnt sell i would wrap it in a dark grey
Is this a daily driver? Beautiful car!
Good looking Toro but the more I looked at the pictures something was off, someone has put sport mirrors on where they were never offered. Like I said though good looking Toro all in all
As a former Olds dealer I can confirm the sport mirrors were a popular option for 84-85. My 84 had them and the leather wrapped sport tilt and telescopic steering wheel.
Would it be possible to see some under carriage pics?
i think your right
Jersey plates plus the car…..I’m hearing the opening tune to the Sopranos.
Wow, the flashbacks. In the mid-’90s, when these were bottoming out in price, I worked in an autobody shop. There was one like this sitting in the collection of wrecked cars at the shop. It was hit pretty hard in the front.
While retrieving parts at the local salvage yard, I saw the same color one hit hard in the rear.
At about the same time, a friend of mine needed a car after totaling his hitting a deer. When I heard the news of my friend’s car, I said I could get him a nice Toranado for next to nothing, but there was a catch.
By the weekend, we were swapping front clips. I think the total bill was something like $1,100 and a complete Toronado was in service. The paint matched perfectly. The pinstripes did not.
A few years and many memorable adventures later, the Toronado had the same fate with another deer.