I may be in the extreme minority here, but I really like the unusual design of the second-generation Olds Toronado. That “face” that only a mother could love, the size, the weight, the colors, the landing strip hood. They were just over-the-top in every way, something we don’t see a lot of anymore with carmakers. This 1971 Oldsmobile Toronado is posted here on craigslist in Puyallup, Washington, and they’re asking $11,900 or best offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Curvette for the tip!
The second-generation Toronado was made from 1970 for the 1971 model year until the end of 1978, and as with every Toronado ever made, it only came in a two-door body style. I may have done a third-gen Toronado sedan at some point, or maybe it was a Riviera, but here’s a quick version with four doors. I started thinking about what a convertible version might look like, and then I took it a few steps in another direction, as in what Joe Mannix may have driven if he had a newer Toronado, and didn’t care how it looked...
Now that’s an interesting rear view! I love it. This car looks outstanding to me, I don’t see a flaw inside or out, other than a nick on the right quarter and some missing paint on the vinyl top trim on that side. The seller lists the mileage as 66,000, and that’s incredibly low for a car that’s over 50 years old now. As expected, the trunk compartment looks fantastic and includes the often-missing Oldsmobile embossed rubber floor mat.
As with 98% of the Saturn Gold exterior, the interior looks like it’s right out of a brochure, and I believe this is the optional Brougham interior with a 60/40 split front bench seat. The seats appear flawless, as does the dash, steering wheel, carpet, and everything else inside. The back seat should be comfortable for almost anyone this side of an NBA player.
The engine is cleaner than most, it’s Oldsmobile’s 455-cu.in. OHV V8, with a gross horsepower rating of 350 (275 net) and 465 gross lb-ft of torque when new. Backed by a Turbo-Hydramatic sending power to the front wheels, this one is said to run and drive great, along with having new tires, a new radiator, new belts and hoses, and a new tune-up. Are any of you fans of the second-generation Toronado?
Scotty. I lean more towards the ’66 to ’68 Tornados myself. However of the next generation the ’71 is my favorite. The 455 had a drop in compression for regular gas, but still had a lot horsepower and torque which you need to move a monster like this around. This is one nice example for sure. The 4 door hartop version you made looks nice.
Dr Olds smoking the front tires too 😎 👍 🏁
Had a 71 back when I bought winter beaters and it was a great driver with tons of power. I had a set of studded snows on the front and it went wherever you pointed the front end. The sparks showering out of the turned wheels on ice was a hoot. It would dig!
Scotty, the 4-door version is really cool! I don’t know why, but it reminded me of a Chrysler.
Nice, clean, car. Looks like it has auto. climate control, but I didn’t see a cruise under the hood. Wish it had a better pic of the dash.
Hi Jon! Another TRUE story. I once test drove a used 71 Toronado ,but decided against buying. The next day, a colleague asked If I had been driving a Toronado the day before, saying he figured it was me or some OLD fart . Unfortunately NOW I AM one 😪
Thanks, folks! I thought the Mannix version was fun, just for the oddball factor. It’s not exactly the most beautiful car, no way would George Barris have done that one!
Maybe Chuck Barris.
HA! Gonnnnnnng…
My mother might have said, tall dark and gruesome. Nevertheless I’m just as attracted to these as say their Riviera counterpart or ’70 Pontiac. Mitchell had an affinity for the Cord 810 and incorporated the coffin nose theme into many GM designs of this period. Of course GM cars rear styling mimicked the front. They made cars that remain interesting to see today. I wonder if today’s vehicles will remain interesting years from now or if anyone will care.
“I wonder if today’s vehicles will remain interesting years from now or if anyone will care.”
For what it’s worth, I doubt it, especially in the case of ubiquitous Asian products. Americans’ appetite for vanilla sameness in these automobiles seems insatiable. For me, though, the manifold swoops, creases, and hollows that festoon these cars became tiresome years ago. European designs, however–particularly the German ones–offer some respite from the monotony. The relatively clean, uncluttered look of Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, and Mercedes presents a welcome departure from what I’ve for a decade described as the Nike sneaker style.
Simply put *Whatever happened to CLASS? * Unfortunately it’s Gone With the Wind.
Such a gratifying car to drive! I had a ’72 (same body, same drivetrain), & it was UNSTOPPABLE in the winter! You need to drive one to experience a newly-discovered confidence in FWD! The now-flat floor & spacious interior will win you over. Oldsmobile hit it out of the park w/the 2nd generation Toro’s when John Beltz was running the show @ Oldsmobile. Quality & customer satisfaction was the name of the game back then!
I’d strive to locate a set of (once had 5) chrome disc-brake factory wheels. Mounted here would be a KNOCK-OUT!
I prefer the 67-72 Eldorado to these second gen Toronados but this one looks to be in great condition and has that torque monster 455 too. A lot of car for the money.
This does NOT have the Brougham’s interior. Pic 13 confirms there s NO separation of the Custom (std.) interior’s bench seat. The Brougham interior changed the standard bench into a 60/40 configuration.
Thanks for the info, Utesman! Although… no need to angrily shout!
Toro! Toro! The last of the real Olds-mo-biles. All we have are memories and history. I can hear the ring of a stock olds motor coming up the pike now. They have their own sweet sound when they are healthy, easy to identify blindfolded. Forbid they not have stock duals. Go Kettering Rocket! Go!
I believe that the cruise control servo is behind and below the aircleaner s nout. You can see a cable mixed in with the plug wires there on the left side of the engine. (The one that looks like a thicker plug wire) I really like the earlier Toros for their body style. Having worked on my Dad’s GMC .motor home. (Which then became my father-in-law s motor home. I could not get away from that thing!) I learned a new appreciation for the 455/425 Hydromatic compination. I once saw that engine/transmission combination in the back seat of an early Corvair. Where the transmission output shaft would normally go into the FWD differential it had a yolk to a short drive shaft to a narrowed Ford 9″. The engine was behind the driver’s seat (offset to the left) and the rear differential input offset to the right. It was really well done and I had a chance to pick it up cheap. But at the time I had no way to haul it away from where it was sitting. Yes, it was built for drag racing. I have never seen one of those 425 Hydomatics fail.
Sorry Scotty. You said it yourself. This thing has a face only a Mother could love- and that’s not guaranteed. They are great cars. They tore it up at the local speedway years ago.
I ran an automotive business that included a used car lot in the “80s-‘90s. I had one very similar to this, other than it was kind of a butterscotch color. Friend of mine was in desperate straits- really needed wheels. I told him I had a Toronado that was in good shape- and I’d sell it to him for $150. He thanked me, came and saw the car, and said, “I’m sorry. I can’t drive that”,and left.
Mom had a 73 Toro to chase groceries. Every now and then she’d screech those front tires and grin.
I owned from new an exact copy of this car! The billboards around the country advertising the Toronado used this color as well! Great road car for me as a multi-state travelling salesman. Put almost a quarter-million miles on it.
I once had a 77 Toro what a great running, driving and comfortable car, oh those front seats, and smooth ride, what a great car it was
These were so ugly to me back then, but now they are ugly-cool! The fact that they have that honkin’ 455 really helps.