Coming in at almost nineteen feet in length and 4,800 pounds, this 1973 Oldsmobile Toronado has a big presence. It’s fitting that for some reason the seller decided to take photos of it at a gas station, especially with today’s gas prices. They have it listed here on eBay in Hialeah, Florida and they have a $5,000 buy-it-now price listed or you can make an offer. Thanks to Larry D. for sending in this tip!
Second only to sudsy car wash photos, I don’t understand why a seller would take photos of a car that they want to sell, presumably showing it in all of its glory, but they take those photos at a modern gas station. Maybe one of you can explain it to me, there are a lot of folks here who can explain things and they make sense, but as of now, I don’t get it at all. Sadly, they also don’t give any information about the car other than listing the mileage as 64,000 and saying “good condition”.
The second-generation Toronado was made from 1970 for the 1971 model year up until the end of 1978. They would be seriously downsized the following year, a couple of years after a lot of GM’s full-sized cars were downsized. This example appears to need some cosmetic help, at least on the exterior. The clear coat seems to be failing and the bumper filler material looks like it could be/should be replaced.
The photos are a little different, but the seller does show almost all of the exterior and interior. The headliner seems to pass the A-OK test and most of the seating fabric does, too. There is some wear and tear on the driver’s side, but the dash looks good from what we can see and the back seat looks close to perfect, but it’s hard to tell from so far away. It’s hard to beat that interior color for me, though.
Here’s where I’d normally show an engine photo but there isn’t one in the eBay listing, unfortunately. I’m assuming that the hood latch works but maybe they just forgot or didn’t think that it was important to show what should be an Oldsmobile Rocket 455 cubic-inch V8. Yeah, no, that’s very important, they should have included an engine photo even though by 1973, it was down to 250 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. All that bulk made for about 10 mpg or so which would be horrific today. I cringe with 14 mpg and $6-a-gallon premium. I really like this car and I’d drive it a lot, but maybe not daily, how about you?
Yep heavy cars and there’s no OD so fuel mileage is non-existent but it is a land yacht. Had a 71 as a winter beater and it ran quite well and the ride was smooth. Front wheel drive in a car that size was amazing. Have to mention saw a Tornado running stock car racing. Yep round and around, guy was killing it, front would stay planted and rear followed. His brakes were glowing up front toward the end of the race slowing that beast down for the corners but the driver won with a decent lead and made the feature.
I had a 1970 model that had a 350 factory conversion diesel motor. One of the best car’s I ever owned.
Captured in it’s natural habitat, the gas station…
I agree , no one in their right mind would post a gas guzzler for sale with gas pumps in the photo. And no engine, trunk , mileage or pictures taken from inside the car.
I would suppose the owner was paying for the gas and someone else took the pictures and posted this for sale as a scam. Even , the photo on the street was probably taken the same way. The seller only has 5 reviews , making this seem even more likely to be not legit.
Yes, about 8.5mpg according to this list (and calibration with several cars that I had on this list – that is, this list seems pretty accurate vs EPA official numbers). Ouch. But I guess better than 7mpg for the 1973 Lincoln Continental.
https://blog.consumerguide.com/12-worst-gas-guzzlers-1973/
So , how many hubcaps does this car come with ?
Funny thing, my 70 Toronado had heavy die cast hubcaps that would go spinning off if you hit a rough railroad track too fast, or a big pothole. I wondered why there was a spare one in the trunk when I bought the car (used) until I first watched one spinning past me after loosing it. Seems like they weighed over 8 or 10 lbs.
Remarkably ugly, even by 1970s standards.
These cars were ahead of their time in certain ways. They were one of the few American cars of the 70’s with front wheel drive. They also had the high mounted extra brake lights just below the rear window. My aunt had one of these. She loved it. My uncle bought it for her in 1974 from Otten Pontiac in Commack NY, in an attempt to salvage their always stormy marriage. I’m guessing someone traded it in for something smaller in the wake of the Arab oil embargo. It was exactly like this featured car, same color, same interior, but with a white vinyl top. Once he bought the car for her, he lost interest in it, so my aunt made certain to learn what it needed to be properly maintained, and get it done herself. A local shop near her in East Northport NY knew the situation and advised her well. I remember they told her to watch 2 things in particular. One was to beware of leaks through the rear window into the trunk. The other was much more important. The front axle shaft seals had to be watched closely, as they had a tendency to dry out and leak. If that happened, and wasn’t caught, the transaxle was toast. She did her best to keep the car up, but eventually my uncle appropriated it as his daily driver, rarely maintained it, and ran it into the ground, giving it back to her to drive when it was on its last legs. By the time they decided to split up and go their separate ways in 1981, that once gorgeous Toronado was a forlorn shadow of its former self. The trunk floor and both rear quarters were badly rotted, along with the dual exhausts, and the transaxle was shot. When you put it into drive and revved the engine, it was as if the shifter was in neutral, and the car sounded like a tank. Of course at that point my uncle refused to pay to at least just fix the transaxle. So the car sat in the driveway that whole summer while the house was sold, the contents packed up, and garage sale after garage sale was held. My aunt couldn’t bear to junk it, but at the 11th hour sold it to a neighbor a few streets away for $100, whose son was handy and was willing to take a chance on the car. The paint and top actually still looked good. I used to clean and wax the car for her sometimes. My aunt is well up in her 80s now, and had several cars come and go in her life after that one, but through it all, she still swears that Toronado was her all time favorite…
Wow. A first for me. This is the first Toro of this generation that I have seen with crank windows….
What a BEAST! While not as stunning as first gen Toronados this is a good looking car. I especially like that line above the headlights. Makes the car look like it is just slightly scowling.
I had a gold 1971 Toronado. It was really great cruiser on the highway. Drank gas like no tomorrow too. I averaged 9 mpg. I shutter to think what it would cost to use one today as a daily driver. Mine had a special engine option, I think it was w24 or something. It had massive torque and would destroy the front tires if you floored it from a stop. The front CV joints went out and I parked it for the winter. My brother took me to start it in his 4wd Eagle. The snow was level with the front end and I drove straight out of it. My brother got stuck.
I had a 1974 with air bags, yes air bags. Forget gas mileage. The best I got was 13 MPG on the highway. Still loved it.
I really don’t think fuel economy is a big deal, who is going to use this as a daily driver? Doesn’t take premium either. They were good looking cars for the era. I had a 71 which actually had antilock rear brakes which did pretty good in snow and ice. I also had a 70 which I liked better and would get 17 mpg on trips to Florida from Indiana. It had the high compression 370 hp engine and did a 15.07 quarter mile once.
It’s a high class car. Very appropriate to photograph it in an expensive venue. What’s more expensive than a gas station??
JCA that’s funny!!! caught in its natural habitat a fuel pump🤣🤣
BF is great… the cars and the wit!!
I see some nose cancer at the front of the hood across the front
Had a 73 in early 80’s. It was typical brown finish with tan vinyl top. I don’t t recall feeling too hurt by the fuel economy. It could really cruise the highways. Also reluctantly had to become my own expert at changing out the front drive shafts. I’d get them all from junkyards some worked and some needed replacement again. The later versions; 1976 or so, in my mind were nicer.
Auction update: this one ended with no sale.
I bought this car yesterday. It will need a lot of attention. I will shoot a couple pictures to update everybody on here.
Moved it from miami to Palm beach where I will work on her.
Everything is in working condition only the power steering has a leak on one of the hoses which will be an easy repair.
Absolutely love this car already
Little update on the Toronado.
Did a full service on the car, every fluid and every filter has been changed.
Even with a very rough exterior I get numerous thumbs up when driving this car. It’s a head turner for sure.
Replaced the rear shocks as they were toast.
Only problem right now is that she likes to stall when coming from idle at a traffic light for example.
Makes me think dirty fuel filter.. or throttle valve..