What an incredible find this is. A Barn Finds reader sent in the tip for this 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado GT and didn’t leave their name, so thanks to them. This car checks so many boxes it’s not even funny, not the least of which is having under 18,000 miles, appearing rock solid, having the W-34 option, and a “phantom vinyl roof” giving the look of a vinyl top but without the corrosion worries.
If this car had red leather I wouldn’t be able to continue, it would be too hard on my heart. Even without red leather, this is most likely a once-in-a-lifetime car. Sadly for the original owner, they apparently didn’t get to enjoy it that much as it only has 17,804 miles on it. I have a 22-year-old car that just turned over 25,000 miles and it may be why this car was an “estate find” – use ’em or lose ’em, folks.
Without seeing the data card, I don’t know if this is Platinum Iridescent or Oxford Gray? Whatever it is, it’s gorgeous. At first, I thought the vinyl top looked shinier than usual until I read the seller’s detailed description explaining that the original owner wanted the look of a vinyl top but didn’t want the rust headaches later, and he refers to it as “Phantom Vinyl Roof”, which he says was a dealer option. As a W-34 car, there was, of course, dual exhaust but that was a feature of all Toronados – just not directly out the back like this. In case you were wondering what the trunk looked like, it’s just as clean and nice as the rest of the car.
What in the name of aftermarket gauges is this?! Thankfully, for those of us who prefer to live in the past with our vintage vehicles, the original uncut panel comes with this one! Five screws later and you’re back in business, well, other than maybe disconnecting all of those gauges first, we don’t know about that part. The original owner is said to have wanted full gauges and installed those. The (vinyl?) seats look perfect both front and rear as does pretty much everything else about the interior. I think the seat inserts would have originally been a brocade-type fabric, does anyone know? That’s what all of the brochures show. I hope the steering wheel cover is there to protect a perfect steering wheel.
The engine is Oldsmobile’s 455-cu.in. OHV V8, and for $47.39 extra, a buyer in 1970 could get the W-34 option that included bigger intake valves, a more aggressive cam, and also the aforementioned dual exhaust cutouts. This package was good for another 25 horsepower, pumping out 400 horsepower, and 500 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a three-speed automatic sending power to the front wheels, this was about as close to a luxury muscle car as there was in 1970, at least on this scale. The seller has this gorgeous example listed here on eBay in Nine Mile Falls, Washington, there is no reserve, and the current bid is $10,600. How much is this car worth in today’s market? $20,000?
What a great car, so the owner didn’t like idiot lights. I get that, so why didn’t they drive it? Wanted performance, sound and only drive it 18 thousand miles wow, I have to say I like it. One of my cars was a 71, that 455 rocket was everything you could want but fuel efficient! lol but gas was cheap, point the front wheels and let it rip. Amazing it cornered somewhat decent with all that weight up front. Nice looking car
I have the same lust for gauges that this owner had. We’ve got a 2011 Mini Cooper with nothing. Our 2021 Chrysler van at least has a water temp gauge to along with the gas gauge. This is a beautiful car for sale here. Just don’t see them at all any more.
I believe this is the only Oldsmobile to be advertised at 400HP or more.
That vinyl interior is as-intended. I have a 70 non-GT with full white vinyl. The fabric inserts were part of the base interior, which I believe had a console and buckets. The “Custom” interior option, which most buyers chose in 70, featured the strato-bench front seat, all vinyl, and other accoutrements.
When I was a kid. We would go watch the dirt track cars at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, maybe it was Kennedale. Anyway, they had a run what you brung heat where any fool in the bleachers could race their personal vehicle for a Chili Dog and bragging rights. Well the typical Texas Rednecks in their pickups were lucky if they kept it straight and off the wall. But there was this chain smoking woman driving an early Toronado weaving in and out of everyone else. Flicking her ashes out the window on her way to the front. She won every weekend she was there. With nary a scratch on that big beautiful Olds.
Absolutely stunning and IMHO one that is automotive artwork. I’d encourage the barn finds authors and to highlight some of the less common features (like the barrel speedo on these) in the write-ups so they aren’t lost to old timers like myself.
During this same year (1970) you could in an Eldorado a 400HP 500 cubic-inch V8. My brother’s friend would borrow Mom’s Eldo and do burn-outs from the end of my street! 11 yr old me was in awe!! Never heard a Cadillac howl like that one did!
Wow! As much as I like old MOPARs these cars entrance me. The Chargers and Demons are me trying to recapture and even improve on my youthful memories.
This car transports me to a time/place I wasn’t part of but would loved to have experienced. The word is anemoia. Is that worth 20K or more? Probably. Can I rationalize it? Not easily.
Question: I just retired I can afford buying this car problem is I don’t have a garage,would this be a shame purchasing without proper storage I only drive a couple hundred miles a month l
(My previous comment seems to have been lost in the ether)
Great car! As much as I like old MOPARs these kind of rides really entrance me. A Demon or Charger would allow me to relive and even improve some youthful memories and actions. A car like this brings me to a time/place that I was not part of, but would have loved to experience. The word is anemoia.
Glenn Miller does that for me as well and is a lot cheaper than vintage cars.
Yes, that interior should be red!
Like Chevrolet and Pontiac did, I’ve often said, I wish Olds and Buick would’ve kept the red interior option for 1970. Platinum and red would have looked stunning on this Toro.
Olds never offered a “phantom vinyl roof”. That trim was used around the original vinyl top, which was obviously removed when the car was repainted. The cowl tag will document the fact that the car came with a vinyl top originally.
This was still a daring and beautiful car at the end of its first generation. Mock vinyl top is new to me. Great colors. The dash treatment is a finger in the eye but you’ll keep the conversation going and maybe even make up your own story.
Concerned about the odometer reading as the numbers do not align.
Could have been tampered with.
Other than that, beautiful and desirable car.
My thoughts exactly. I’ve been told when a odometer is out of line like that it is because it has been messed with.
Beautiful car that looks like original mileage though.
Not sure if I trust the mileage on Amy 1970 car. We drove them back then, didn’t put them away for the future. Yes, misaligned digits is a typical sign the odometer has been apart, by a unskilled tamperer.
What a stunning example; I’d love to drive around in something this cool.
Am I correct in my memory, that the transmission in these was a normal Turbo-Hydramatic 350/400, flipped around and driven by a chain from the engine, to power the front wheels?
@danno Yes, chain drive. The engine was also offset to the right in order to make room the trans on the left.
Engine is not offset. She’s right down the middle. The transmission is offset to the driver’s side, and in front of it sits the final drive. The 455s in Toros of this vintage have a special low-rise intake so the engine can sit high enough to accommodate both the transmission and the huge axles/steering components running side-to-side underneath. With 3000 of her 4400 pounds over the front wheels, these machines had to be wonderfully overengineered to eliminate torque steer and provide an effortless, safe (for the era lol) driving experience. And they are!
This is a beautiful car, but I question the representation as others have…the phantom vinyl roof, the color (although I think I like it), A pic without the steering wheel without the cover would support or question the mileage ( these cars with average care will look this good with 118k. BTW, that dash bezel is not a snap-in fix, budget about 5hrs to remove the dash,,,, been there done that and it’s not fun. Finally, anyone in the market for a Toro GT will ask to see the transmission code(OM I believe) to verify its authenticity.
Bid at 17 plus now. Beautiful car IMO worth 20 plus all day long.
My dad had one when I was growing up and just got a license. It would smoke the front tires. Fast car.
Not a bad example except; seat backs look sunburned, theres some funky business going on in the lower DS door jamb, and the speedo had some work done to it. The gages? I built a panel in my ’72 XGS and pointed them 15* towards the driver. That job here was poorly executed… Just sayin’…
The gauges shown have the 15 degree angle rings on them. The fact they are a mile away from view is the problem. I would suggest the the job was executed as well as possible… especially since he retained the original panel to go back to stock with no apparent modifications.
I totally agree, I like gauges. Digital ones are better at a distance but don’t look as good. I had many more gauges in my 65 Cadillac considering I had 3 batteries, 2 alternators and 185 lights.
I loved wiring my Cadillacs to MY specs and satisfaction. Other peoples opinions do not matter and I never sold my Caddys.
I had enough of silver cars in the aughts but the shade on this one is amazing. Pewter? It almost looks like burnished metal. Like a DeLorean in Stainless. And a brown interior? I could get used to the gauges.
I think the guages are a big distraction from a beautifully designed dashboard. Unfortunately, the replacement bezel looks like a junk yard piece, and be prepared for a 5hr job removing the dashboard to replace it – been there done that.
Cadmanls here you go 👍 👍 👍 👍 🏁
Clearly the odometer has rolled over, it’s misaligned. As for that vinyl roof story…
It’s a beautiful car, no doubt about it, and currently priced as 118k miles. I’d like to see the body tag, I don’t think that’s a factory color, and an odd choice with a brown interior. Interested parties should ask to see the trans code (OM I believe) to verify its a GT. I recall seeing it for sale a while back, but don’t recall where…
nice car. lose the gauges in the dash and the under-dash radio. the odometer looks to have been messed with at some point. i had a customer with 1 of these. that car would fly and sounded like a w30.really cool. wish had stupid money to try and buy it. tough in this economy.
Question: I just retired I can afford buying this car problem is I don’t have a garage,would this be a shame purchasing without proper storage I only drive a couple hundred miles a month l
Auction update, this one sold for $22,300.