The seller refers to this one as a farm find and it’ll take a major first-year Toronado fan to buy and restore this 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado given its present condition. It can be found here in the field in Ponca City, Oklahoma – home of the Conoco Museum. It’s listed here on eBay with a starting bid of $2,499.
This car was bought new by a husband and wife and they eventually sold it, then they bought it back a few years later. The husband passed away sometime after that and as these stories usually go, the car languished and is now sitting in a field where it has been for an undetermined number of years. It will need a full restoration. First-year Toronados are very desirable and Hagerty lists a #2 excellent condition example as being valued at just $29,600, less than you paid for your last commuter car. This car more than likely won’t get a $50,000+ restoration but maybe someone will buy it, get everything working, and drive it as it looks now.
What a great design, though. In 1966, this had to be one of the most head-turning cars on the road. I still wonder what a 2019 Toronado might have looked like.
The seller isn’t the owner, he’s selling it for the widow – the wife half of the original couple who bought it new, sold it, and bought it back again. Confusing. At the time that he took the photos, the owner couldn’t find the keys so he couldn’t get interior photos and couldn’t get a photo of the engine. The owner has since found the keys so maybe the seller will update the eBay photos. They think that the original engine has been changed so that would most likely hurt the value. Speaking of value, what is the value of this farm find Toronado?
For that price does one get a farm animal like a cow or a 🐖 with the farm fresh rust and vermin?
This car is a possible donor car for parts at best. Field cars sit in the elements and rot from the inside out sadly. This car needed a barn years ago and it’s not a Porsche or a old dodge that brings cra cra prices .
I think someone needs to break it to the owner thats is a 500-800 price.
I wish the seller all the luck on his sale.
Its like farm artwork with that patina sitting like is. I agree with you Steel I want a cow as well for that price! Shame, itll prob just keep sittin. Such a unique car, Pioneer for Fwd. GLWS.
Jay
I wonder how old those 2 stripe whitewalls are……I think they were last made around 1973.
I like to drive the back roads. One of the fun things to do is to look for old cars and trucks stashed near barns or in back (sometimes front) yards or in fields. My mind usually goes to what the vehicle looked like new, and what it would take to restore it. But sadly, most of them are beyond restoration (there of course are exceptions) or aren’t very desirable models anyhow. So their fate is either the scrapyard, or more appropriately, they are “farm artwork” as noted above.
This was a very unique, stylish car in its day. An example of GM at its peak.
I bought a ’67 out of Thunder Bay real clean 60thousand miles on it for $6500 Cdn . A Dick ran a red and tagged my drivers door and a bit of the quarter . I could use this for parts but its Rough – $500 tops IMO.
I’ve always been intrigued about where cars are parked on various properties and how randomly some are placed. One would think that if a car is not running it would be placed in proximity from where it could be more easily removed. Using it as target practice is one thing, but why make it an obstacle to have to mow around?
From the one pic you can see another car put out to pasture as well. “Hey honey, how about we park this one over here?”…….
I’ve often thought the same thing. As a city dweller, I have to use my space properly. Out in the country, they may have the luxury of open space to leave things to rot, but really why not at least plan it’s final resting spot? Sometimes the hood is left open. Don’t get it…
Someone should start the “Oldsmobile Ranch” and place it nose up facing west!
Hey Shawn, I haven’t seen one of these on the road or anywhere since my Dad’s in the early ’70s. Better grab this one for your repairs. Don’t know anyone making body parts for these guys. Good looking cars with tons of power.
Couldn’t find the keys so there are no interior shots??? You open these with a coat hanger. Oh, wait…we don’t have any coat hangers either.
Clearly a $500.00 car. A “standard ” interior car? It’s rarer than the deluxe model but they are uglier and way less desirable. It’s really more of a parts car with the original engine gone. Sorry seller, you’re dreaming at your starting price.
Brings back memories. In the 80’s, I was ‘gifted’ a 74 LeSabre convertible that had been sitting in original owner’s field for years. They had driven the snot out of it, overheating the motor, and ended up in the field after a night of drinking.
After rebuilding the motor, transmission, interior, convertible top, etc, etc. I realized the money spent would have purchased a really nice survivor car…twice!
sigh! Lesson learned.