When Oldsmobile introduced the 1966 Toronado, it wasn’t just another personal luxury coupe — it was a technological statement. This was GM’s first modern front-wheel-drive production car, and it arrived wrapped in dramatic, futuristic styling that still turns heads today. This particular example is being auctioned here on eBay with a $5,000 starting bid and no reserve.
Power comes from a 425 cubic-inch Super Rocket V8, factory rated at 385 horsepower, paired with the innovative Turbo-Hydramatic 425 transmission designed specifically to drive the front wheels. The engineering alone makes these cars significant, and the Toronado delivered strong performance when new. The catch here is that the engine does not run, and things look pretty crusty under the hood.
Styling is arguably the real star. Hidden headlamps, a sweeping fastback roofline, and clean body lines give this ’66 a space-age presence that feels more European grand tourer than typical mid-’60s Detroit iron. Inside, you’ll find a driver-focused layout with a unique drum-style speedometer and aircraft-inspired switchgear. The white-over-red color combination could look striking again — after a lot of work.
Rust is always a concern with these, particularly in the front subframe and lower body panels, and sourcing Toronado-specific parts can require patience. The drivetrain itself is robust, and the 425 shares lineage with other Oldsmobile big-block components. Still, let’s hope the underside is solid and there isn’t serious rot in the critical areas.
This Toronado will need substantial work before it’s back on the road, but with no reserve, it could be an interesting gamble for the right buyer. As always, get it inspected and be realistic about the costs involved. First-year Toronados remain relatively accessible compared to other ’60s luxury-performance coupes.
Do you think this is one of the most underrated GM designs of the ’60s, or is it still flying under the radar for a reason?
One Thousand Ways To Get Screwed With A Tornado by Yule
B. Sorry. All kidding aside, these
cars were rolling money pits that kept their unlucky owners broke all the time. How do I know this?
Mine was an early production car
that nearly drove me to the poor
house. Excessive tire wear up front, gear whine, a front end
shimmy the repair shops couldn’t
fix, an engine that overheated when the temperatures outside got above 75 degrees, these were
only a few of the problems you faced if you were foolish enough
to buy one. Oh sure, the styling was great, but the car spent more time in the shop than it did in your driveway. It got to the point
that my friends down at Clay Dooley Tire Company simply refused to service it for me. The
last straw came when I was on a
short vacation from touring when
not one, but BOTH CV shafts fell
out of car while towing a 10 foot
John boat on the way to our favorite fishing 🎣 hole 🕳️. Well,
$1,500 later, (in 1972 money) I
traded it to the local Olds dealer for my ’62 Buick convertible. That was the cost of repairing both CV shafts only and nothing else. And the kicker? It had just
29K miles on it when I traded it in. It’s pretty bad when your Mom
didn’t wanna drive it.
I bought a used 1967 Toronado in 1968. It had many of the same problems as yours. Tried to get rid of it but no one would take it in trade. Finally, I found a Ford salesman that didn’t seem too concerned. He offered me a new 1969 Thunderbird 2-door HT for $2200 plus the Toronado. I couldn’t sign the paperwork fast enough…
lot of car that needs a lot of money. if you need 1 buy it done.
As opposed to Ken’s experience my father bought new in 66′ and it served faithfully till trade-in time in 70′. It made many weekly cross state commutes and in summers pulled the Shasta. One memorable haul with the Shasta took us to Expo 67 in Montreal, back thru Detroit during the riots only to have the trailer loose a wheel while in the left lane on the expressway. I remember my Dad flooring it to complete the pass with the tire on it’s side under the trailer leaving a very impressive 1/4mile long back mark.
Both the 2 I had were completely trouble free, a 70 and a 71. None of my friends with a Toronado had any issues, and that drivetrain was used in huge motor homes without problems.
One of the best looking cars ever made, front wheel drive done right from the start (no transverse crap design), and plenty of power and lux to boot.
Unfortunately, this one just needs too much. You can buy a roadworthy example for <$20k today and flawless example for ~$30k. You will need to put $30-40k into this just to get it roadworthy.
Kind of Strange yes. The TORONADO was far from a lemon though.
Looks like they left the hood up on this jewel for 30 years. Rain in motor ? Probably locked up . Parts or scrap now…….