When the Oldsmobile Toronado broke cover in 1966 it was a ground-breaker. As well as being the first US produced front wheel drive car since the 1937 Cord, it won the 1966 Motor Trend Car of the Year and placed 3rd in the 1966 European Car of the Year which is a feat that no American car has achieved either before or since. You can find this particular 1966 Toronado for sale here on Craigslist. Located in/on/at (somebody correct me) Mercer Island, Washington and for sale with a clean title, this time capsule could be yours for $24,000. Our thanks goes to Barn Finds reader Rocco B for referring this car to us.
Overall the condition of this car looks to be close to perfect. However the advertisement does cause me a bit of confusion as it is open to interpretation. In the Specifications Panel at the side of the Craigslist ad it describes the color as “Custom”. In the text of the advertisement it describes the paint as being the “original color”. To me that probably suggests that the paint color when new was a custom mix, and that the car has been subject to a respray since. Does anyone else interpret it that way? Regardless, the car does appear to have a nice gloss to it. The exterior trim also appears to be complete and in good order.
The interior trim all appears to be present and in pretty impressive condition. The seller states that the headlining is good as is all of the glass. The advertiser states that the Toronado belongs (or belonged) to a non-smoker and that it is a one owner vehicle. The photos appear to be taken either in a museum or a showroom, so I am unsure whether it is being sold on consignment or if the seller is a flipper. Regardless of which it is, the car does appear to be in good order.
Unfortunately the seller doesn’t include any engine photos which to me is something of an irritation. A clear photo of an engine can tell a potential buyer a huge amount about the care that a car has received. The seller states that the original 425ci V8 with Turbo Hydramatic transmission reside under that expansive hood. He states that there are no leaks and no smoke, and that everything functions as it should. He also states that the car sports working air con. Due to lack of engine photos, let’s substitute this shot of the rear passenger area. It appears to be just as nice as the front.
Pop-up headlights! More cars should have these. I just love them. The seller states that these work exactly as they did when new. In fact the seller goes to great lengths to emphasize that this Toronado looks and operates as though it has just rolled off the production line, and that they would be happy to enter it in any motor show.
Maybe I’m becoming old and cynical, but the ambiguity surrounding the paint is something that I would be wanting to investigate if I were considering buying this car. I have to admit that it does appear to be a rather nice example. Scouting around the internet shows wildly varying prices on these depending on condition. I have seen examples as low as $9,500 for a car in average condition and as high as $47,000 for a mint one. I just can’t decide where this one fits in the grand scheme of things.
Absolutely gorgeous example.I am the one with a hair trigger itch that wants to restomod everything I see.
I would change NOTHING on this car.
The color is giving me period flashbacks.Looks like the kind of sled a Cape Canaveral area car dealer would give to a Gemini / Apollo astronaut upon return from space.
On Mercer Island, in the middle of Lake Washington in the middle of Seattle. Pricey homes and beautiful Toronados.
Paul Allen lives on the “Rock”
This car appears to be re-sprayed in “Autumn Bronze”, a stock color. The front seat appears to be reupholstered. The interior is the “Standard” model, and not the more desirable “Deluxe” interior. There are at least a couple of inconsistent items on the car; the chrome exhausts are aftermarket, and the eyebrow moldings above the headlights are missing. While this looks like a solid car, the fanatic collector would likely pass on this vehicle.
Paint color looks like N Burgundy Mist (50700)
http://automotivemileposts.com/toronado/paint1966toronado.html
Note: Cars ordered with special order paint may have the “PNT” field on its Body Data Plate either blank, or filled in with asterisks (**) to designate a non-standard paint color.
My friend’s father owned a series of these early Toronados. He was fond of saying, “The only thing it can’t pass is a gas station.”
I want this one bad.
Mercer Island is in the middle of Lake Washington and Interstate 90 crosses it. A rather upper class neighborhood.
The emblem on the front, between the headlights, is upside down.
nice ride!!!😎
Does this one have the correct steering wheel for 1966 and was there an optional wheel.
Here is a picture of the steering wheel on the car I am looking at.
Also it is odd that there is a new ad for this car in Mexico which was published by a dealer and the odd thing is that the dealer is asking less money for the car than the owner was. That never happens in the US.
I believe that is the correct steering wheel for that year. If I’m correct, after 67 they changed it to the ugly one you have pictured. Mine is a 68 and has that same wheel as your pic (I’m going to change it one way or another and originality be da**ed!).
Nice car and I’m glad its near perfect and in very original condition. My favorite years (68 to 70) are used as heart donors for transplants on other cars needing the 455. Every year my car gets more and more rare, especially with buckets and center column! :(
That steering wheel is from a 1968 Toronado
Really?
I am going to have to ask why it doesn’t have the original wheel.
Thanks guys for the help.
That steering wheel is from a 68 Olds. The 66 model gave one a choice between a fixed deep bow tie 4 spoke and the tilt and telescopic wheel with center ring locking for telescope adjustment.
Good grief that’s a steal of a price…I had pegged it for twice that Hopefully the ad is real because it smells of scam
Okay you meantioned price I myself say 25 to 30K that sound about right to yall? I love the car I had a 69 model in tan and it had the 425 in my as well. Love the car even when gas mileage wasn’t the greatest. Mine was tan inside and out
Can someone get the contact details of the seller from the Craigslist ad? I am trying but there is always an error.
Thanks a lot,
C
Can someone get the contact details of the seller from the Craigslist ad? I am trying but there is always an error.
Thanks a lot,
C
Although the car looks really nice, it is a “low-option” example of this model. It is not the “Deluxe” Toronado package to begin with–no cornering lamp, rolling windows and the lack of front center bench seat armrest and lack of complete length door armrests. The lack of body and fender damage, and “all the pieces/trim” being present, is certainly a plus. The sole owner “provenance,” if supported by paperwork, adds value, too. It seems priced correctly, if the engine is not molested, and the car operates as stated.
Cristian:
Here ya go.
Sorry it turned out SOOOOOOO large.
Thanks a lot Jimmy.
I am gonna deop an email and let you know if I get an answer.
Cristian
I had one when new, they are terrific, someone buy it, I have no room.
Cord made its first fwd in the L-29 in 1929. Others in the world produced other fwd models before that date.
Except for the custom convertible Joe Mannix drove in the first season of Mannix (the Intertect season), these cars don’t appeal to me at all.
The steering wheel in the blog is for 1967 Toronado. The 1966 Toronado wheel is totally different and only one available. The story car referral as a :Custom” means its a base model. The term “Deluxe” is the higher priced one. Either he is over priced or my ’66 Toro is undervalued. It is a Deluxe model with 47k original miles in color of “Doubonet” inside and outside. This color resembles an egg plant color. Super car that is over engineered and a triumph to the men that had a hand in its production.
Egads. Crank windows. That’s a 12k discount from my perspective.
The color of the feature car is “Autumn Bronze” I believe. The “Custom” reference is the entry level car. Bench seat, no headrests nor dual inside door pulls. The “Deluxe” is more desirable. The blog reference picture is a steering wheel from a ’67 Toro. If he gets that much for the car good for him. How much more is mine worth as a “Deluxe” model in color of “Dubonet” which an egg plant color and 47k rust free miles .
I seem to remember GM naming some of its more entry-level models as “custom.” According to the GM brochure, there is a standard and a deluxe model.
I am looking for a 66 Toronado with Dubonnet. Exterior and grape interior. Is the one pictured for sale?
Owned a 66,12″ drums which did not a thing to stop the tank.The 425 with the rodchesters (sp)carb would smoke the gumball 15 inch tires. front Wheel bearings are a double roe ball bearing and impossible to find,a later disk brake a arms and axle will swap over,mine was the deeeelux,power everything a beautiful car.many fond memories..at 100 it felt like 20.smoooth. To bad the little bitccccccch loved gasoline.had to sell.also ad says rwd,first us made car to have fwd since the cord.great car
Look here and find that black interior steering wheel in the 1967 Olds Toronado brochure.
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/olds.html
Well, where do I began. There is just so much wrong with this car. Some of the comments are correct, some are not. I’m basing this on the fact that I’ve owned 35-40 1966-970 Toronado’s over the years. I went to the junk yard with my father almost every Saturday in the late 70’s thru the mid 80’s primarely to get all the Toronado parts we could. Here’s some issues: The header panel “rocket” emblem should be pointing upward; the steering wheel is absolutely the original for a base/standard model ’66 Toronado. The black one shown in this comment section is from a ’68-’69 Toronado, NOT a ’67. The tail pipe extensions are incorrect and after market; The slit panels above the head lamps have incorrectly been painted the same color of the car, probably when the car was repainted; the carpet has been replaced do to the off-red non-matching color of the interior. I attached a picture of a 1966 Toronado the same color as this one for sale, with deluxe interior, that I just bought a month ago from the original owner’s 66 year old grandson (in picture). 60,700 miles…….don’t know why the picture is side ways…..
…..oooops, I forgot to add, Oldsmobile never, ever put a square driver’s side mirror on the driver’s side. The non-remote was round as in the picture of my car on the trailer…..and they also never put the optional chrome wheels on the standard Toronado, again, as in the car in the picture. The wheels were painted silver.