The Toronado would be Oldsmobile’s entrant in the personal luxury car segment in 1966. It shared the E-platform that the Buick Riviera introduced in 1963, but it would employ front-wheel-drive, unlike its GM sibling. It would be the first U.S.-produced FWD auto since the Cord in 1937. This second-year edition had a bunch of work done to it recently that probably accounts for much of the seller’s asking price of $12,900. The Olds is available here on craigslist from Nashville, Tennessee. Another tip from Barn Finder Pat L.!
Ironically, when Cadillac joined the fray with its revitalized Eldorado in 1967, it too would go the route of front-wheel-drive. The 1966 model of the Toronado was considered a big step forward in the day’s design technology and won several awards, including Motor Trend‘s Car of the Year Award and Car Life‘s Award for Engineering Excellence. It also was the only American car ever to be awarded recognition in Europe, as the third-place finisher in the European Car of the Year competition. After selling nearly 41,000 copies of the Toronado in ’66, Olds production dropped for the little-changed cars in ’67 (22,000 units).
The list of work performed on this Toronado since the seller bought it is lengthy, suggesting it may have been a bit rough when he/she acquired it a little more than a year ago. All the chrome was removed, and any body damage was repaired before a new coat of burgundy paint was applied. The finish is urethane with gloss mixed in and there is no clear coat. However, the interior was left mostly as the seller found it and is rather worn, especially the door panels and upholstery. That’s the area of the car where the seller will need to focus next.
This Oldsmobile has a 425 cubic inch V8 and automatic transmission, both of which do their job with an odometer reading of 18,000 miles (bound to have turned over). The car has received a complete tune-up and the carburetor has been overhauled. New stuff includes the heater core and blower motor, alternator, wiper motor and arms, headlamp door actuators, horns, brakes, window/door/trunk seals, and tires. The factory A/C works just a-okay. The seller mentions being on the lookout for some acreage near Nashville, hinting that this car and others he/she has available might be worked out in trade.
I never understood the concept of Motor Trend’s Car of the Year award. I’ve always thought that I would prefer knowing which vehicle is the best of the year, not just which “new” vehicle is the best. (You could have a design that is several years old which is superior to anything newer. I’d rather buy that car over a brand new design, which is nowhere near as good). That plus the fact that some winners over the years turned out to be real dogs (1996 Dodge Caravan, 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, anyone?).
Very good points! How about the’71 Vega being chosen as MT car of the year??
@ Tom and RW:
I always take MT car of the year with a grain of salt. I often wonder if the biggest advertiser has an unfair advantage over other brands?
Tom…absolutely the reason I lost
respect for Motor Trend. 2 years
earlier wasn’t it the Roadrunner!?
Car and Driver’s 10 Best awards are more in line with what you’re talking about.
‘Car of The Year’ is just that, their choice of the new models. You don’t have to agree. You can look into ‘Classic’ car choices, ‘Hot Rod’ choices. ‘Restored’ choices, ‘Vintage/Antique’ choices, ‘whatever choices’ for other classes.
I got a good one for you,1983 Renault Alliance.
Rw, I was just thinking the same thing. That one practically invented the acronym POS.
I remember my girlfriend’s mother owned a ’66 Toronado and I was amazed at how big the doors were.
When I was in the army a friend (Ken Berry not the actor) whose parents bought a new Toronado. Apparently they were quite wealthy. I believe he was drafted. They owned a huge feed store somewhere in upper state New York. It was my understanding they always had the latest and greatest of everything.
God bless America
One of Uncles bought one a couple of years old and really liked it. One big flaw the front tires went away very fast.
If there was no FWD toro or eldo in the ’60s, i wonder what trans setup the ’60s mid engine corvette concept cars would have gotten – or if they would even have been built!
Oldsmobile Oldsmobile!
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways!
Thou art big
Thou art American
Thee hast a V8
Thee hast hidden headlights
Thou art fast
Thou art Bad Ass
Thee makest me smile to look upon
Oh how I love and miss thee Oldsmobile
Hear Hear! Oldsmobile
Only weakness of these early Toronados was how rapidly the CV joint covers deteriorated. Took a few years for the engineers to find the right material to withstand the abuse of gravel, water, snow, flexing, etc. these covers faced. I replaced one too many CV joints before learning to examine the covers every oil change. I’m not an engineer so don’t understand why they couldn’t just use universal joints like the military jeep I had, for example.