In a previous article, I described the Chevrolet Corvair as one of the most significant new models to emerge in post-war America. I based my belief on the company’s “clean” sheet design approach, and the same could be argued for the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. It broke new ground technologically, and the developments that first saw the light of day on these cars eventually found their way below the skins of other vehicles from various marques. This Toronado is an unmolested survivor wearing its original Black Plates. It is loaded with luxury equipment, and the seller offers it with No Reserve. The Olds is listed here on eBay in Nine Mile Falls, Washington. Bidding has scorched to $8,300, meaning a new home is only days away for this classic.
Oldsmobile released the Toronado for the 1966 model year as its entry into the emerging Personal Luxury Car segment. Its two-door body featured sleek styling and bulging fenders that helped it stand out from the competition. This car is an original survivor finished in Ebony Black. The seller doesn’t mention any prior restoration or repairs, although it is an unusual vehicle since it came into their hands via two separate estate sales! It spent much of its life in California and continues wearing its original Black Plates. The overall condition is impressive for a survivor-grade vehicle of this vintage. The paint retains a pleasing shine, with no issues beyond a small collection of minor chips. Black paint is ideal for revealing panel imperfections, but there are no such problems here. There is no mention of rust, and there is nothing visible in the excellent selection of supplied photos. The Toronado retains its original tinted glass and, like the chrome and trim, it is easily acceptable for a car of this type.
We must delve below the surface to establish what made the Toronado groundbreaking. Vehicles of this type traditionally feature a rear-wheel-drive configuration, with a V8 offering effortless performance. Oldsmobile had spent years developing an alternative dubbed the Unitized Power Package, or UPP. This combined a 425ci “Rocket” V8 with a THM-425 automatic transmission. It squeezed the entire package into an average-sized engine bay, sending 385hp and 475 ft/lbs of torque to the road via the front wheels. That made the Toronado the first American front-wheel-drive model since Cord’s demise in the 1930s. It also improved interior space, legroom, and occupant comfort. Power steering was essential to isolate the driver from some of the torque steer that is an inherent part of this configuration, while the four-wheel drum brakes benefit from power assistance. The numbers don’t seem to stack up when we consider potential performance because this car tips the scales at 4,568 lbs, and front-wheel drive is not the best attribute for producing stunning ¼-mile ET figures. However, completing the journey in 15.6 seconds on the way to 137mph confirms this car is more than a pretty face. The seller claims this Olds has a genuine 38,000 miles on the clock, and while they don’t mention verifying evidence, the condition makes the claim plausible. The engine bay is spotless and doesn’t flatter to deceive. The Toronado runs and drives perfectly with no issues or problems. Potential buyers can consider it a turnkey proposition.
This Toronado’s interior features a gauge cluster mounted below the dash. Otherwise, it is as original as the day it left the factory. The Black upholstered surfaces are free from rips and tears, seemingly supporting the mileage claim. It isn’t perfect because the edge binding on the sunvisors has become unstitched. The foam appears to be collapsing on the driver’s seat base, and I’m not sure whether it might require replacement. Otherwise, this interior has no apparent needs. Oldsmobile marketed the Toronado as a Personal Luxury Car, and its interior supports that with a wide selection of creature comforts. It features air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a power driver’s seat, a tilt/telescopic wheel, and a Wonderbar AM/FM radio.
The 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado broke new ground with its mechanical specifications. Although the risk was that it would become an automotive orphan, the UPP eventually found its way under Cadillac and GMC Motorhomes during the 1970s. This car is a tidy classic, and if its odometer reading is confirmed, it makes it pretty special. It isn’t perfect, but addressing some of the shortcomings would be an inexpensive way of lifting its presentation to a higher level. The No Reserve auction means it will soon find a new home, but what would you pay to make that home yours?
Such a beautiful looking car, had me until I discovered it was front wheel drive. Over here we like our 8’s to be rwd, and our 6’s (Holden / Ford)
Not replying to Aussie, but joining probably everybody else on here in saying what a beauty this is. Even the cornering lights are stylish and rather rare as is the tilt-tele wheel.
I wasn’t able to see all of the pictures but would’ve liked to see the power option switches on the door panels. Also, looks like the escutcheon for the power antenna is missing.
Bids are up & up & up!
Odd you should mention door panel switches; IIRC these and RIVs had a switch rgat when you opened the doors, the front seat back latch released maked back seat egress so much easier. Hmmm.
My dad had one. As a teenager it was impressive being able to smoke the front tires and smooth as glass
If you ever driven a rwd big V8 in the snow, trust me, you want fwd!
Nope
I have to agree. It’s certainly a different driving experience especially stopping on ice or wet snow or slush. I put mine in a ditch once locking the brakes and turning the wheels then releasing the brake.
Wow. Just wow. Dave, I remember when this car came out and I wondered, ‘what?’ FRONT wheel drive? Give the engineers and designers their due. Cool ride.
Absolutely stunning design. Learning more about these cars as I’m getting older. Find an amazing they use the same drivetrain to pull those really big campers in the 70s. Why didn’t GM incorporate that design in the other larger cars. Or trucks?
This IS a very clean ’66, but with only 38,000, Where is knob that should be on the end of the shifter and WHY is it not on the shifter? That’s a whole lotta wear on the drivers seat too? It was obviously a Personal car by a large individual bc it doesn’t look like anyone was ever in those rear seats or on the passenger side either, but like someone else said, the chrome is missing around the Gas Pedal also which is really odd for such a hardly used old Toronado…TOO HOT FOR BLACK IN TEXAS even if it has A/C! Makes me miss my ’72 FWD 4bbl 500 c.i. Eldorado Vert I drove when I was assigned to Andrews, AFB building Jet-engines for Air Force One in the late 80s…U could smoke BOTH front tires in that ‘ol girl! What a blast it was to drive too…GLWS
I’m not sure what the knob that you think is supposed to be on the end of the shifter? I see a chrome handle about 3″ long on the shifter end.
The shifter knob is broken, and a common dilemma I don’t think they are available new, but usually can be found used. There is a guy in Las Vegas that has a herd of first generation Toro’s
You should know that the Cadillac Eldorado in 1967 was the same Toronado chassis. And as time went by, GM switched everything to FWD. I did see the Toronado front subframe and drivetrain installed in a Chevy square body truck. Fit in perfectly and lowered the height of the truck. For trucks, RWD works best, and then provide 4WD if the customer wants that.
STUNNING! Absolutely beautiful. I’m a Mopar guy but I loved almost everything that came out of GM in the 60s. They had great body lines and some really nice interiors, just could never get over their idiot light fascination.
Slick looking car! Not a big FWD fan, but would tool this around!
Truly, this is an amazing automobile! I see no downside, and given its current price point, I
visualize her taking up a space at my home.
Smooth, quick and elegant… a showstopper!
Under appreciated automotive art…
As a side note; I’ve always dreamed of this drive train in a mid-engine Corvair.
Bought one in Tropic Turquoise in 1974 when I was 18. Beautiful.Drove as good as it looked. Rotated the drum speedometer all the way around on I96 in Michigan at 2 am on a Sunday morning. All of a sudden the shaking started. It was me, not the Toro. Car drove like it was on rails. Loved that car. Later, my buddies and I rented GMC motorhomes to drive to Indy 500 ever year. Same front end. Great memories…
These early Tornados are some of my favorite cars. And this one looks like a real gem. If I didn’t just buy a new bike….
Yes Sir
My Mother had a lead foot and always took a new car out on the highway to bury the needle and it did. It was the 1st 1966 Olds Toro for sale in Cleveland Ohio at Dowd Olds. Was excellent in the snow too.
Now I came across a 1968 Olds Toro with the 455 ci and with the floor mounted Hurst shifter and the drum speedo went to 140mph and it did on a highway somewhere in the US. Out west at 6am Sunday
Looks great in Black! There were some really GREAT designs
from GM back then – What happened?
Absolutely eye candy
This is gorgeous. I was 12 years old when these came out and remember the extensive article in Popular Science. Still remember that the engine was placed slightly off -center so the chain drive off the crank could power the trans placed side by side with the engine. I’ve actually been shopping for a GMC motorhome with this drivetrain. Many of the campers have been updated with 500ci from the Eldorado and fuel injection.
That article was probably in the December 1965 issue of Motor Trend, where the ’66 Toronado won Car of The Year.
Everybody has already covered it. What a stunning vehicle. I’m old enough to remember these and many others from the 50s and sixties. What ever happened to car designers??
Remember well Great driving car ,but not a strip car unless it’s a mile lol
Outstanding. Gotta be one of the nicest original ones left.
For all the improvements in automobiles since the 60s not one brand today offers anything with the eclat and quality provided by this Toro and other fine cars from the era. When these came out I was 13 and only 3 years away from my drivers license and a 67 RT Coronet , 440 magnum. However I was somewhat intrigued by these front wheel drive Olds as no one in the USAhad offered such a configuration since the Cord of the 1930’s. Beautiful car and black looks good on it.
Bidders know a clean, honest, awesome ride when they see one. Over $16k with 5+days left. I will be surprised if it doesn’t push $20k when all is said and done.
Im just adding in to everyone else here, this is one stunning Toronado. I always liked the design of the first generation ones the best. I always liked the steering wheels in the 66 models Im pretty sure they were one year only they just looked cool. Beautiful with a black exterior and interior too. The only flaw I see is the chrome trim is missing on what Ive said before is probably the bigest gas pedal offered on any american car. When you hit that thing……. You knew you were driving a Rocket V8!!! Great car and great article too!!!
that is a repaint.look at all the broken parts in the interior,look at the rust hole in the right lower door,look at all the weaterstrips,the rust on the heater control panel,something is not right!
My Dad bought new a ’67, silver with black interior. Of the 60+ cars he has owned and driven during my lifetime (he’s now 92) his Toronado was by far my favorite of all. And it’s barrel spedometer was the coolest thing! The flat floors front and back were also quite the unique feature for a car in the late ’60’s.
Wow! Unanimous positive comments. Makes me proud to be from Lansing. When this car came out my Boy Scout troop had the opportunity to go to the factory and meet with some of the engineers. They told us that Uniroyal had developed a special tire for the Toronado and named it “TFD” – meaning “Toronado Front Drive”.
One engineer showed us a slide of the dogleg in the front frame rails, meant to absorb frontal impact. Said the insurance companies wanted it to protect the expensive drivetrain. I asked him if they had crashed any into brick walls and he assured me that they had. Another scout asked if they’d had issues with weight transfer on acceleration, effectively trumping my smart aleck comment.
My parents bought a 1969 model in mink brown with a black interior. It had the unfortunate front bumper that was not nearly as pretty as the ’66-’67 front end but it was a striking car nonetheless. I loved driving it on a summer’s night through the McDonald’s parking lot with all the windows rolled down. Sounded like a Chris-Craft on dry land.
Of all the mid 60s models the Tornando stands out as VERY UNIQUE & this one is mint & what a price, I’m guessing it will be bid up at least double & go around 21k
I have had a “66”Toro for 30 years mine is White with Black interior all original with 62.000 miles and untouched except by me to keep it looking 👌 💯 at car 🚗 show’s I get more people wanting to talk to me about what they do not know about the car than anyone who knows about them. I joined the Canadian Navy in 1966 so when I had the opportunity to buy the Toronado I was not able to help myself. Still love ❤️ the car and I am sure it will be mine until I can’t drive anymore, thanks for the look at another car as great as the one I have.
My uncle had a 66 Olds with the 425 2 barrel. It was very powerful with lots of torque. It was very smooth cruising at 80-90 on the interstates.
The Toro was equiped with a 425 c.u 4 barrel, putting out 385 hp. I had one, and I used all horses.
I don’t know if the first gen Tornado was Oldsmobile answer to the Riv. or El dorado but I wonder why they made it a front wheel drive? The Riv. Was rear drive that’s why it’s so beloved by collectors today. I still say GM did the Tornado a disservice by making this and other beautiful cars by making them front wheel drive. I’m glad Buick didn’t follow suit with the first gen Riviera. This Tornado is gorgeous if only it was rear drive. I’ve always felt like this.
Wow, this one looks MINT, AND it’s not that red I’ve seen on a million copies. In fact, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen one in black. Really pretty. I’d go for it!
Hi FROG, bullfrog here , are you UDT, Me 1949 team 12 then team one in 1955. Love That FWD Toranado and boy do they go in the snow..
Pleasure meeting you cousin. You lost me with UDT. I can relate with the 1949 and 1955.
Underwater Demo Team?
Too bad there are no underside pictures. Beautiful Toronado!
I had an uncle who was a bachelor until he was nearly 60 years old. However, during his free roving days he would always buy a new care every 2 years and the two that I remember best were a 1964 Olds 98 convertible (dark maroon exterior with a white top and interior and console). But the one that impressed me the most was his ebony black 1966 Toronado that also had a white interior and as far as I can remember it too had a console.
Shortly afterwards I bought my first car – a blue 1961 T Bird with a light blue interior which I sold to start my Freshman year of college and about 3 years later I bought a dark green 1966 Chrysler 300 with camel leather.
I just loved just looking at and driving these cars which prompted me to go to college to get my Industrial Design degree with the hopes of designing the next Toronado. lol.
I did get my BFA in Industrial Design but changed my profession soon afterwards and received my MArch and have been practicing architecture since 1978.
Nevertheless, I relish receiving your emails each day to look at these American icons and reminiscing upon the impact these cars had on my life and career as well as probably most of yours.
Thanks for taking the time today to share this with me.
Welcome to the club Rick. Maybe some time in the near future all of us oldawareones can meet somewhere for coffee tea Metamucil Geritol etc and share memories photos etc. Time flies and life is short or visa versa.
Would love to. Right now I’m playing Pickleball at least 6x per week. At 70 yo I can still beat 90 percent of those playing half my age.
Think young. Act young and dream young!
Before we were slaves to the wind tunnel and endless govt regs these were the cars people bought and drove. I have so much respect for Bill Mitchell and the people he had in the design department. Their eye for proportion and ability to lay a line was unparalleled. So many queues like the wind wheel opening and no line where the roof joins the quarter panel made the car look smaller than it was. Pure genius.
*wide wheel opening
Beautiful example in black. Whenever I see one of these it brings me back to the late 60’s when I was a pump jockey at a local Gas station. Our county sheriff had a 66 Toronado in a beautiful gold color that looked like he washed and waxed every week. He would come in for gas every couple of days and stand next to me watching to make sure I didn’t let any gas drip on his bumper when I was finished. I don’t think he ever said a word, he didn’t need to, in his crisp starched light brown uniform. I eventually started putting a clean rag over the bumper before I pulled the pump out.
Yes thank you for FwD and thus making our cars all crappy from that point forward. Thank you for the X body cars that came after! Just like the new electric cars that are out that entice us and making the ole ugly gas cars, thus telling the public how good the electric car is, soon the sheep will turn to that. Thank you for front wheel drive which contrary “thinking” they are not better on the snow, and finally selling us down the river! ALL big three, just for the massive big bucks! Yes that unstable FWD car started the decline of all three American car companies.
Well, aren’t you just a ray of sunshine this morning…
Haha….Isn’t it true….?
All of them tried to make the FWD cars more appealing….Isn’t that what they are doing with the electric polluting cars of today? Make them more appealing to get them to sell?
How about this. Make two vehicles look exactly the same, one gas one electric. Which one will sell more? You pick. Oh and tell the truth about the electric one, from battery production to charging with coal.
Wow this beauty is up over 17K. In California if you want to keep the black plates you would need the original California “pink slip” title with those plate numbers. If they are claiming that this is the original paint it must have not been out in the sun very much. That depression in the drivers seat is a tell tale sign that the foam is brittle and maybe the odometer has gone over once.
Seats will compressing springs will weaken with a 200+lb derriere pressing down on it. And I’m sure a successful well fed person probably owned this car.
I have owned several of these. They ride and drive like a dream…. so long as 9-10mpg doesn’t bother you. This one is extremely nice. With the chrome wheels and side marker lights, it appears to be a deluxe. With the bidding at just over $17k someone is going to get a bargain.
“Ride like a dream”…LOL
I had a 55 TBird that also rode like a dream, (drove it from NY to FLA) it drove like a dream..FF, restored it, it took over 10 years, drove it and it for some reason drove like crap. (I guess I was not 18 anymore). LOL Memory loss is a funny thing!
I sold our last ’66 Toro about 12 years ago (with 39k three owner miles. We owned it for almost 40 years – so my recollection is still recent). The broken shift lever is very common. The stalk doesn’t go all that deeply into the shift handle. Over time the plastic gets brittle and it snaps off at that exact location on the handle. The same thing is true for the hood release pull knob.
A bad idea will soon fizzle out car record players 8 tracks antennas in the windshields side post batteries I’m sure there’s many more I’m missing and the biggest faux electric cars.
Fuel isn’t going anywhere. AAA or a friend can bring you gas if you run out and have you going in minutes. EVs charge time is longer than the run time. Now multiply that times the wait time in line somewhere at charging stations. My insurance agent just bought a used EV a few hundred miles from home.
After 2 days of having to stop and charge they finally made it home. She finally admitted to her chagrin it wasn’t such a great idea but how many will swallow their pride? Don’t fall for the menusha.
You’re sitting on a powder keg if one of those short out and burn and good luck getting out. I know some will be quick to argue in favor of them still and support and promote them but it’s not the future. The future is hydrogen run vehicles. Do the research. And if you don’t see me on post any longer they did it and got to me.
Yeah because everyone knows gasoline cars don’t catch fire and burn. Speaking of burning batteries the post you typed up was probably on a laptop or phone with a lithium battery.
Cars and clothes shrink as we get older. Funny how that happens.
Cars and clothes shrink as we age. Funny how that happens?
I wonder how much longer people are going to repeat the fossil fuel industry propaganda about electric vehicles being more polluting because of coal fires plants. Right now coal accounts for less than twenty per cent of electricity generation in the U S and that number is dropping all the time as renewables increase their share and prices drop. Personally, I plan to drive my Mustang until it no longer runs, but my next car will be electric or hybrid. Check out the Archimedes company on YouTube for a new design wind turbine that’s way more efficient and operates at lower wind speed. Also, solid state battery with a 300 k mile life span from Toyota. Makes the whole battery replacement too expensive argument irrelevant. Who keeps a car longer than that anyway?
I sold our last ’66 Toro about 12 years ago (with 39k three owner miles. We owned it for almost 40 years – so my recollection is still recent). The broken shift lever is very common. The stalk doesn’t go all that deeply into the shift handle. Over time the plastic gets brittle and it snaps off at that exact location on the handle. The same thing is true for the hood release pull knob.
What a beautifully styled car! Those guys back in the 60’s knew how to design/draw! So, how did we go from there to here? Most cars are so bland now.
IMO, it didn’t take long for this car to get not so good looking. Just think about the front ends of the ’69-’70 models. Meh.😬
I remember when some guys were using these cars for demolition derby..What a shame,timeless design and this one appears a gem.
What a Humpback Whale would look like wearing jewelry and lots of bling LOL. Looks like any minute the hood will open up wide and gulp down some shrimp and the roof will blow out a lung full of air and then disappear into the road. They were a weird looking design, but they would grow on you if you ever drove one.
The Manny, Moe, & Jack aftermarket gauges bolted under the dash just screams “elegance.”
That paint looks like it’d been sun baked and polished out. Also whenever I see an engine that’s been sprayed with clear I think the detailer was a lazy amateur.
My dad bought a 66 in gold on black. IMO 1966 was the only year to have. Everything after was a poor attempt at bringing out something new for the next year.
Anyway, I noticed he wasn’t driving the Toro anymore and wouldn’t tell us what happened to it, but dad was a bit of a shady character whom you didn’t ask many questions.
6 months later a guy named Skinny, a dirty dog if there ever was one, pulled up to a friends house driving it!
I was heartbroken that the town scumbag was driving this beauty! Also wondered what he’d done to get it?
Such is life
Beautiful car!
My 67 Buick Riviera with the 430 Wildcat barrel speedometer was the shit!😎✨
A friend had a light green one in the late 1960s, and we drove it to and from races at Watkins Glen. It gobbled gas, but the fun was worth it. This beauty needs minor TLC and will eventually need paint, but it’s still a bargain: now $18,000, soon $30,000!
Can the seller hype this some more…..how about tilt AND telescopic steering wheel….
Had a 66 that I towed my boat with,( 18 foot flatbottom, 468 cu in big block, tandem axel trailer) with front wheel drive it pulled it straight as an arrow down the road, from southern Ca to the Colorado river, crosswinds no problem, slippery launch ramps, front driving wheels, still up on driy ground, no problem, super confortable ride, you bet, had it from 66 until 72 when I bought a new 72 Toronado kept it till I sold the boat and sold the Olds to my boss who had to have it,replaced it with a 911 and the wife got an XJ6Jag, she got the Gold mine and the Jag in the divorce and I got the shaft
I can’t believe that no one has mentioned that this is a semi-tribute to Cord. So many similarities: Front wheel drive, V8, hidden headlights, wheel arches, wheels with circles cut into them, horizontal line grills, similar roof line and more. A beautiful car!
Dad bought one new in late 65, and I bought the twin of that car in 1980. Still own it, it’s due for it’s second restoration.
These are incredible vehicles, they loved to go fast, so much so that they hated to stop HaHa. 4 wheel drum brakes are adequate, until they get used a bit too much. Yes it will touch the end of the 135 mph speedo. The subject car is really a nice example. The new owner will be very happy.
Always loved these cars and driving them is a dream but Oldsmobile could have done something better with interior. Look at a 66’ Grand Prix interior you’ll see what I mean.
My 66 Toro was a Deluxe, and they had a nicer interior than the Standard.
As a current owner of a gold ’66 Toronado Deluxe with all options (currently under frame-off restoration), I’m amazed these unique and revolutionary milestone classics are not selling for more.
I paid $4,000 for a mint body, original California car that required only cosmetic work, but I decided to bring back everything to ‘as new’. Everything will be rebuilt or restored.
I’ve been on the hunt for a ’66 Toronado for a few years, looking for the right one. This black beauty original is as nice as you’re likely to find.
Be careful Panther. My buddy had a nice original 67 Corvette, that he drove around and enjoyed. When he retired, he was going to “refresh” it. Frame off. When completed, he was afraid to drive it anywhere. Beware!
Mannix like it so much he had a convertible conversation made for his TV series and they did a horrible job l might add. Gorgeous car though it should have been rear drive like the Riviera.
Mannix like the car so much he had a convertible conversion made for his TV series and they did a horrible job l might add.
I’m sorry but this car is not nearly as nice as everyone hopes it is. It’s an obvious repaint. Look closely at the deck lid and places like door bottoms.
Under the hood is replete with spray bomb touch up. Everything has been painted black. Gloss black at that!
The interior has cheap, new carpet, there is a pad on the dash hiding something and the knob at the end of the shiter is indeed missing.
Why are there aftermarket gages as this car would have had a full compliment?
I think an in-person inspection would show this car to fall far short from its advertised condition.
Think the car sold for 28,500 last night