Much like old TVR 280i’s, I have a deep obsession with the Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo. It’s a purely cosmetic attraction, as I still consider this Olds to be one of the most visually intriguing cars GM has ever made. The combination of striking looks, reliable 3800 V6 power, and a healthy amount of new-fangled technology made for an intriguing package, but not enough to stay in the lineup for very long. Find this Toronado Trofeo listed here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,000.
In the late 80s and early 90s, GM was facing stiff competition across a few different vehicles segments. The Japanese were dominating the entry-level car market with overbuilt machines, while the Germans were producing sports sedans with willing engines and rear-wheel drive. Oldsmobile had decent product designers, but struggled to put a package together the didn’t offend its core customers while attempting to attract BMW shoppers into the showroom. It didn’t quite work out, as the Toronado still mostly spoke to its existing customer base. Still, what a phenomenal design. It still looks sharp decades later.
Still, here’s the hard truth: I spent an hour or so in my 1987 BMW 325is this past week, a car I’ve now owned for 15 years. It has a 5-speed, inline-six, limited-slip differential, and a decent computer for tracking fluid levels and fuel consumption. In reality, it has everything the Oldsmobile has, plus you can genuinely drive the stuffing out of it and have a blast doing so. Packaging-wise, the Toronado Trofeo had a lot going for it, but without three pedals, it seemed destined to always be perceived as the 90s version of a personal luxury coupe.
With 170 b.h.p. and 220 lb.-ft. of torque, it was more powerful than my 3-Series by a healthy amount. And the 3800 V6 is a legendary powerplant both in terms of reliability and performance, but the latter was almost certainly stunted by the standard automatic transmission. The seller reports that his Toronado was off the road for many years before he revived it, and I’m curious if it’s the same one I spotted at an auction in New Mexico last year. The asking price of $5,000 seems fair for a runner, but it may take a slightly lower offer to sell this obscure classic.
I was a teenager working at a Chev-Olds dealership body shop when these were new in the early 90ās. I thought they were so cool and futuristic. So expensive and out of reach of course of an 18 year old saving for college.
I remember driving one on the dealership lot and dreaming of the future. I think Iād rather go back to that time š .