There are a few cars that could genuinely be considered watersheds in automotive design, and the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado might fit within that category. Its front-wheel-drive configuration may not seem startling today, but it was unprecedented for a manufacturer to select that path with a V8 model in 1966. The Toronado laid the foundations for many other models following the same philosophy, and good First Generation Toronados are becoming recognized within the classic community. Our feature car has lain idle since the 1990s and needs a new owner willing to return it to its former glory. It is complete and unmolested, making it a prime candidate for restoration. It is listed here on Craigslist in El Cajon, California. If an affordable project car is on your radar, the asking price of $4,950 could qualify it as a strong contender.

The styling of the Toronado is interesting, and from some angles, it has always reminded me of an enlarged version of Pontiac’s Second Generation Firebird. That could just be me, but it possesses a sense of presence. Our feature car wears Trumpet Gold paint that shows its age. That leaves the new owner with choices to make. The panels are free from significant dings or dents, and there are no signs of rust. Even the underside shows nothing beyond dry surface corrosion. Performing a cosmetic refresh should be straightforward, although retaining the car untouched as a survivor is a viable option. The tinted glass is flawless. The exterior trim looks like it would respond positively to the buyer applying some polish, while the wheels retain their original covers. If the buyer chose the survivor route, polishing the trim would offer a striking contrast to the weathered paint.

One of the aces up the Toronado’s sleeve was its vast interior space. Thanks to its revolutionary drivetrain configuration, there was no enormous transmission tunnel encroaching on the interior. That allowed the car to seat six adults in relative comfort. This car’s interior shows its age, although it is serviceable. The seats wear their original White vinyl upholstery that sports some splits and wear. The remaining upholstered surfaces look okay, and the new owner might find cleaning everything a wise first move. I suspect many pieces would respond positively to that approach. If they are on a tight budget, a deep clean and some nice slipcovers for the seats might result in a magical transformation. There are no aftermarket additions, but there are a few welcome factory appointments. The original owner ordered the car with air conditioning, power windows, and a tilt wheel.

Conventional wisdom suggests that feeding more than around 250hp through the front wheels of any car is likely to result in a vehicle with unpleasant road manners. Apparently, Oldsmobile never received that memo. They approached the Toronado with a clean sheet of paper, producing the first front-wheel-drive American car since the demise of Cord in 1937. They developed what they referred to as a Unitized Power Package (UPP) that placed the motor and a three-speed Hydramatic transaxle within an engine bay with space many would have considered appropriate for a conventional V8. The UPP fed the power to the road from a 425ci V8 monster churning out 385hp. Power steering was a standard feature, but it was born from necessity. The UPP is a heavy item; changing directions would be hard labor without power assistance. It also provided some isolation from the extreme torque-steer, which is an inherent part of drivetrains of this type. Considering the Toronado tipped the scales at 4,312lbs and featured a drivetrain not generally considered ideal for rapid acceleration from a standstill, its ability to cover the ¼ mile in 15.5 seconds was mighty impressive. Given enough space, it could wind its way beyond 130mph before running out of breath. This Toronado hasn’t seen active duty since the 1990s and will require work to return to a roadworthy state. The seller poured fuel down the carburetor that coaxed the V8 into life. That hardly constitutes concrete evidence that all is well mechanically, but it represents a promising starting point for this project.

General Motors has a proud history of innovative automotive design, and the 1966 Toronado perfectly reflects that philosophy. Feeding so much power through the front wheels was not a decision taken lightly, and the longevity of the design across various GM brands demonstrates they had struck upon a winning formula. Today, the Toronado receives the recognition it deserves because while it is not a mega-bucks classic, values have increased significantly over the past five years. Spotless examples regularly change hands for more than $20,000, with figures of $25,000 or more pretty common. If the buyer uses those figures as a guide, that seems to leave plenty of room to move on this restoration before its financial viability becomes questionable. Would that be enough for you to consider pursuing this one further?