This 1974 Oldsmobile Toronado is a genuine barn find that has sat in the same spot for thirty-five years. Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t run, and the new owner will need a trailer to take this classic home. It’s unclear whether it’s a viable restoration project, but it could provide valuable parts for another build. The seller has listed the Olds here on Facebook Marketplace in Dallas, Oregon, for $4,000.
The Toronado broke new ground when it debuted in 1966, as the first domestically developed and produced front-wheel-drive production car since Cord went the way of the dodo. The company released its Second Generation in 1971, with our featured car rolling off the line in 1974. It has spent thirty-five years in this barn, and we can only catch an occasional glimpse of its Silver paint beneath the heavy dust layer. I believe the Toronado might also have a vinyl top, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on that. The passenger-side rear quarter panel shows heavy surface corrosion, which makes me wonder whether penetrating rust might be lurking elsewhere. The bumper fillers waved the white flag years ago, but this classic appears to be otherwise complete.
This Toronado’s luxury credentials show in its interior appointments. It features air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a rear defogger, cruise control, a tilt wheel, a four-speaker AM/FM radio with a power antenna, faux woodgrain trim, and burgundy cloth trim. Most upholstered surfaces are in good condition, with only the door trims showing deterioration. The dash is nicely preserved, and the woodgrain hasn’t lifted or faded. A deep clean would markedly improve its appearance, though it has plenty of usable components if this Olds becomes a parts car.
The seller provides no engine bay shots, but the Second Generation Toronado continued its predecessor’s design philosophy, available with a V8 sending power to the front wheels via a three-speed TH-425 automatic transmission. This car should feature the 455ci powerplant, generating a factory-claimed 230hp and 370 ft/lbs of torque. Power steering was standard to help cope with torque steer, as were power front disc brakes. The performance figures were considered quite reasonable for the time, but with this Toronado weighing over 4,800 lbs, it is a comfortable cruiser, not a street brawler. Some readers will grit their teeth when I confirm that this Olds ran when parked. Of course, over three decades have passed since then, so it’s unsurprising that it no longer runs. It is unclear whether the engine might be stuck, but if it turns, revival might be possible.
I am a realist when it comes to classics like this 1974 Oldsmobile Toronado. Only an in-person inspection will confirm whether it is a viable restoration project or destined to be a parts car. It is worth noting that although values are climbing, you can still buy turnkey examples for under $10,000. Therefore, this Toronado would probably only be a goer if the buyer adopts a hands-on approach. It will be fascinating to hear your opinions and whether you think this Toronado will ever prowl our streets again.
A good bath would do it a world of good, especially if they really want to sell it. Seeing if the engine is free would also be a big help.
Cobwebs *and* mold? Take my money now!
Let’s hope this car is OSHA compliant. Lol
Does it come with a hazmat suit & a respirator? The buyer’s gonna need ’em!
Never mind the Olds, what about the JD A in the background?
The JD A is for dragging the Oldsmobile out into the daylight.
Not an A….I think it’s a diesel. Maybe a R…Hard to tell from the picture.
complete with original layer of dirt/dust/grime!
That’s not dust it’s ash from Mt St Helens.
Must smell delightful inside!
Many of us know “a guy” that would like to (try to) drive this home to Tennessee.
I hope Derek from Visegrip Garage on Youtube buys this!
Derek would do it too. Compression, Spark, Fuel.
Derek wouldn’t pay $4,000 for the car, though.
What a find ! The Olds Toranodo is a real luxury car . It’s nice to see something that you don’t see very often , and this one certainly qualifies ! This one is worth saving .
That car hasn’t been in a barn in a while 😆
I like how they spray dust and dirt on the vehicle to make it look that way.🤣
YES!!!! It would be nice for Derek to get his hands on it 😄 I bet he could work wonders for the old beauty 😊
I’d need them to pull it out of the barn so I could wash off all the dirt, so I could see exactly what’s under there..
Are you sure it doesn’t run?
Seller doesn’t know his colors. Listed as grey interior which obviously is incorrect. Didn’t take the time to pull out & wash it as others have noted. Lack of pics is inexcusable! Etc. Rated highly on FB MP & a member since 2014. Qualifications are low there in marketing apparently. Guy acts like he can’t be bothered. Aw, what the heck. Here’s my 4g’s but don’t count it!
Hope scrap is high
Let’s see..4800 lbs @ 10 bucks per hundred..that’s not quite 500 bucks, it really ain’t worth the effort it would take to get this behemoth dragged to the scrap yard, unless it’s nextdoor. I like what TRUTH said, wash it really good, vacuum out all the mold n cobwebs, throw about 20 ‘little trees’ in there, slap 10 grand on the windshield, and hopefully someone will offer you 1/2 or 3/4 of that…
Again, don’t even know where to start. It’s a hard pass and hot mess. Looks like someone who beat it to death, parked it there and walked away. Then died. And now whoever is in charge of the estate is just thinking dollars because it’s old. I mean, why actually try to sell it? Why clean it up. Just slap a price on it and hope for a sucker to come along to do the work for them digging it out and taking it away.
To me, that’s a service you pay for, not collect money for.
They want $4,000 now….. If the car was removed from its current surroundings and cleaned up a bit, maybe it’s actually worth more than $4,000, but it so hard to tell, right now, through all the dirt and debris.
Ran when parked? Oldest one in the books.
Had one. Like all boats it had a floatious ride. There Achilles heal is the rubber boots that cover the trans axle joints. They would tear letting the grease escape and permitting sand and other crud back in. If the boots are compromised its not worth the cost of repair.
Jim, rebuilt axle shafts are relatively cheap. Did a set just a year or 2 ago.
Tough job if you’re working on the ground. A car lift would be preferred!
Pic of my ’85. Had the baggy seats, rode like on a cloud!
Rare car, lovely front seats, make a nice wagon. That’s want you call a front.
Here’s a virgin barn find. The Brougham package gave you the nicer interior, power driver seat, power windows and the opera windows you see here. This one has the tilt and telescoping steering column and stereo 8-track radio. All in all a very nice car 50 years ago.
i can smell it from here. then you have the “IT RAN WHEN PARKED”. go to love it. 35yrs ago but being an olds 455 it bet with fresh fuel it light right up. very sad this was left to this fate and still for sale after 5 weeks. that right there will tell you what marshal lucky would say that price is to f n high. as you see it 1k and at that price you’re buying the 455.
Like many who don’t know old cars and don’t know how to sell an old car. This ad is a perfect example of Inexperience, Incompetence, and Ignorance.
Ahhh fb marketplace home of the lazy seller that wants the big bux without any work.
Steep price for what is, at best, a parts car. The Toronado at this point was a joke, so who would need this? Perhaps the 2 or 3 folks that still have one of these. $1200 tops for this sorry state of affairs, and only if you had a drivable one at home. Strip it and scrap the rest.
The bad part, looks like a dirt floor, the humidity, bad combination for storage.
Had a ’74 in 1980 and it was a grand slam! Need hat 455/FWD for a Corvair water pumper!
Ran when parked? Just leave it parked. Save your money.
I worked on these monsters 50 years ago. 10 mpg at best. Wear out front suspension parts quickly. Terrible handling. Just another pile of dog crap. Probably full of mice.
expensive for a demolition derby car because that’s all I think it’s good for now might be able to sell off the parts they make you remove and get some of your money back