Oldsmobile broke new ground when they introduced the Toronado in 1966. It was their version of a personal luxury car, like the Buick Riviera and the Pontiac Grand Prix, but with front-wheel-drive, something unseen in a production American car since the Cord. This 1970 edition was from the last model year of the first generation and runs but is tired after 50 years. Located in Caledonia, Mississippi, the car is looking for a new lease on life here on eBay where the opening bid of $5,000 has yet to be cast.
The Toronado got more than a simple facelift for 1970. New styling appeared, including a massive grille and front bumper arrangement that eliminated the hidden headlights of previous models. The rounded wheel housings became “rectilinear”, giving the car a bolder look from the sides. And some tinkering was done with the suspension to provide for an improved, quieter ride for passengers. Despite those changes, sales declined over the prior year at 25,433 automobiles as competitive cars like the Ford Thunderbird would continue to outsell it.
All Toronado’s would continue to be powered by Oldsmobile’s “Rocket” V8 with a displacement of 455 cubic inches and an output of at least 375 horses (400 hp if a Toronado GT, which no mention is made if the seller’s car is one of those). The transmission of choice would be the Toronado’s transaxle version of GM’s Turbo-Hydramatic transmission which debuted with the car in 1966. The seller’s listing for the machine indicates he’s had it for a year, which may indicate that the car was purchased for a restoration that the seller has decided not to do.
The paint is faded, and we’re told the car has no “serious” rust issues, but the photos provided only show it parked inside a garage where the views are limited. Though it will run, with at least 100,000 miles on the odometer, the seller says the drivetrain will need a rebuild, but the car can be driven onto a trailer for transport. According to Hagerty, in Fair condition one of these Oldsmobiles is worth $5,000 (or about where the starting bid is) with “top dollar” being in the high $20,000s. Besides paint and a bit of interior work (it’s dirty and the driver’s side seat has a tear in it), does this look like a complicated project to undertake?
For needing a rebuild, that motor is surprisingly clean.
Motor is not the right color for Olds 455 blue. This GM corporate blue began in ’75 I believe.
Nope, my stock ’71 was the exact same color.
I’ll bet the first owner was impressed by the color; the gold always seems rich when fresh. No Vinyl top is a plus, too.
I feel this was stored under a carport, with the last 12 inches exposed to the elements…rain, dew, etc. Or, even too short a tarp…you know, the proverbial blue one.
Back in January 1970 I got a brand new one for a drive-a-way from Chicago to San Diego. Same colors as this. Was like sitting in your living room going 70………….
12 beautifully lazy pictures of a car inside a garage, on ebay, how come? It has all the makings of MetaMarketplace formally Face (Brag) book Marketplace.
Didn’t take long for the Toronado to go from stunning to hideous.
That’s funny! I thought the earlier cars were too “fussy” looking, appreciated the clean up job they did on the ’70.
I had a 1970 GT. It was green and needed work ….after I stripped it apart, I found someone on the East Coast it was looking for one.
Look at the Barris custom Toronado he built for the old TV show Mannix which was done several years before this 1970 came out and tell me who copied who with regard to the front end styling.
My Dad got a new Olds every couple of years back then, and one was a stunning metallic green 1970 Toronado – his all-time favorite, and it was quite a machine. On vaca we’d peek over his shoulder to check the speed, which crept up near 90mph on the rolling-drum style speedo – mostly when Mom was asleep :) . Great memories!
*as kids the “Toro” was our favorite vacation car because one of us could stretch out on the floor comfortably, since it had no transmission hump due to being front wheel drive.
Too funny. My dad made better time when mom slept. I inherited the same gene.
I’ve always liked the Toronado from the get go. It had a regal stance and looked comfortable as hell. A friend once told me ” There’s nothing like seeing a powerful front wheel drive car doing burnouts in reverse”. I have to agree.
Yup! Had a beater 1978 Eldo a bunch of years back. Drove through the snow like a snow plow & had the best reverse donuts! Between torque & heft you could really get that old girl spinnin’!
My sister had a ’68 when I started driving. The furthest thing out front was an Oldsmobile emblem on the grille. She sent me to the grocery store with a list the day I got my driver’s license, and when I returned home to park the car in the garage I went too far and left a perfect imprint of that emblem in the sheetrock on the back wall. Every time I drive by that house I want to go look in the garage to see if it’s still there. I still think these cars were beautiful, but prefer the hidden headlights.
Too bad this isn’t an example of the W34 GT Toro. The 400hp 455 in the GT made ’70 (’68 & ’69 as well) the years of the “Executive’s Hot Rod!
I had a beautiful 1978 Olds Toronado Brougham , Baby Blue with a White Half vinyl roof, and white button tufted Real leather interior. I got it for a steal in 1990 with only 22,000 actual miles and it was like getting a new car. It was the finest driving and riding car I had ever owned.