Oldsmobile introduced the Toronado in 1966, its entry into the “personal” luxury car market. It was the first U.S. auto to have front-wheel drive since the Cords of the 1930s. It remained in production through 1992, though the FWD element was no longer uncommon by then. This 1990 edition is the Trofeo model, an uber-fancy version of the car and it was introduced in 1987 to help boost sales. It’s been garage-kept when not in use over the past 22 years and looks solid at just under 69,000 miles. A really nifty tip from “Doc B”!
Trofeo is an Italian word that means trophy. For the Toronado, it meant leather bucket seats as standard equipment, a beefier suspension set-up for brisker handling, and dual exhaust for the 231 cubic inch V6 (borrowed from Buick). Perhaps to make it more special, the car was no longer badged as a Toronado in 1989, and you got a “Visual Information Center” which equates to the navigation screens that practically all cars seem to have these days.
The Trofeo was treated to a restyle in 1990, so there are visual differences from the 1989 versions, including an additional 12 inches in length. We’re told the seller bought this Oldsmobile in 2002, so it’s been in his/her family for quite some time. It’s said to perform as it should and has recently been treated to new brakes and a fuel pump. Speaking of brakes, this automobile has ABS, air bags, and a keyless entry, unusual features nearly 35 years ago (but not today).
Everything on this car is in working order, so it should be a turn-key purchase. It even has the “old-timey” built in cell-phone! Nearly 9,500 Trofeos were built in 1990, so it’s not exactly a rare find, but when was the last time you saw one? Located in Clinton, Iowa, this trusty steed is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $8,000. It harks back to the old TV ads with Dick Clark, where “This is not your father’s Oldsmobile” was the mantra.
I had one of these years ago,one of the best cars I ever owned never had any trouble,sold it to some guy,he came back and bought another car off my buddy and said the same thing I did and it was quick!
What, no one remembers the TV ads featuring Harry Bellafonte’s son and daughter singing and dancing a calypso parody of their father’s big “Day-O” hit:
“Tro-FAAAAAAY-Yo!!!! Tro-FAAAAA-YAAAAAY-OH!!!
A New Generation of Oldsmobile!”
🍌 Alex, anything Toronado, guarantees top shelf appointments from the good Dr Olds. 👍
I liked the styling of this, back when it was new, and it has aged well, in my eyes. That 3800 V6 & 4T60 transaxle is a virtually indestructible powertrain. The console CRT is something I could live without, but I guess it was a harbinger of things to come. Nice that it has the original wheels, I couldn’t imagine this looking right without them. This would be an excellent car to be sorted and driven.
At least It isn’t as stupid looking as the original tornado
Hush your mouth, Bill! :-)
I love this car. I was very busy in 1990 ( just had my 4th child 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1990), and don’t remember seeing this car on the road. I was born and raised in Clinton, Iowa. I’m very impressed at the condition of this car, most 1990’s would be rusted out by now. Iowa used a lot of salt in the winter.
Ahaha , not surprising that you missed out on certain car things , with 4 kids , your life was very active and your priorities were at the right place !
Of the 50 or so cars Ive owned since I got my license in 1972, my 1988 dark blue Trofeo has to one of the most reliable and comfortable ever. I got mine from my dad in 1996, he bought it new. Always dealer serviced and garaged. It had 96,000 miles on it. I over maintained it for 10 years and 100,000 plus miles. Then on a rainy night on I-84 in NY a damn deer as big as a horse ran in front of me. Could not stop and KABOOM. Totaled it I was sick. Dad died a year later. Back in the late 90s young kids stopped on the street yelling hey mister what kind of car is that? Other than a few exhaust systems, tires and emergency brake issues, that stupid pump type, the was flawless. Thar 440 GM Hydramatic was trouble free thanks to me never abusing it and once yearly Trans oil changes and filter. Coolant every two years. When it got smashed it had more than 200,000 miles with rocker covers never off, original starter, water pump, etc. This was long before the dreaded plastic intake manifold
Miss that car and dad every day.
Not surprised, it sold very quickly! Nice car.