The Toronado was revolutionary by Detroit standards as it was the first U.S production car with front-wheel-drive in 30 years. Between 1966 and 1970, Olds sold it as something of a GT-style performance luxury car but changed directions in 1971 by becoming more of a personal luxury car. More like an Eldorado than a Riviera. This 1977 Toronado is an XS model which came with wraparound rear glass. This car seems to have been in storage with other automobiles but is said to be in running condition. Located in Grant Pass, Oregon this cruiser may still be available here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,000.
Changes made to the 1971-78 Toronados met with success, at least initially. The cars would continue to be big and bulky until 1979 when it was time for those GM products to be downsized. The subframe design of first-generation Toronados was replaced by a separate body-on-frame similar to full-sized Delta 88 and Ninety-Eight models. The front torsion bar suspension was retained, but the multi-leaf springs in the rear were replaced by coil springs. The 1977 model year brought on the addition of the XS and XSR models. The latter came with T-Tops that proved troublesome (they leaked) and were soon dropped.
The seller’s car is one of 2,713 produced in 1977, including both the XS and the XSR. That compares to 31,371 copies of the more conventional Toronado. The car would be somewhat less potent in 1977, with a 403 cubic inch V8 replacing the previous 455. We assume there’s a 403 under the hood of the seller’s car and that it’s numbers-matching. The seller doesn’t go into much detail about this Toronado other than it has 88,000 miles, runs, and can send interested parties a video showing that it does run (while still in the barn or garage?).
I always thought the wraparound windows on these cars looked odd and I’m betting that the rear seat occupants found the ride a bit warmer than those nearer to the air conditioning vents in the front. Since the production numbers of the XS were less than generous, they’re seldom seen today. You could take this one home for not a lot of money, but you might have to get used to the odd upholstery pattern of the front and back seats.
This generation of Toronado’s (IMO) had really bloated to “excess”; the wrap around window was cool, but if broken, I’ll bet it’s now unobtanium!
GLWTS!! :-)
Was thinking the same thing. Unless that’s the same window as the Caprice (doubtful), it would be extinct.
The XSR was never a production offering. There was a single, prototype XSR built. Cost and water management issues prevented the XSR from reaching production. The prototype still exists, though, and ASC installed the system on a few Eldorados in 1978.
Also, those t tops were electrically operated, and slid inward and stacked on top of each other. Huge reduction in headroom over a regular sunroof. I’ve seen a video of the Eldorado version in operation.
Weird then, weird now.
How Olds could go from the classic ’66-’67 to this monstrosity is a crime against humanity. Makes one embarrassed to call Lansing my hometown.
Also, those t tops were electrically operated, and slid inward and stacked on top of each other. Huge reduction in headroom over a regular sunroof. I’ve seen a video of the Eldorado version in operation.
1978 TORONADO XS “The Jet-Puffed 88”
I wanted to see what the rear window of the Toronado XS looked like reversed. Just for kicks, man. Just for kicks.
The rest just followed…like a sick cat.
And the roof flips up, hinged along that chrome roof strip!
Hop in… or run in horror.
BF just keeps coming up with unicorns . At least to me anyway .
Pull into your local A&W in this baby. No one would even know what it was.
Or most “modern” 4 door vehicles, if you cover up the nameplates.
I had a 77 Toronado with the moonroof and leather it was a blast to drive, I was looking for an XS at the time
In 1998, I worked for the forest service in South Dakota. Everyone in the forest service drove trucks or Jeeps. One of my coworkers was a woman who drove a 1977 Toronado – but not an XS. It was baby blue with the same interior as on this car. It had a 403. She said her husband purchased the car because it was front wheel drive, and it did great in all of the snow they got out there. I got to ride in it once. It was a very nice car with not that many miles at the time, maybe 80,000 miles then – I wished they would have not driven it through all of the snow and salt. I’m sure it eventually rusted away.
I forgot to say that I remember the perfectly flat floor the car had in the front seat. No transmission hump.
Omg…..who designed that upholstery for the seats. Looks like patio furniture.
lol
Would have also been a terrible Drive-In Movie car….with the observation deck wrap-a-round glass.
Listed 18 weeks ago and still hasn’t sold. I’d never seen the rear window option.
Just below the rear window on either side, are those dual blinking hazard lights, dual 3rd brake lights, or dual aux turn signals – or some combo of the 3?
no, esp when there’s the 1st gen.
2 GMs (well may B 3 w/the ’56/60 vette)
’63/5 Riveria
AND
’66/7 Toranado
I no, I no, showin my age. But…
that’s my story’n I’m stickin toid
I never saw those back windows before. That is neat and the interior looks like I’d want to sleep. Great colors inside. The front wheel drive was beefy. I think they used that for the GMC RV (Like the one in Stripes?).
Could that “exotic” rear window simply be 3 pieces of relatively straight glass sealed/bonded to each other right on the car on the assembly line? If not, & it’s all one piece, i would sure like to see the container it was shipped in – to the factory! & see how it was installed on the assembly line without breaking the joints!