An all-original 1985 Oldsmobile Toronado Brougham Calienta was recently listed for sale via eBay Motors, giving astute General Motors enthusiasts the opportunity to scoop up this well-kept, unconventional classic for a decent deal.
According to the eBay listing, this mint 1985 Oldsmobile Toronado Brougham has just 53,000 miles on the odometer and has a clean vehicle history report showing no accidents, along with a clean title. The vehicle is located at a dealership in North Carolina, so it likely hasn’t been subjected to the kind of harsh weather a northeast or midwest car would be. The dealer also claims it has perfect paints, no dings or dents in the body, no interior tears and a like-new padded roof.
The “Calienta” version of the Toronado Brougham represented the range-topping trim and as such, this car came very well equipped with six-way drivers and front passenger seats, automatic locks, a power trunk release, a sliding power sunroof, rear window defogger, a Bose audio system with a cassette, a leather wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery and an electronic digital instrument cluster. It also came with a power radio antenna, which on this example has unfortunately stopped working.
This car has attracted $8,250 in bids as of this writing, which isn’t a ton of cash for a well-kept American classic, but is still quite a bit for a Toronado from this era. The Calienta trim is quite rare and hard to find in this condition, however, which appears to have attracted a number of eager Oldsmobile/GM enthusiasts to the listing. Check it out at this link to read a bit more about this Malaiase-era Oldsmobile luxury coupe before the auction ends next Monday.
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Comments
I don’t think it’s called “Calienta”. It’s the Toronado “Caliente”.
Ah, do I love those cars (Toro, Riv and Eldo) of those years. The other was the SeVille. There wasn’t anything like them (IMO) that drove down the road so nicely, quiet and comfortably. The nicest thing was the totally flat floor where you could actually stretch out your legs instead of being stuck in a hole! I recall taking a trip in a 1985 SeVille with about 100K back in 1993 from the mid-west to the west coast and back. It sure didn’t have much power going through the mountains (4100 V8), but that thing would cruise in total comfort and we put on about 800 miles a day all while getting around 24 MPG. Not bad for a car with over 100K.
I don’t recall much about this Olds package, but I thought there were other more unique features with the Caliente. I also recall the Toronado Trofeo.
I am so with you here. I don’t care what anyone or the experts say about classic design, this gen of the Tor/Eldor/Riv and the 78-80 Carlo are the best designed GM autos ever – beyond elegant. Long hood short deck – classic. When I see them out on the street i will stop and gaze. There is an Eldor convertible (red with a white top) I see occasionally in my hood – stunning. If only they design cars like this again. Yes ma’am this is what I am talking about!!!!!!! Love love love!!!!!!
Look! Knee room! Big seats! No console! A flat floor!
Nothing like the 79 to 85 Eldorado. Driving with that shiny hood ornament waaaaaay down at the end of the hood. They were usually very shiny as they were just recently replaced after being stolen. Those were the cars of kings.
Jason S: Love your comment! It made me think of how the brands went from a fixed hood ornament to one that would spring back (for pedestrian safety). Because of the huge number of Cadillac ornaments getting stolen, they (not sure who) came up with an alarm-like system where if you bent the ornament back, the horn would go off. Keep in mind, most of those cars had what was know as a 4 note horn or trumpet horn. They were quite loud. We even had some buying a kit that would not only honk the horn, but give the thief a light shock. : )
How much I’m interested in buying it now !
I bought a 1985 Toronado brand new in October 1984. I just pulled out the original sticker, it listed for $18k and change. It was one of the best cars I ever had. I was on the road 4 days a week, and put 140k miles on it in 3 years. To this day it is one of my favorite work cars. It was beautiful, navy blue with blue Laundau padded top. Car was gorgeous. It is good to reminisce about the “Good Ole Days” when I was a much younger man.
The Malaise era ended in 1983 and started again in 2020 as Malaise era II.
These were nice riding cars with roomy flat floors and with the 307 being a good reliable engine.
Invest heavily in Cardigan sweater stock.
I have a 1977 Toronado. It has those soft pillow top seats about like the ones found in a late 70’s Buick Electra or Oldsmobile 98. I really like how long my car is. It must be close to 230 inches, and it almost takes up 2 parking spaces when I park in those compact car only lots. GM ruined the image of the Toronado, Riviera, and Eldorado by shrinking them to compact car size in 1986. I never understood why they did this. Personal luxury car buyers have always something big and flashy. If they wanted a smaller compact size car then they would have bought something like a Buick Somerset or Chevy Cavalier.
had a 71 and 77 Toro ,2 awesome vehicles ,,wouldn’t mine owning today .
I HAD ONE!- It was a1981, with the 307 V8. You know, that thing had some “YANK POWER “ for a malaise era car. SMOOTH, powerful, dependable. I also had a 1978 , with the 403, loved it. GM did a great job at the downsizing for 1979, you still felt like you were in a big car, it was just 1,100 pounds lighter. Still big! TOO BAD they didn’t use the 307 in the ELDORADO and the SEVILLE. It would have made the difference on steep climbs, however, I have to give credit to the- “ HT-4100”, 24 mpg, the 307 did 20. Oh well, can’t have it all. Hey I love all your comments folks, great memories! Robert Levins.
I wish we could post pictures on this thread. I could pull out some of my memories including my current 1970 Buick Riviera. My dad was a car distributor for Oldsmobile for 30 years and always had a brand new company car to drive. I quickly learned the difference between the nice cars and the not so nice cars. (Tornados and Ninety-Eights versus Omegas and Cieras) One of my first memories as a child is of me standing behind my house watching the headlight doors of a gold Toronado opening. This car would’ve been brand new at the time so it must’ve been 68 or 69. I would’ve been four or five years old at the time.
Yes, the model name was Caliente, offered in 1984 and 1985 only. I bought a 1985 that I purchased as a trade for a 1997 LSS at my Oldsmobile dealership, for $1,400. At the time I had a black LSS and I would let customers borrow my Oldsmobile for a day while they decided to buy or not. I sold twelve 88 LSS editions in two months! I bought a 1985 Toronado from Copart in January 2017 and it has about 64,000 miles. It was the best deal to find at this type of auction, a “D R”, meaning a “Donation” that “Runs” ! The owner had passed away and his wife donated the Toronado to a local charity within ten days. Got it for $675.
That’s in remarkable condition. What a beauty.
I’m crying
I had an ‘85 Toronado-it had a white rag-top and a Cadillac grille! I loved her! I put her on the road a couple of times and she didn’t disappoint! Unfortunately, later in life, she started leaking oil. Dad made me park on the street! Finally, the transmission gave out! RIP “Toro”
Hi. I had a 71 up to 92k traded for a 77 then got married and the wife drove a 76 98..gas was getting $$$,traded my 77 Toro for a 78 cutlass Brougham ..wish Oldsmobile was here today ..