1966 Oldsmobile Toronado Headed To Mecum Dallas This Fall
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For the 1966 model year, General Motors introduced a new E-platform personal luxury car. The Oldsmobile Toronado was different from the Buick Riviera, which was riding on the same platform, in that it featured a front-wheel drivetrain. The Olds would share this design trait, and a number of others, with the redesigned Cadillac Eldorado that debuted the following year. Motor Trend named the Toronado its Car of the Year for 1966.
The Oldsmobile Toronado was the first front-wheel-drive car made in America since the 1937 Cord. Due to its front-drive layout that negated the need for a transmission tunnel, the Toronado featured a flat floor, making it a true six-passenger coupe. The Toronado had a low fastback design, resulting in a sleek appearance that with a height similar to a Chevy Corvair. Long doors necessitated two sets of interior door handles to allow back seat passengers a way to exit without troubling front-seat occupants.
The Oldsmobile Toronado was Olds’ entry into the personal luxury coupe market, and featured a suitably extensive list of available options. Air conditioning, tilt and telescoping steering column, power seats, power windows, headrests, cruise control, AM-FM stereo, power antenna, and remote control outside mirrors could all be had.
The Oldsmobile Toronado dash was unique in the automotive world. The horizontal speedometer, located right above the steering column, rolled over like a slot machine. To the left side of the steering wheel one would find the climate controls and wiper/washer rocker switches. Gauges were arrayed on both sides of the wheel.
Powering the Oldsmobile Toronado was a 425 cubic-inch Super Rocket V8 good for 385 horsepower and a staggering 475 pound-feet of torque. Power was transmitted to the front wheels by a heavy-duty Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission. The Toronado had special tires developed specifically by Firestone called Toronado Front Drive, or TFD, that came equipped with stiffer than normal sidewalls, unique tread, and a thin whitewall. All that power could launch the Toronado from a dead stop to sixty miles per hour in 7.5 seconds.
Our feature 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado is finished in Provincial White with a black vinyl roof and a black interior. It has only been driven 61,000 miles from new. It is powered by the aforementioned 425 cubic-inch Super Rocket V8 and three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic transmission. It came from the factory equipped with power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, power windows, tinted glass, and full wheel covers.
This well preserved bit of Oldsmobile history will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Dallas, Texas event taking place September 7th through the 10th.
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The Toro was always ahead of its time. Great looking sporty and a great luxury ride. Oldsmobile in my opinion was the best in quality of all the GM brands. Wish they were still around.
Wow:
One of the best vehicles General Motors ever made in it’s golden era. Everything about this ride is superb. A+. Front wheel drive is spectacular. Ergonomic layout is stellar. Oceans of room and comfort. Car did well for the nameplate and brand. Automotive design and engineering at it’s finest. Built in the days when GM was GM. One of my favorite GM models.
Owned a 1973 and 1977 enjoyed them both . Oldsmobile was my go to division ,,would still own one today ..
The ’66 Toronado may have been the Lucid Air of the 1960s. Very distinct styling.
Came home from the Army December 1966, bought a dealer ‘executive’ leftover bronze 1966 Tornado. Great car driving in the snows! Replaced it few years later with my first brand new factory ordered 1970 Tornado GT. Miss the Oldsmobile brand!!
Wow – indeed a great looking car. If only we could return to cars like this today. The luxury coupe will probably never happen again.
My uncle in Michigan had a Toronado when I was a kid in the 60’s. I remember thinking how weird it looked with snow tires on the front wheels when we visited in the winter.
Beautiful design. The doors were long and heavy but fit the design and made rear seat entrance easier. The only design fault was the inadequate drum brakes. They did add disc brakes in 1967 or 68. I drove one for many miles.
Look at the huge amount of room in the front seat. Plenty of lateral legroom, plenty of room in general.
If that same car were brought out today, the console (yes, it would have a console) would be so wide it would be as cramped as a jet fighter cockpit, all for having a glorified second glove compartment.
The styling cues of the flat areas around the wheel wells were revolutionary and can be still be seen on almost every new car today. Another GM first !
Hi Folks: Can any of you Toronado fans help me?
I’m trying to trace a loaded 1968 Toronado purchased new in Pittsburgh in 1967 from a defunct Olds dealer. I don’t have the VIN #. I do have the buyers name and insurance company, INA, Insurance Co. of North America.
Do any of you know if I can trace the vehicle through GM car archives or the mandatory GM dealer accounting system, ADP? Or through any other source?
Any help would be deeply appreciated. Thanks much.
This car exemplifies GM as truly ground breaking and an innovator! I came to them later and they invested and educated me through two apprenticeships. Wish companies had the fortitude to do that for young people today. Salute to you, gm. And your C8 Corvette, makes me proud!