Vehicle Description
Imagine a world where front-wheel drive is considered
revolutionary. Better yet, imagine a world where front-wheel drive
is considered a luxury. Pretty crazy, right? Especially in a market
where front-wheel drive is the norm, and most luxury brands produce
exclusively rear and all-wheel drive super sedans. That world
you're imagining, it probably looks a lot like GM Design's E-Body
studios in the late-1950s. And the car you envisioned would be
Oldsmobile's bold Toronado.
Bear in mind, cars like this incredible, 28,382-mile Toronado
aren't the drowsy, beige econoboxes most car enthusiasts have come
to loathe. Like the Cords that came before them, they were
considered the pinnacle of contemporary luxury, and, as such, were
equipped accordingly. This mostly-original classic features
Oldsmobile's legendary 455 cubic inch Rocket V8, GM's innovative
Turbo-Hydramatic 425 3-speed, and stunning green aesthetics that
simply ooze '60s cool. And what's better, all this prize
eccentricity can be yours for the cost of a modern compact car!
GREEN-ON-GREEN, ON GREEN... ON GREEN
Enjoyed by two enthusiasts for 48 of its 50 years, this unexampled
classic began life in the warm embrace of Palm Springs, California,
where it was stored under a carport at its owner's second home.
Driven sparingly, and maintained meticulously, the car was
eventually traded to a Cadillac dealer in late 1996. Fast-forward
two years, and the second of those long-term owners picked up a
dream cruiser that was the exact same color combo his dad had
owned. At that point, the car was still an untouched survivor, but
years of fun in the sun had begun to take its toll. So, circa 2012,
the owner decided to contract Reflections Paint and Body Shop of
Mint Hill, North Carolina for a full respray of Oldsmobile's lively
Meadow Green Metallic pigment. As you can tell from our high
resolution photos, a full roster of original trim was polished and
reinstalled. A correct Green roof is present and accounted for, and
green pinstriping adds just the right amount of hard-edge
sophistication.
Perhaps the respray was fair trade for the car keeping much of its
highly-original interior. Just look at all that awesome cloth and
vinyl! Most Toronado buyers took optimal advantage of the model's
unique flat floor design by ordering big bench seats like these. At
the sides of those thrones, long doors, stretched for easy access
to the rear seats, center crack-free panels on factory power
windows and power door locks. A wood-trimmed dash centers a cool
slot machine-style speedometer above factory air conditioning and a
factory AM/FM radio. The driver spins a Rim Blow Steering Wheel
around GM's trick telescopic column. And behind the passengers, a
vacuum-actuated trunk is clean all the way down to its original
cardboard jack box.
UNITIZED POWER PACKAGE
Dubbed the Unitized Power Package, this Toronado's revolutionary
drivetrain layout was tested 1.5 MILLION miles before it ever hit
production. In fact, the engineering was so good that it was
ultimately adopted by other GM divisions, including GMC, which used
the set-up whole-stock for their unique motorhomes. In this
application, and GMC's motorhomes, UPP consists of a big block
Oldsmobile engine that's paired to a smooth Turbo-Hydramatic 425
3-speed. Since this Toronado is a highly desirable 1969 model, it
sports "the biggest block alive" - a 455 cubic inch Rocket V8. And,
since the car is about as close as it gets to a full-on survivor,
that mill stretches Silver Blue paint over a correct 396021F
casting number. There's a nice mix of aesthetic detail and reliable
functionality, with vivid decals reflecting things like pliable
belts and fresh hoses. And factory air conditioning is a welcome
addition to an already cool package.
This Oldsmobile's Turbo-Hydramatic 425 3-speed is substantial
technology in its own right. Utilizing many of the same internal
components as GM's stalwart Turbo-Hydramatic 400, it's easy to
rebuild and plenty reliable. That gearbox drives GM's first
subframe chassis, which benefits from factory power steering and
power-assisted disc and drum brakes. Factory true-dual exhaust gets
consolidated into a correct transverse muffler and slim resonators.
And everything rolls on stainless-capped steelies, which spin
15-inch Cooper Trendsetter whitewalls that likely replaced original
Toronado-Front-Drive tires Firestone developed specifically for
this application.
If you're looking for an honest, unrelentingly cool cruiser that'll
turn heads wherever you point it, it's hard to beat this solid
Toronado. These coupes occupy a unique corner of the collector car
hobby, and are becoming increasingly hard to find, especially in
this condition. Call, click or visit www.RKMotors.com and step-up
to a classic that literally pulls your heartstrings!
HIGHLIGHTS
Largely-original classic that's logged only 28,382 miles
Enjoyed by only two owners for 48 of its 50 years
455 cubic inch Rocket V8
Turbo-Hydramatic 425 3-speed automatic transmission
Factory air conditioning
Factory power steering
Factory power front disc and rear drum brakes
Correct Meadow Green Metallic paint / Correct Green vinyl roof
Largely-original cloth and vinyl interior
All RK Motors vehicles receive a comprehensive, multi-point
inspection
We can ship your new classic anywhere in the world
