Vehicle Description
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado Deluxe
The year 1966 was ground zero for both engineering and styling at
General Motors. While platforms were certainly shared across
brands, each individual marketing division maintained its
originality and provided true Pontiacs to Pontiac customers, true
Buicks to Buick customers. Each division had its own engineering
department that was charged with developing worldwide standards in
automotive technologies. The styling was as good as it ever was or
would be from a major automotive manufacturer. From the most
introductory loss-leader economy car to full-boat luxury, General
Motors had a car you could be proud to have parked in your
driveway.
And then there was the Toronado....
If you boiled down all of General Motors and distilled one vehicle
from the massive concoction of engineering prowess, daring styling
and outlandish marketing, it would be Oldsmobile's 1966 Toronado.
It is, arguably, the most ground-breaking automobile ever
mass-produced by an American manufacturer, before or since. It is
an engineering triumph, as well as a styling milestone, and it
should be emblazoned on the institutional memory of every General
Motors employee as a high-water mark of GM's capabilities. Our
example for consignment is the beneficiary of a complete
reconditioning of every surface and working part on this
vehicle...Read on!!
Exterior
Looking like a small warship from the Star Wars series this
futuristic design was truly groundbreaking. A shark-like front
grille with hidden headlights and large wrap up and around bumper
is up front. At the back of the car, you could envision a fully
heated flame throwing and glowing yellow/red jet engine exhaust to
show up as it lifts gently into the air then jumps quickly to hyper
speed! A beautiful fastback that culminates on a nearly vertical
small rear rim panel housing the taillights and more of that wrap
up and around the bumper section. Shades of the coke bottle design
with the wheel wells flaring their nostrils, and the deep doors and
wide B pillar supporting the fastback. Gaps are all excellent, no
rust is noted throughout, and it is bathed in Ocean Mist. Bumpers
and all trimmings are in excellent shiny condition and glass for
the cabin is excellent. Chrome wheel covers are open hole dog dish
style wheels with the Olds badge in a black center. These are all
wrapped up in thin white sidewall tires in like new condition.
Interior
Turning our heads and attention to the inside where we have plenty
of turquoise broadcloth with an Avant Garde white stitched flower
pattern repeat on the inserts which have a tuck and roll texturing
and the smooth turquoise vinyl bolsters surrounding. This is a
bench but has bucket styled backs with a fold down central armrest.
Slight soiling and some wear through is seen in the drivers bucket.
In back a full bench in the same pattern stretches from door to
door. This seat is very clean and in not oft used condition. Blue
carpeting floods the floors and vinyl turquoise side panels and
door panels and cards are nearly perfect. A futuristic dash also in
metal turquoise angles towards the passengers and has a different
"contemporary" layout for the gauges and sliders. Above is a nice
and tight blue vinyl headliner. Being of the deluxe designation we
note the desirable tilt/telescopic steering wheel fronting this
contemporary dash. This wheel, if looked at carefully, resembles
the rail dragster's steering wheel configuration with its chrome
shaped horn ring within the black plastic surround. Factory air
conditioning rounds out the interior.
Drivetrain
Under the hood bathed in sky metallic blue for the block and valve
covers is a 425ci V8 with a single 4-barrel carburetor on top. A
metallic sky blue air cleaner cover sports the correct stickers and
these may even be original. On the back is strapped a recently
rebuilt TH425 3-speed automatic transmission and a 3.21 drive axle.
Consigner states that the carburetor was recently rebuilt, and a
new alternator is now on.
Undercarriage
Underneath a well cared for metal environment with pristine floor
pans, fender inserts, toe kicks and rockers. This car is an early
example of forward thinking and with front wheel drive, look ma no
driveshaft!! Torsion bar front suspension, and leaf sprung rear
suspension along with 4-wheel power drum brakes, we were ahead of
the curve in tech points with this car. A Flowmaster exhaust is
installed, as well as all new shocks and brakes.
Drive-Ability
A must drive for my cohort and myself as it is really nice in its
presentation. It did not disappoint with its snappy acceleration on
the front wheel drive, so it just pulls you with no fishtail to
worry about. Nice cruiser, solid braking, and all functions save
for the wipers and backup lights were in working order.
A very forward thinking man's car in design and use of technology
for the front wheel drive. Right down to the dash design, this car
begged to be different, but not too much so that it presented as
weird. All contemporary design which remains timeless for this
beautiful classic which will not be here very long if past sales of
these classic Buicks were any indication of day counts.
VIN DECODE
396876M539741
3-Oldsmobile
96-Toronado
87-2 Door Sport Coupe Custom
6-1966
M-Lansing, MI Assy Plant
539741-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
06A-1st Week June Build
ST 66 39687-1966 Toronado Sport Coupe Custom
BDY EUC33518-Lansing Body #
TR 056D-Turquoise Cloth & Vinyl
PNT KK-Ocean Mist
E-Tinted Glass All
2K-Air Conditioning
5Y-Deluxe Steering Wheel
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
