Vehicle Description
1967 Oldsmobile Toronado Deluxe
It may be hard to believe today, but at one time, Oldsmobile
distinguished itself among General Motors divisions with its
advanced engineering. Olds was the first to offer a mass-produced
automatic transmission and, later, a high compression (a.k.a.
"Rocket") V-8. Then, in 1966, Oldsmobile introduced the first
American front-wheel-drive car in thirty years: the Toronado. The
luxurious coupe was one of GM's many ripostes to Ford's
Thunderbird, but the Olds stood out for its advanced powertrain in
a dramatic package that was a showstopper in its day. And still is
today. In many ways, the Toronado was an homage to the highly
revered (but commercially disastrous) Gordon Buehrig-designed Cord
810 from the 1930s. The ill-fated Cord, which also was propelled by
a lusty V-8 driving the front wheels, was styled like absolutely
nothing else on the market, with a long nose and hidden headlights,
attributes reprised on the Toronado. Under GM design chief Bill
Mitchell, Oldsmobile adopted the fastback profile of a true exotic
car, albeit on a huge, Detroit-size scale. Despite its bulk, the
first-generation Toronado had a svelte appearance, perhaps because
it was so low-slung - no taller than a Chevrolet Corvair!
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 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,
right out of 1967 and for consignment, is the beneficiary of being
reconditioned in the past and does show some flaws and faults but
still is a stylish looker.
Exterior
Looking like a small warship from the Star Wars series this
futuristic design was truly groundbreaking. A shark-like front egg
crate 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
factory spec and well minded, a few rust bubbles are noted at the
wheel wells and an overall mismatch of the paint is noted
throughout, and it is bathed in Bimini Blue. Bumpers and all
trimmings are in excellent shiny condition and glass for the cabin
is excellent. Satin silver steel wheels are of an open hole design
and dog dish style caps cover the centers. 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 blue vinyl for the seating. The inserts which have a buttoned
tuck and roll textured cloth and the smooth matching blue vinyl
bolsters surrounding. This is a bench but has bucket styled backs
with a fold down central armrest. In back a full bench in the same
pattern stretches from door to door. These seats are very clean and
in not oft used condition. Slightly faded and soiled blue carpeting
floods the flat floors, (look ma, no hump), and darker blue side
panels and door panels present well with highly polished chrome
inserts and bezels. A futuristic dash, also in blue, 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, in all black plastic is complete with its near perfect
horn bad. The factory AM radio and clock round 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 TH425 3-speed
automatic transmission and a 3.21 drive axle. Everything under the
hood, from the black steel inner fenders to the supple hoses is
looking factory fresh.
Undercarriage
Underneath, a mixture of heavy undercoating and surface rust covers
the flat steel flooring and frame. While spots of the surface rust
are heavy, no structural rust is noted. 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 stock style dual exhaust
with resonators is installed and appears fairly new.
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 and very minimal torque steer. Nice cruiser, solid
braking, and all functions were in working order. After our drive
couldn't stop chatting about how smooth and quiet this car is.
Nearly no squeaks or rattles were noted, speaking volumes to the
build quality of this futuristic ride.
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 Oldsmobile's were any indication of day counts.
VIN DECODE
396877M616249
3-Oldsmobile
96-Toronado Deluxe
87-2 Door Hardtop
7-1967
M-Lansing, MI Assy Plant
616244-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
02C-3rd Week February Build
STYLE 67 39687-1967 Toronado Deluxe
BODY EUC15114-Lansing Body #
TRIM 83D-Blue Cloth & Vinyl
PAINT F2-Bimini Blue, Black Top
W-Tinted Windshield
X-Power Windows
S-Power Antenna
2R-Rear Speaker
3P-Unknown
5Y-Deluxe Seatbelts
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 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.