1976 Oldsmobile Toronado Hardtop 

The Oldsmobile Toronado was sold from 1966 through 1992.  It was built as a low-priced luxury car with excellent performance and a revolutionary design.  The name Toronado has no meaning; it was made up for a 1963 Chevrolet show car.  The American automobile manufacturer Cord had created a vehicle in the mid-1930's that used front-wheel drive.  Since that time most American automobiles used rear-wheel drive.  The Toronado, a full-sized American car using front wheel drive, is credited with revolutionizing and stimulating the industry to use the front-wheel design.  For the American Automotive Community, it was a risky concept.  The front-wheel design was viewed as a reason why Cord had gone bankrupt.  Many were skeptical of having the front of the vehicle handle most of the weight, be responsible for steering and braking, and drive the car.

We offer you a revolutionary car with features many cars did not even dare put into effect until years later.  Front wheel drive and the CHMSL (center high mounted brake light).  This example, though not perfect, is rarely seen on the roads today, even though it was a very popular car in the mid 1970's.  Breathe in the title verified 72,026 miles and have a read…(think excited!).

Exterior
With looks very similar to a Lincoln, and power similar to a muscle car, the Toronado is a fine mixture of both.  With its V bumper below the matching V hood and simple horizontal built in grille, it could be squared off (think Cord).  Dual headlights in rectangular format flank the long hood, which makes its way back to the slightly curved around windscreen.  Plenty of chrome trim resides here bordering the windscreen, and a lighter tan Landau padded vinyl top with an opera window, (think Continental).  The sides include long straight steel panels with good alignment, and…chrome trim, circumnavigating the wheel wells, and rockers.  Bringing up the rear is a notched paneled trunk, where the CHMSL lights reside along with thin vertical taillights on the sides, (think Cadillac).  All steel panels are draped in Saddle Metallic which this writer sees as more gold than brown, but so says the spec-man.  As noted not perfect with some scratches and battle scars, but no rust.  The chromed covering on the horizontal trimming is losing its veneer but bon rust is occurring. This car can be shown or driven, or both, as it's a driver, and frowns upon garage and trailer queens (think Toronado.  It rides on large turbine style wheel coverings with a flat chromed dish center all wrapped in thin white wall 15-inch tires.

Interior
A heave of the massive door reveals an environment dyed Doeskin vinyl.  The door panels are doeskin with carpeted lowers.  The driver's door shows an area of vinyl on the armrest that is now covered with a towel, (think quick repair?), as well as the power window and lock controls.  Big comfortable tuck and roll vinyl doeskin colored benches, (front and back), and power adjustments for the front, fill the front passenger compartment.  A large center armrest in matching smooth vinyl sits in the middle of the massive bench.  Stretching across the rear is another tuck and roll bench, with plenty of room for 3 or 4 depending on size.  The dash and steering wheel are original, and utilize the mid 70's “squared off design principle” even down to a “digital” clock.  The dash is a mixture of gold vinyl molded to fit the wood burl appliqué that serves as a background for plenty of convenience controls.  A black instrument cluster fronts the original gold plastic with wood inlay steering wheel.  Gold carpeting floods the floors, and above is a nice tight tan headliner.

Drivetrain
An original unrestored, but well maintained 455ci V8 topped by a single 4-barrel carburetor, and attached to a THM-425 3-speed automatic transmission.  Up front a 2.73 axle turns the front tires.  All mechanicals run very smoothly, (think power)!

Undercarriage
A thorough look underneath, and we are met with lots of surface rust, a newer exhaust system, and fuel tank.  The rockers have the surface rust, as do some of the rear trunk floorboards, however it does not appear there are any problems structurally.  Power disc brakes upfront, and power drum brakes in the rear are noted, (Think its solid and structurally sound).  It appears as though the driver's side floor pans have been sprayed with a black rattle can, and then it ran out, leaving the passenger's side wanting some of  that action, however there is no rust on the floor pans under the seating area.  

Drive-Ability
A quick starter and smooth idler and runner.  Bias free braking, and smooth automatic transmission shifting.  All functions were working at the time of my test drive, save for the AC which does not have a belt to run it, so I'm unsure if it's charged.

Combining luxury, mid 1970's design, and some muscle, this car could be all 3 cars if you want.  In fair to good condition, it can be driven and shown, and gets quickly from point A to point B.  Turn the key and go and show, (Think Trophies).

3Y57S6M714648

3-Oldsmobile
Y-Toronado
57-Hardtop
S-455ci V8 4bbl 210hp
6-1976
M-Lansing, MI Assy Plant
714648-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG

ST 76 3EY57-1976 Toronado Hardtop
BDY LAN393910-Lansing Body #
TR 64M-Doeskin Vinyl
PNT 67 64T-Saddle Metallic, Tan Vinyl Roof
01D-4th Week January Build
A65-Split Front Bench Seat
C04-1/4 Padded Vinyl Roof

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 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.