1976 Oldsmobile Toronado

1976 Oldsmobile Toronado Custom

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 HMSL (high mounted brake light), along with a load of options grace this final year of the 455ci V8 available version. 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 it in and have a read about this well-kept and ownership documented skate... (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 white Landau padded vinyl top with an opera window, (think Continental). Sides include long straight steel panels with good alignment, and...more chrome trim circumnavigating the wheel wells, and rockers. Bringing up the rear is a notched paneled trunk, where the outboard high mounted stop lights reside, and thin vertical taillights, (think Cadillac). All steel panels are draped in Crimson Red. As noted, not perfect with some scratches and faults, but this car can be shown or driven, or both, as it\'s a driver, and frowns upon garage and trailer queens, (think Toronado).

Interior
A heave of the massive door reveals an environment dyed in blinding white. The door panels are white in vinyl with dark red carpeted lowers. These panels present with minor soiling and the power window controls, power locks, and mirror joystick within a brushed aluminum panel. Burl inserts are seen on the mounting points for the white leather door pull and a red reflector is noted below the chrome bezeled actuator. A big comfortable white leather split bench with tuck and roll inserts and a fold down armrest and power adjustments fill the front passenger compartment. Straddling the rear is another bench matching the front with white vinyl surrounds and tuck and roll. The dash and steering wheel are original and utilize the mid 70\'s \"squared off design principle\" even down to a \"digital\" clock. Fluffy unstained dark red carpet below, and a white perforated vinyl headliner above complete the interior.

Drivetrain
An original unrestored, but well maintained 455ci V8 topped by a single 4-barrel carburetor awaits us under the long wide hood. A bevy of supple hoses and ducts fill out the cavernous engine bay and everything looks just wonderful with the right amount of patina. Bolted to the back is a TH425 3-speed automatic transmission which sends power to the front tires via a 2.73 geared axle. An oil and filter change was performed in March of 2022 and a recent cooling system flush was done to keep things running properly.

Undercarriage
A thorough look underneath, and we are met with lots of surface rust on the usual untreated suspects which include the suspension, frame and axles. The rockers have the surface rust, as do some of the floorboards, however both areas remain solid thanks in part to the black undercoating that has been applied. Power disc brakes upfront, and power drum brakes in the rear are noted and are actuated by a new master cylinder and wheel cylinders along with independent torsion bar front suspension and coil springs for the rear ride. New dual exhaust with turbo mufflers is seen from the catalytic converter rearward and handles the exhale effectively and efficiently. Also noted is a new fuel tank with a new sending unit.

Drive-Ability
She started with a turn of the key and ran beautifully. A smooooooth cruise, good tight steering and straight braking. With the 455 cubes it does not take too much time to get to cruising speed, and the transmission shifted smoothly on the way there. All functions were working beautifully save for the clock an

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