Torque-O Nado 

In late 1965 when I was 8 years old, my dad took me with him to go car shopping. He was looking at the Old's Starfire with a car salesman when all of a sudden everyone started running to the back lot. We all went back to see what was going on, the dealership was receiving its first shipment of the all new 1966 Olds Toronado. Dad took one look and said "I want that one" a beautiful silver one still on the transport. We went into the sales booth while the paperwork was written up and waited a bit for the PDI to be done. I'll never forget the ride home, everyone was looking at us while we drove away in this sleek new rocket ship of a car. I felt like the luckiest kid in the world!

One of the most underrated interesting cars built

Dad bought a fully loaded Toronado in November 1965. I remember hearing the surge of vacuum when you pulled out the headlight switch and the sound of that 425 idling in the driveway through those resonators. The engineers at GM did their homework, I never experienced that torque steer feel that so many front wheel drive cars give. The Toronado just planted you in the seat and took off like a jet. Lots of memories. Thanks Steve.

Breaks me heart to see such a fine mochine rotting away like that it does.

When I was a kid, I used to see a silver 66 Toronado around town. Was the coolest looking car I had ever seen, and I still break my neck, whenever I see one! Great video Steve!

1 have 2, trumpet gold. 1 I've owned 43 years

One of the most enjoyable cars I ever owned, bought a '67 Toronado off the original owner in 1977. Kept it for 10 years, hated to sell it. But 12 mpg was a killer! It was amazing in the snow. The blizzard in N.E. Ohio in '78 made me a believer in FWD. One of the last cars GM got right from the 'git go'. (Unlike the Vega or Olds diesel ,or Citation). And Steve pulled out all the stops, displaying magazines and models both. A great crawl!

I just saw a white one like this 2 days ago at a repair shop in Dearborn. The Riviera,Eldorado,and Toronado are all great looking cars.

Happy owner of a ‘66 deluxe. I have also had the privilege and honor to meet David North, a true gentleman and the talented designer of the Toronado.

Does You Tube have awards, like Oscars or Emmys? Steve deserves a "Toobie" for this one! Outstanding!

My favorite uncle had three children in the early 70s. He drove a Toronado until he had 2 more children in the mid-70s, when he started driving a custom passenger van. I don't remember the make of the van, but I will never forget the Toronado

Nice to see a yard that still has some classics, almost none remain in my area, classics, or yards you can walk.

They were beautiful cars. I never realized the Buick Rivera was a cousin car. That would explain why I liked the Toranado’s looks because I believe the Rivera is one of the best looking cars EVER made. Just a work of art.

When you get the tag, you can brag, but let's go all the way, don't you say? 12A for first week of December 1965 production, "L" for Lansing, MI final assembly point, 66 for 1966 model year, 39687 for Toronado Deluxe, EUC for Euclid, OH Fisher Body assembly, UU for Dubonnet (Plum) upper and lower exterior paint, 059-D for Strato bench Plum interior trim, 5Y for deluxe seat belts, X for column shifter, S for power trunk, among other codes (the tag is dirty and should have been cleaned better to make it easier to read). What was unique about these is that the body was made in Euclid, OH at Fisher and then transported to Lansing, MI for final assembly. Fisher Body in Euclid was located at East 140th and Coit Road in the Cleveland area, at 20001 Euclid Avenue. The plant operated from 1921 to 1993. It was the Inland Division for a while making trim parts for various GM divisions before it finally closed in 1993. The plant had a contract with Sea Ray for boat fabrication for a time starting around 1986. Not quite on the convertible. There was a "convertible", made by ASC on the 1979 to 1985 era vehicles. This was to compete with the Riviera and Eldorado factory offerings. 1979 to 1985 Toronado, Riviera, Eldorado and Seville models were all made in Linden, NJ. I knew the body shop owner that did the "double ended" Toronado made by putting the front halves of two Toronados together so it was always "coming and going". No VIN, can't win, but easy to figure out, no doubt: 3 for Oldsmobile, 9687 for Toronado Deluxe, 6 for 1966 model year, M for Lansing, MI assembly and the rest is the production sequence. I believe only front disc brakes (not rear) were an option in 1967. By the third generation (1979-1985) cars, four wheel disc was an option. I had them on my '82 Toronado. Also, the Riviera did not become a front wheel drive model until 1979, when it joined the Eldorado, Toronado and Seville and production moved to Linden, NJ.

Something you seldom see at any car shows. I've always liked them.

Beautiful car, such timeless styling. They look just as good and futuristic today as they did back in '66!

I was in high school in 1966 when the father of one of my classmates bought a brand new Toronado so my classmate would drive it to school at times and also around town at night. Believe me that Toronado would melt the right front tire and the tire smoke was incredible. The 130 mph speedo was not enough because that 425 engine would bury that speedo easily. Two years later the father got tired of buying tires for the Toro and bought his son a 67 Camaro SS350 and it became a street racing legend around tihat little town.

Love your appreciation for Oldsmobiles engineering 💪😎🏁🇺🇲🏆praying for your Speedy Recovery Steve! Car guys stick together 💪🏁

My brother bought me a 1966 Toronado for something to work on. It was owned by a 442 collector in SoCal. It came with a ton of extra parts that had been scavenged from wrecking yards. On the freeway trip home the engine blew a head gasket. I then decided to put 454 heads from a 69 Toronado on the 425 block. Had them rebuilt first. According to Chilton book specs, the head swap was do-able in my estimation. Mainly wanted to get rid of the silly A.I.R. smog setup the 66 had. Worked fine during the short break-in period. Then I hit the highway out of State, and on the second day accelerated on an incline to go around a slower semi truck. Shortly afterwards, one or two of the lifters and pushrods "popped". Bonehead move on my part. Had to limp along slowly until I reached civilization. Kept those heads on, and had a new set of pushrods installed. But the car never had the gusto she once had. And there was some lifter ticking. Was okay for work commutes - but I never again took it on the freeway. Beautiful car. I even had chrome covers for the heads. Ultimately, it languished from being seldom driven, wouldn't start, and I sold it as a project car for $1300 when I needed moving money. This was back in 2013. One of the things I kept were the Appliance aftermarket mag wheels that had a BMW mesh pattern to them. You hardly ever see those for a Toronado. Hoping to get another Toronado if I win the Lottery so I can go full Jay Leno on it - and employ those rare mag wheels. Great piece, Steve!

A friend of mine had one here in Mass and it was great fun in the winter to put it in reverse and do endless donuts as the world spun by 😂😂

I bought a used low mileage one in 72. I was on the road with that great car for two years before I needed more cargo space. Loved it!

The first year of the TV show Mannix featured a customized Toro in season 1. Great design by Olds. Great vid Steve as usual!

So exotic when I was a kid.....still a great looking car

my Dad sold new and used cars in the 60s , I remember sitting in of these sitting on the show room floor , plus a in 1964 442 , I was a total of 6 years old . have been a car nut since

I also live in Massachusetts and own a 1970 Toronado. First Generation Toronado is a very difficult car to restore.

There were wagons, of a kind, the 1968-70 Jetway airport limousines featured 8 doors and hi-top roofline and were built on stretched Toronado frames.

Incredible engineering. Well done Steve!

My Dad had a 1967 Toro. It was Saffron yellow with black vinal top. Fully loaded deluxe with factory bucket seats. We drove it from SF Bay area to CT and back! What a ride. I remember cruising through Nevada and Utah going 126 miles an hour for long periods on time. (No speed limits then, 1971). Beautiful big and heavy luxury car. I learned how to drive with it. It easily did big smoky front wheel drive burnouts too!!

I vaguely remember reading a magazine that was present to highlight one car and was distracted by someone doing a burnout in a Tornado.

Very long story but I got to drive one in late '66 when I was 17 , I was totally astonished by that Car........

You are a gift to humanity. Thank You Steve.

finest car ever made.

A good friend of mine had a 66 Toronado in the mid-late 1980s. Shortly after he bought it, one of the radiator tanks started leaking. When we went to pick it up after repairs at the local radiator shop (remember those places?), the shop owner told us that Toronados of that era used the widest radiator ever installed in a production car. I don't know if that's true but, that thing was HUGE so, I have no reason to doubt it!

Hobby Lobby has some model car kits. I couldn't believe that they are like 50 bucks now. When I was a kid they were like 5 bucks.

Steve your making me wax nostalgic this am. My older brother had a 66 in silver. He had it on road for many years. My fondest memory is him driving my bride and I to our hotel in Boston on our wedding day night before going on our honeymoon. Loved everything about that car. I remember he had this record from Olds “ The sounds of the Toronado when car was 1st introduced. He still has car in a barn on his property though it’s been off the road for many years now. Wedding day was back in 82, my wife and I still going strong after 40 years. Love your videos and your passion for anything automotive.

As far as I am aware all '66-70 Toro's came with large valve heads (later spec'd on 442's as part of the W-30 package). The 3.975 stroke 425 IMO was the best performing Old's muscle car engine. No surprise it's missing.

I had a white deluxe 66 Toro with Navy blue interior. It was loaded with every option except disc brakes. Lovely car and drove like a dream. I showed it for several years and sold it to a collector in Ohio. I've owned a hundred cars over the years and this one ranks as one of the top ever!

I remember as a small boy seeing this car for the first time and calling it a Tornado.I still think its one of the most beautiful cars ever designed and very rare to see one now

Had a 1970 GT W34 Toronado, toured all 50 states in that great automobile. The drop in octane after 74 made it tough to use as it was designed.

Of all the cars I have ever seen and owned in my 56 years. THIS is my dream car. Simply the most gorgeous car ever built. Period.

I got to drive a 68 model through the winding Ozark Mountain roads when helping someone move and it handled spectacularly.

I am 68 and still building my models, nothing more relaxing. STILL learning too.

When i did my high school work placement (Australia) in 1996, the GM Holden dealer i did my placement at, the Manager had a Toronado as his daily (the Manager was in his late 60's at that time). Used to be a saying here in Oz: "If you had money, you owned a Fairlane; if you had a lot of money, you owned a Galaxie" and the same went for the GM world- "If you had money, you owned a Statesman; if you had a lot of money, you owned a Chevy" (both the Galaxie & Chev (usually Impala), were Fisher bodies here in Oz. I scored a 4 door Galaxie & 2 door Galaxue (from Alameda- was an import un-RHD converted) for tge best part of $800 AUD in early 2003

A Toronado wagon with that full length flat floor would have been fantastic. Also, as a builder of model cars for a very long time, they really got me into what made cars work. Some of the old kits (I'm looking at you AMT 66 Mustang, and even worse Mustang 'funny car") required some 10 year old engineering just to get them built. Then there's the Heller Ferrari 330P4 for anyone who had the misfortune of trying to build that abomination, and pretty much any of the Kenworth or Peterbilt kits.

🙏🏼 Thinking about you Steve! 🙏🏼

that's a timeless classic

My mechanic has a '66 and a '67 that are both restored and run great. They're located at East Nashville Auto Clinic in Tennessee.

In 1981 my 1973 Eldorado's CV axle was shot. So my friend went to a junk yard and got a replacement out of a 1966 Toronado. Worked fine for $35.

My dad had a 66 (gold) and 68 (black) Toronado. He had a Toronado fixation and later had a 74 and 78. The 66 was the coolest, though the 68 had vacuum-operated power locks and a radio with a weird mechanical seek feature that sounded like a robot having a seizure when it operated. The 66 had the 425 and I want to say the 68 had a 455. I always thought the dash was the coolest of any car with the drum speedometer and the chrome 'eyeball' vents. Unfortunately the 66 had an engine fire while my dad was going to work one morning. He and my granddad replaced the burnt wiring and resurrected it, but unfortunately the transmission failed soon after, so the car sat for years. In my teens I wanted to revive it and I would periodically charge the battery and start it and let it run to keep it going, but I didn't have the money to fix it and eventually my dad sold it to a scrapper, which still makes me sad.

Love the Torinado. I believe they did well in the Pikes Peak hill climb back in the days before it was paved.

I'm not a GM guy, but I love the look and oddity of the 66 Toronado. When I was young I thought they just looked fast and sporty, but everyone used to say what a gas hog they were, always implicating that the front drive/heavy engine just wasted fuel. I don't know myself, I just wanted to drive one 😁

My aunties boyfriend collected Tornados, he had five or six. My favorite was silver with a black and white houndstooth interior. I always felt so lucky to ride in it, especially because of the rear door opener.

I loved this car. When I was a child my neighbor had one. Never forgot the speedometer!

My favorite is the 1970, with the 455, fastest production car ever made. Thank you Steve really a huge fan of yours!!

The shortened 2 seater you showed in the magazine looks gorgeous. They should have put it into production.

Steve is just a wealth of car knowledge and very handsome as well.

I owned two '76 Toronados! They were both "403" (GAS PIG!) haulers! However, they would PLOW snow (in Northern Minnesota) BETTER THAN THE CITY/COUNTY COULD!

Didn’t know they used torsion bars up front, that explains the collapsed one that was parked in my neighborhood back in the late 70’s. It was in beautiful condition but one side of the front end had collapsed and the wheel was jammed way up in the wheel well. It had been sitting for a long time and I wanted to ask the owner if he would sell it to me so I could fix it up, but by the time I got a plan together it had been towed away. Always loved the style of the early Toronado!

The oddest transplant I ever saw at a car show was a VW squareback cut up to be an Elcamino style pickup. In the bed was one of these huge V-8s with the transaxle, so still rear drive. BTW, you mentioned model versions of these, and I have a "new in the box" Corvair from the mid 60s that's never been glued together.

Those were beautiful cars I remember when Jay Leno made his rear wheel drive.

Back in '87 as I was starting out as a tech, I worked in an Olds/Cadillac dealership. We had a customer with a perfect Burgundy 1967 model Toro. The last time I saw it, I failed it for State inspection because the headlights wouldn't open. The elderly owner didn't want to fix it. The last I heard was several years later, it was sold at his estate sale for a few thousand dollars.

A really special car. I'd love to own one now. I had a '70 Riviera and loved it. This one is cooler. Hope you're on the mend, Steve!

I love looking in the toronado supplement in my 1969 motors auto repair manual these are one of my favourite American cars.great video hi from nz beautiful spring Monday morning 10am🇳🇿

In around 1972 I was delivery newspapers and it was snowing out. I hear some hooting and hollering and a Toronado driven by some teenagers goes bombing by with the throttle wide open. This was on a slight hill and when they reached the stop sign at the bottom of the hill I thought they were going to slide through and wipe out. Brakes lights went on, backup lights went on. Car stopped as if it was on dry pavement. Then wait 2 seconds and to the floor again with more hooting and hollering. I don't know if the car had studded snow tires on it and the weight over the front tires gave it super grip or if they actually got it into reverse and this stopped it on a dime. Great car in the snow. Thanks for another great video Steve!

Looking at this car kills me, my parents bought one of these brand new in 1966. I was 7. I was enamored with it, especially the pop up headlights. It was gold color, black interior. Loved it. Fortunately, they had kept the 58 cadillac they bought in 1960. Several cars and went, but the cadillac always stayed. Mom knew I loved it and wanted it bad someday, so in 1982 she said its time, and signed it over to me. Its Still on the road...but sure would be awesome to have that Tornado today too!! Thx for making me feel old!!! Lol.

I spy a little running gag with that deer head that pops out of every car you show us haha

Steve, Thanks for this fascinating whirlwind tour of the Toronado. I prefer land yachts with traditional Rear Wheel Drive. For that reason, the Riviera with its coil springs would have been my first choice in GM personal luxury cars. 😁

Just fascinating stuff. I remember as a kid a woman who owned a Toronado and how odd we thought front wheel drive was. The front wheels would spin on snow and ice, which we thought was totally backward.

The Toronado was and still is an amazing example of engineering and design. Somebody ought to buy that Toronado - if not to restore, at least part out what is left to restore or resupply other Toronados. I rode in one once. The flat floor just made for a lot of passenger room. General Motors did a great bit of engineering and design in the 1960s. The Toronado, the Eldorado that followed, the Corvair in all its forms, including the Greenbriar van and truck (the Corvair was a great small car, Nader notwithstanding) and the GTO...great cars all....and I'm a Ford guy.

Classic car that’ll take you to the ski hill. Always wanted one. They ran them at pikes peak so it’s got racing pedigree too. Eldorado Convertible could be a really good summer and winter car if you can only drive one classic

A friends dad had a gold colored toranado. I remember him doing a burn out. I thought it was great. I was 15.

What a treasure trove of long forgotten auto history. This video not only shows the Olds but also a dinosaur Kaiser and what was once Im sure a beautiful looking 4dr 67 Imperial luxury sedan

You are absolutely right I started building models when I was 9. I'm now 56 and have owned a 1980 Cadillac seville for 10 years p.s I still build models thankyou for your intelligence on cars

Cogent analysis ty. My neighbor just down the street bought a new one, I was in awe. I was fifteen at the time. I had a paper route and was a car aficionado then and now which made the route more fun.

I'm a big guy but for some reason I like small cars... usually. My day-to-day car is Cobalt SS while I've had Corvairs ever since 1980. Having said that, there are a few big cars on my ever-changing "100 Car Bucket List" for after we hit the PowerBar. A 1966-67 Tornado is right up there towards the top. Cutting edge technology for its time wrapped in an incredible body. What's not to like?

I've been to hundreds of yards but I've never found a magazine about the car, with the car. Steve does all the time. Wow, that blows my mind.

Steven, as always, thank you for your channel. You bring classic cars to a new generation (or to remind us old-timers of what life was like in the rear view mirror of life). I so appreciate you taking time to cover these cars and you are an invaluable youtube resource. Best wishes to you and to those whom work with you on these videos and your tour through the wrecking yard is always appreciated here!

In a head-on collision with anything substantial (back when hitting an Imperial was like hitting a brick wall), the whole 1st gen Toronado engine cradle moved back as one block, so steering column headed straight for the unlucky driver’s chest. All because any brake hose leak sent the pedal to the floor with no stopping power. Next year came with dual brake reservoirs and collapsing steering column mandates.

We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you soon

The interior on this Toro is one of "Dubonnet" upholstery, the exact interior depicted in the factory sales literature. MAGNIFICENT! Rivaled only by Chevy's 1-year-only ('67) choice of "Royal Plum".

I have loved these cars since I was a kid. Due to the fact I received the Corgi bronze coloured version for my birthday way back when. Operable pop-up headlights, built in jacks and removable wheels. Man, that was a cool toy...

I had a standard 66 for many years, the only options were the AM radio and a heater. Mine had trim rings, one of the first parts people look for as they get damaged easily and the clips break. Loved its looks and fun to drive. Negatives - tough to restore as none of those nose trim pieces are reproduced. The vacuum headlights stunk over time - the cylinders would no longer hold vacuum to keep them up, especially at stops. Those drum breaks were borderline dangerous in a 5000lb car. The rain drain tubes in the trunk would fall apart so the water from the back vent would just settle into the trunk itself. Can't change wheels unless you spend huge money to have them custom made. It was tough to modify too - the engine is a high-perf model with a desirable lifter angle, high capacity sump, forged crank etc which was great. The motor sits very high so the intake is restrictive and any modification requires cutting the hood. No headers are made for it so that would be big $$s. I had a dual stall converter custom made for mine but that was it for trans mods, no other gears are out there.

They sure were something special when came on the scene. You wouldn’t initially think of the Toronado as a race car, but Bobby Unser showed the rest of the field the quickest way to the top of Pikes Peak in 66, not a bad for all new technology.

When I see these I think of either the Hurst Hairy Oldsmobile which used two blown Olds engines and transaxles, or the Chevado street legal 55 Nomad wheelstander, which used a Toronado drivetrain in back of a Nomad. Chevado worked well, Hurst Hairy Olds was uncontrolable.

Lovely machines! Those cars were like riding on a cloud! They were turnpike or interstate rockets, yet smooth as silk!

they made the best dem derby cars! my last one had the rear tires over a foot off the ground and we won!!

Wonderful show Steve. I love seeing your magazine collection too.

Thanks Steve! Never knew about the seven shocks and the mono-leaf. I believe that same transaxle was used in the GMC Motorhome (with a 455 or Buick 403) which allowed the rear suspension more freedom to follow the road, resulting in a better ride than the usual truck chassis on mobile homes. So many cool ideas on these older cars. I hope younger engineers take heed.

Top of your game with the video. Superb! Neighbor had a Toronado when I was a kid. Luved it!

Mom bought a blue metallic/white interior 67 back in 72, chose it over a dark blue 67 Camaro. Came with massive finned wheel covers that were not fond of curbs when parallel parking. The pop up headlights, body styling and that cool drum style speedometer sold me, and was only 12. And yes, it could really haul ass! I've got an (unbuilt) AMT Customizing Kit version of the 67 here in my stash. Thanks for the tour Steve! edit BTW: Leno got a hold of one about 22 years ago and dropped a 'Vette drive train in it (including rear axle). Look it up, I have the magazine article at my shop, Road and Track May 2005 did a feature on it.

Steve should take one of these junkyard finds that he tells us are so rare and actually do a series on the total restoration job he and a team do. I want to see the junkyard car brought back to its original glory and actually see how they go about doing it.

Family had one in the mid 70's, magnificent car, endless power, virtually no torque steer, what a REAL front wheel car should be.

When I worked at our family's repair shop, we had so many interesting cars come in, but never got to work on or drive a Toro. One of my neighbors bought a new 66 and after parking it in a garage in NYC saw one that looked exactly like his driving down the street. Turned out it was his, and that was the last time he saw his beloved Toro.

My late friend and customer Darrel Lee had one, I went through the engine (bad piston) and totally enjoyed working on it. It had a variable ratio torque converter controlled by a switch that attached to the throttle. GM used that variable ratio converter in the Turbo 400 for only 2 years (I believe)

I used the front frame & drive section to build a front wheel drive 1970 Chevelle a few decades ago. I adapted a 6-71 blown small block chevy to the thm-425 transaxle.

Later in 73-78 GMC utilize the Toronado drive train in GMC Motorhome. This allows for a lower floor and entry.

Love the channel. Keep it going.

Growing up we had a 1970 Eldorado, the same drive line but with the big 500 engine. It was a fast car and could spin the front wheels. Another interesting footnote is that GM used this drive set up both the Olds and Caddy for the GMC Astro Motorhome. When cars stopped using this arrangement it killed the motor home too.

Because of the Toronado I've subconciously placed Olsmobile above Buick in the GM pecking order since I was a kid. Even a Mopar crazed rugrat in the early 70s intuitively sensed there was something unique and fabulous about the early Toronado. I put a couple hundred miles on a 66 a buddy had in college and it lived up to the image in every way, even as a 16 yr old used car. I'm not a fan of frontwheel drive in anything bigger than my old Scirroco or early Neon but I'd take a 66 Toro anyday and not complain. Of course Leno's RWD, LS hotrod is the perfect realization of the concept but I'd rather have the 75 slightly scruffy Mopar A and B bodies I could have for the same price. Never knew the Eldo-nado twins shared any DNA with the late 60s Riviera but I'm going to pretend I did all along like I always do

Wow. I had forgotten about those cars.