During a blizzard with thunder snow I raced some old man in a Eldorado down one of our main drags, There were no other cars on the road. It was nighttime with the lightning flashing over head. I had Mohawk show tires on the front of the car. This was in 1979.

@Electronic Adventures It was Feat too.

The GMC Motorhome was a brilliant design, with liberal use of fiberglas and aluminum. The Toronado drive train was smooth as silk!

I got one don't know what to do wit it

It was clearly an updated tribute to the Cord 810/812.

The wheels and hubs were also an homage to the Cord.

Not a crazy comment at all. Got to meet David North when he attended the 50th aniversary in Flint in 2016. He says and admits it was a tribute to the Cord, you can see it in a few ways, the grill, horizontal bars that are full width, the front wheel openings and shape is a tribute to the Cord, so is the wheels themselves as previously mentioned. I love my car. Just love it.

I'm a MOPAR guy too, and LOVE the Toronado!

East Coast Classics, hey what would you pay for a 66 tornado sitting in a yard? Would it be worth getting? Even with how expensive parts are?

2right4words i have two of them one I'm working on now it's like a time capsule hardly any rush to surface rust and Terrence great shape Motors totally there Nazis everything's in really good shape just now trying to get it to go tomorrow we'll find out if we're friends 78000 original miles

Not on the 66, they did have individual bucket seats but no console. The majority of the cars have the strato bench seat, the whole idea was you could sit three people in the front. I own one myself. Been to many events, I've never seen or heard of a console on the 1966 version

Your best bet would be the entire rear axle from a 4 wheel disc brake Eldorado plus the master cylinder.

Did you ever get the car converted to discs?

+turboslag yeah... really sucks. cause i mean.. its classy, but u have all that power not going to the front wheels, but no weight transfer to them? kinda dumb, a shame because I love the look

You see, back in the day FWD was viewed entirely differently as we view it today. This Toronado was genesis to all fwd cars we know today, with that it has lost almost all of the Originality the concept once had. When the Toronado came out with the advent of FWD, it was groundbreaking to have such traction and maneuverability in winter. FWD was viewed as a luxury back then and in this platform, you got the Pro's of have FWD, while not sacrificing the power and sportiness of the V8. Those front wheels are no duds either, the 375hp and 485lb-ft was funneled from the Longitudinal mounted V8 to the wheels via a limited slip differential and equal length axles. There is virtually no torque steer at all, which is a remarkable feat given its powertrain. Couple that with equally as forward thinking suspension components and near 50/50 weight distribution and you begin to not only understand why this car was so inconceivably impressive, but also why it took 1st place at Pikes Peak Hill Climb, international stock class. It's definitely not your modern FWD shit box, but perhaps the precursor that all of greatest FWD sports cars and hot hatches owe their homage.

HyenaGhost Not like it was new thing though. There were a number of examples well before this. Two notable ones were the Citroen Traction Avant in the 30's and the Mini, probably the most innovative front wheel drive car ever, in 1959. For me, front wheel drive is wrong wheel drive.

One advantage I'm sure Olds considered is having a totally flat floor inside with the powertrain all up front.

+HyenaGhost very well said sir🚀

spanky7777 Hmmm , not sure I could a sold a family tornado but I get it.

1966 never had a vinyl roof as an option, that started in 1967, but still it was optional.

@@jalopyjustin Negative, they all had vinyl roofs till 1971

@@wcurtin1962 I have the dealer order books, 1966 had no option for vinyl and 67+ was optional, later on they came standard. Please do more research in the future. Have a nice day.

@@jalopyjustin You're not listening, it never was an opinion, they all rolled off the assembly lines with vinyl roofs. Research? My first car was a 1967 Toronado that was bought for me in 1979. I lived breathed and ate Oldsmobile and Toronados for decades after that.

@@wcurtin1962 Since you don't want to do the research, here is the official list of standard equipment and options for the 1966 Toronado from GM themselves! You may have bought one new, but your ignorance speaks volumes. STANDARD EQUIPMENT ARMREST - Front Seat Center -Deluxe Model ARMRESTS -Deluxe Side BRAKES - Pedal-Ease Power CIGAR LIGHTERS - Rear Armrest CLOCK - Electric DOOR RELEASES - Deluxe Easy-Grip ENGINE - Toronado Rocket V-8 inc Dual Exhaust Outlets FLOOR CARPETING - Wall- to-Wall LAMPS - Parking Break Signal LAMPS - Instrument Panel Courtesy, Map and Glove Box LAMPS - Roof Rear Quarter LAMP SWITCHES - Automatic MIRROR - Outside Rearview MIRROR BRACKET - Chrome Inside Rearview MOULDINGS - Chrome Rocker Panel and Wheel Opening MOULDINGS - Chrome Roof Drip MOULDINGS - Chrome Side Window Sill MOULDINGS - Chrome Windshield and WIndow Interior (Deluxe Model) SEAT - Strato Bench (Deluxe Model SEAT BELTS -Front and Rear SEAT CUSHIONS - Foam-Padded Front and Rear STEERING - Roto-Matic Power STEERING WHEEL - Deluxe TIRES - 8.85 x 15" Balckwall TRANSMISSION - Turbo Hydra-Matic VISORS - Padded Sun WHEEL TRIM RINGS - Deluxe Model WINDSHIELD WASHER - 2 Speed Wipers FACTORY INSTALLED OPTIONS AO1 WINDOWS Soft Ray Tinted (includes AO2) $ 47.39 AO2 WINDSHIELD Soft Ray Tinted $ 28.12 A31 WINDOWS Power Side $104.00 A33 SEAT BELTS Deluxe Front and Rear (include retractors) $ 10.53 A42 SEAT ADJUSTER 6-Way Power for Bench Seat $ 94.79 A69 BACKREST Reclining Strato Bench Seat (RH side) Deluxe Model Only $ 10.53 A81 HEADREASTS Dual-For Strato Bench Seat $ 52.66 A82 HEADRESTS Dual-For Bench Seat. Standard Model Only $ 42.13 A85 SHOULDER HARNESS Front Driver and Passenger. A39 Required $ 26.33 A91 TRUNK LID LATCH Power-Heater Mandatory $ 12.64 A93 DOOR LOCKS Power-Heater Mandatory $ 44.73 B32 FLOOR MATS Auxiliiary Front Standard Model $ 9.90 B32 FLOOR MATS Auxiliary Front Deluxe Model $ 6.25 B33 FLOOR MATS Auxiliary Rear $ 7.29 B36 FLOOR MAT H.D. Rubber Trunk $ 7.90 B93 MOULDINGS Chrome Door Edge Guards $ 4.74 C48 HEATER and DEFROSTER Delete $-94.90 C50 WINDOW DEFOGGER Rear $ 21.06 C60 AIR CONDITIONER 4-Seasons-Heater Mandatory $421.83 C61 AIR CONDITIONER Comfortron-Heater Mandatory $486.47 D31 MIRROR Glareproof Rearview $ 4.47 D33 MIRROR Remote-Control Outside $ 9.48 G66 SHOCK ABSORBERS Superlift Rear $ 39.49 K30 CRUISE CONTROL Automatic $ 89.52 N37 STEERING COLUMN Tilt and Telescopic $ 78.99 N98 WHEELS 15" Chrome Open-Spider: (includes PO6) $ 89.52 N98 WHEELS 15" Chrome Open-Spider: Deluxe-PO6 is Standard $ 71.09 P06 WHEEL TRIM RINGS Standard Model Only $ 18.43 P14 TIRES 8.95 x 15" Oversize Radial- Ply Whitewall $ 73.72 P19 SPARE WHEEL LOCK no enry $ 5.27 P26 TIRES Standard Size Whitwall $ 48.76 T87 LAMPS Cornering $ 36.86 U59 RADIO AM/FM Signal-Seeker Tuning $173.78 U63 RADIO Deluxe $ 86.89 U71 RADIO ANTENNA Power Front $ 29.12 U80 RADIO SPEAKER Bi-Phonic Rear $ 15.80 U89 WIREING HARNESS Trailer Electrical $ 10.53 Y60 LAMPS AND MIRRORS Convenience:Standard Toronado-Includes trunk and underhood lamps, visor vanity mirror $ 5.47 Y60 LAMPS AND MIRRORS Convenience:Deluxe Toronado-Includes courtesy and open-door warning lamps, trunk and under hood lamps, visor vanity mirror $ 18.34 Y72 ENGINE COOLING EQUIPMENT Extra Heavy Duty-Includes special radiator, heavy duty water pump. Thermo-Cool Engine Fan and 55 ampere Delcotron (Except with C60 or C61) $ 34.26 Y72 ENGINE COOLING EQUIPMENT Extra Heavy Duty-Includes special radiator, heavy duty water pump. Thermo-Cool Engine Fan and 55 ampere Delcotron (With C60 or C61) $ 47.39 Y73 TRANSMISSION COOLER Heavy-Duty Automatic-For Trailer Towing $ 5.27 Not once is a vinyl top mentioned for 1966, oh and to reply back to your comment about hiding the ugly roof lines, NEWS FLASH all cars of that era had lead lines to connect the roof to the pillars. This is my last reply to you, if you can't get it from this, I suggest you go and talk to David North the creator of the Toronado and ask him yourself, even though he just supplied the info above. Have a great day.

One in front in the middle of the dash, the other in the middle of the back seat at the top.

Toronado's weight was so heavy it was actually one of it's downfalls. With options they could have a curb weight as high as 4,800lbs.

boy she is HEAVY...

Curb weight as delivered (NADA Guide) for '66 is 4,150 lb.

About 83% of them were Deluxe while just over 70% of all Toronado's had AC which was an Option at $480.00 and was about a 9% add-on cost . This car doesn't have the front mark lights which was only a $30 item while the power antena was just $15.00 .

+2packs4sure Some people say failures and some people say successes. But with either opinion, GM was a very innovative auto maker and was introducing technology at the time when it was in the beginning stages. All the auto makers are the same way. This car was a complete success regardless of what someone might say.

+AMCNorthstar 93 I totally agree, GM took chances and tried really interesting things like those i mentioned and more. I know Ford was experimenting with a V864 type design around the same time GM was but decided it would be unreliable and damage their reputation so they bailed out. GM DID IT, and it did great damage to Cadillac's reputation. My point was that MANY of those designs, once in the hands of the consumer, varied from barely ok to terrible in reliability. The front drive Toro and Eldo were well done and good cars overall. The Vega, Caddy V864, Caddy HT4100 V8, 350 Diesels........... were not. Sadly, the majority of GM's radical innovations that made production turned out poorly. I had friends that had a Vega, a Cadillac V864 Eldo, a Cadillac HT4100 V8 Eldo, Several late 70's 350 Diesels, and they were all junk. The Cadillac HT4100 Eldo was the most beautiful car in the neighborhood and was awesome to look at and be in, but when you stepped out of it with it running it was knocking, and with less than 50k miles and just out of warranty.

The 368, i believe,,, was the smallest version of the Cadillac 472 - 500 - 425 big block and they were BULLETPROOF no doubt. The 368 was probably the meatiest engine under 400 cubes ever built. It would be like if Ford had made a 350 cube version of the 460. My watch repair guy had one with the 368 and he put over 300000 miles on it,,,,, he LOVED that car. I can't remember what year it was but he told me it was the last year for the 368 whatever that was... It still ran great but the car was done back in 2004 and then he tracked done a low mileage IDENTICAL twin and bought it and is driving it today! Of all the GM technology misfires of that era the V 864 was the least egregious because it could be bypassed in 2 seconds. I really like Corvairs but in their day owners dealt with relentless oil leaks, fan belt slinging, and more. Even if you maintained it VERY carefully you still would be hard pressed to get even 90000 miles out of it without a rebuild. Meanwhile the guy with the same year Falcon straight 6 just drove it into the ground with few if any issues AND got better gas mileage. The Corvair technology was interesting but troublesome and basically pointless and that goes for almost all GM outside the box design attempts from that era except for the Toro/Eldo front drive system. The 350 diesels really only worked as a road trip/highway car. If you GOT A GOOD ONE, maintained it carefully, treated it gently, and put 95% highway miles on it, you might have a great ownership experience AND excellent fuel economy,,,, but even then it was a crap shoot. I am NOT GM bashing btw,,,,,,,, i love a bunch of GM's from all the divisions and over the years have owned several and only one was trouble.

Honestly I think GM was at there best times during the 50's and 60's and then improve greatly in the 90's. The cars of the 70's and 80's did become very cheap and low quality no question about it. Some models like mostly the Cadillac's and Lincoln's were nice but still had there problems. Also the Cadillac 368 last year of production was 1981 before going to the HT4100 in 82. The 368 was an ok engine and can run forever with proper maintenance but they do not produce much power at all. I owned an 81 Sedan Deville which only had about 40k on it. The car itself was beautiful and garaged all its life. I bought it from the original owner and the car always ran great. But it was a dog at power and not much difference than the HT4100 V8. The better engines Cadillac built was the 390 V8 that came out in 1959-63, the 429 for 1964-67 and the 4.6L Northstar 32 valve V8 for 1992-2011. Also the 390 and 429 are even better running engines and much more fuel efficient than the later Cadillac 472, 500, 425 and 368 engines combined. I have been around all these various years and have driven them all and by far my favorite engines go to the Cadillac 390, 429 and the 4.6L 32 valve V8 engines by Cadillac.

***** As much as you talk about the old big blocks, you should know that burning oil is a very common characteristic of all the old big blocks! They all use and leak some oil. Gas Tires and oil was the nick name for the GTO! The Northstar on the other hand used oil by design, done on purpose and is not a bad thing at all. Also the Northstar Cadillac's 4T80E transmissions are some of the BEST transmissions out there. They very rarely ever go bad and if they do, most likely its one of the shift solenoids that need replaced and its very easy to do. Not sure where yoru coming up that they only last 130,000 which you might be confused with a different GM transmission or the Ford transmissions. FWD is also not bad at all as it's been around for a long time. Both the Cadillac Eldorado and Olds Toronado were both FWD and that was the one reason why they were so popular for so long because they were FWD. The Northstar was and are some excellent engines and really set the standard in the industry. Ford also followed suit and has been using DOHC engines since 91. And the Cadillac's of the 90's and 2000's do last very well and have much better build quality over the 70's and 80's. The metal is much better, safety is much improved, and paint and other materials used throughout the cars are much, much better than before. The 70's and 80's were not good era's for cars at all. And all the luxury features that you remember from those 70's cars were nothing new at the time as they already came out much earlier from the 50's and 60's.

Got to me as well.

Colorado front plate, Michigan rear plate

The designer of the car was on Jay Leno's channel. Mentioned that Olds were trying to be different to their competition, a lot of one-upmanship at the time.

Lower/flat floor, better winter traction

Good handling, good traction in slippery conditions, flat floor inside, etc