- coupe
- 29,900 overpriced
- Alsip, IL
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- carsforsale.com
The oldsmobile toronado is a personal luxury car that was produced from model years 1966 to 1992. Designed to compete with the thunderbird and general motors' own riviera, the toronado is historically significant as the first u. S.-produced front-wheel drive automobile since the demise of the cord in 1937. The original toronado began as a design painting by oldsmobile stylist david north in 1962. His design, dubbed the flame red car, was for a compact sports/personal car never intended for production. A few weeks after the design was finished, however, oldsmobile division was informed it would be permitted to build a personal car in the riviera/thunderbird class for the 1966 model year, and north's design was selected. For production economy, the still-unnamed car was to share the so-called e-body shell with the redesigned 1966 buick riviera, which was substantially bigger than north had envisioned. Despite the efforts of oldsmobile and general motors styling chief bill mitchell to put the car on the smaller a-body intermediate, they were overruled for cost reasons. Oldsmobile had been working on front-wheel drive since 1958, a project shepherded by engineer john beltz (who originated the 442 and would later become head of the division). Although initially envisioned for the smaller f-85 line, its cost and experimental nature pushed the program towards a larger, more expensive car. However, the time to develop and engineer such a design in such short notice made this a doubtful proposition. Oldsmobile spent seven years developing the toronado. Prior to its introduction to the public, over 1. 5 million brutal test miles had been performed to verify the strength and reliability of the toronado's front-drive components. Obviously, oldsmobile did not want anyone to experience problems with the new design. History has confirmed the toronado design was indeed heavily over-built; the gmc motorhome of the 1970s, which used a basically unchanged toronado-derived drivetrain, stands as a testament to that fact. Nevertheless, the re-introduction of front wheel drive earned the new toronado motor trend car of the year honors in 1966. Naming the toronado was also an event in itself. Some other known names being considered during development are: magnum (later used by dodge), scirocco (later used by volkswagen) and raven. Magazine comes with sale of car. This stunning toronado is documented with oldsmobile protect-o-plate, new car invoice, new vehicle bill of sale and original window sticker. Super nice underside with no rust, all original sheetmetal, clean and rust free southern vehicle, service and restoration documents included. Features on this car include: smooth and quiet oldsmob.
29,900 Alsip, ILAlsip, IL at carsforsale.com