This, once magnificent, 1966 Toronado has been abandoned for about 19 years on my dad's property. It was bought at an auction for my brother when he was sixteen and he never did anything with it, and I honestly don't think he ever drove it. It was last registered and running in 1992. Coming on this forum, and seeing what amazing things people are doing with these cars, I feel like I really have to find this one a home where it can be appreciated, brought back to life....or parted out. We can't part it, it has to go as is/where is, because my dad is 85 years old. There is a lot bad, and some good, and maybe something really good for the right person ....and it is pretty much (or totally) all there and all original. Someone must want this little neglected gem, but I have no idea of a fair price. I will do what I can to answer any questions, or take any photos anyone wants to see.....it is not far from me.

Please have a look and I would appreciate any and all comments!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...7&l=1318ccf002

Kathleen

 

Oh, btw, this car is in Thousand Oaks, California. About an hour above Los Angeles.

And as you can see in the photos, I didn't sugar coat the situation! I only disturbed the cobwebs to open the doors for the first time in probably 10 years.

Kathleen

 

So Bro came along when Dad was 50? I can't imagine changing diapers again...
God bless 'em both, and Mom, too!

As for the car - looks like it was a fantastic vehicle. Darned shame.

- Eric

 

that car is not in bad shape , the trunk lid may be toast , and the area around the windshield needs help , but as long as the frame is good....I would buy it if it wasnt so darn big. he he

 

I think the trunk lid is rusted from the famous "gonna paint this car myself" last words. I think my brother sanded it down....I would have to find the keys and open it to see if it is just a lot of surface rust. I will get my dad to look for the keys...yikes!

The rust on the front sides of the windshield is bad, but other than maybe a little tiny bit in front of the passenger wheel well, I think that is the extent of it.

I forgot to look at the mileage, but I think it is quite low, and the engine should be pretty good, and probably the most useful piece. I would love for someone to restore it, but I have to be realistic that it might not go that way.

Yeah, my brother was a huge surprise for my family! LOL! 18 years after me, he is a real LITTLE brother! He lives in Nor Cal now and realizes that this poor car needs a new lease on life.

Oldsguybry, I wish you would buy it! Alas, it is the size of a car.

Kathleen

 

2blu442??? Jooohhhhnn, there's a car close to you that needs rescuing!

 

What is the car's VIN? Also, can you take a photo of or just reproduce the sequences of numbers and letters on the body cowl tag, which should be under the hood on the firewall somewhere?

Since it's a first-year Toronado, it would be very interesting to know just how early in the model year it was built. Might be some value in fixing up one of the first Toronados ever built if that's what it turns out to be.

 

Ok, I will give it a shot with just typing the vin and cowl info, and if you guys still needs the photo I will get one tomorrow. I got these from my son in law over the phone, so hopefully they work.

Vin-
396 876 M 511 042

Cowl info

11 C

66-39687 EUC 7885 body

050-D GG paint

EXY 2K

I know it is Trumpet Gold Poly Exterior, and Black Deluxe interior, but anything else you guys have to tell me from this info, I would love to hear.

Also, it has 67,000 original miles. My dad went out to check the mileage, and closed the car door on his shin...We just got back from Emergency with a tetanus shot and 11 stitches to show for it!

Ok, this car has drawn blood, I don't think it is ready to die, we have to get it out of here!! Where are you 2blu442 ???

LOL! Thanks,
Kathleen

 

OK, the VIN is interesting. I'm looking at the last six digits.

511042

That's the "plant sequential number" for the car at the particular plant at which is it was built. The "M" just before it indicates the Lansing plant, and I believe that the Toronado was built only at Lansing for 1966. I know it was for 1967 as I have the '67 chassis service manual, and it spells all this out. I'm guessing the '66's were also built only at Lansing.

You have to discount the meaning of the first digit of those last six (the "5"), as these sequence numbers never actually started at 000001. They always started with something other than zero, and the starting number sometimes depended on the series. For example, in 1967, all Toronado sequence numbers began with a 6, so the first one off the line would have number 600001. Toronado "Deluxe" models for '67 began with 600002.

So the 5 in this car's number is probably what the starting digit was for Toronados for the '66 model year. So the first one made would have had number 500001, and this one, being 511042, would be number 11,042 to come off the line.

Total production of Toronados in 1966 was 6,333 "standard" models and 34,630 Deluxe models. We can tell from the VIN that this car is a 1966 Toronado Deluxe.

Number 11042 out of a total production of 34,630 suggests that the car was produced in the first third of total Toronado Deluxe production. This is consistent with the other build date info, which is the "11C" from the cowl tag. That's the build date, and it translates to the third (C) week of November (11), which would be November 1965. Figuring that production of 1966 models started some time in August to be ready for the September introductions, and figuring that production of '66 models ended about July 1966, it's reasonable that the factory would have been through about 1/3 of its total Toronado production by the end of November.

I could be all wet in my analysis here, but this IS an early, rather than a late, production car. It's not #1 or #10 or #100, but it's still early. Not early enough to affect the value, most likely, and maybe not early enough to get somebody fired up enough to save it, but it's all still interesting.

The fellow who writes the monthly column "Frontwheeling with Toronado and Aurora" in Journey With Olds, Ralph Braun, always mentions the VIN of any '66 Toronado he comes across as he's always looking for the earliest one still in existence.


I'm sorry to hear of your father's need for stitches. I hope he's back on his feet soon.

 

A little far south for me Allen, but I contacted Tom. He's in Las Vegas and is restoring a 1967 Toronado.

I juuuuust got home from checking out three Oldsmobiles vanishing into the weeds. A 1966 Cutlass 2 door (its been wacked in the left front corner), a 1967 Vista Cruiser (bad rust around the roof glass) and a 1970 Cutlass 4 door. They're all three right on the border line of being restorable or just parts cars.

KathleenF, welcome to the site! The Toronado's are really nice cars, but sadly there's not a lot of demand for them. I've seen several for sale in the $750-$1,000 range. Although all of them had way more miles on the odometer than yours, you have to find someone in that niche to buy it. Have you considered joining the Toronado club to market it there? If you could get it running and offer it as a driving project car that also might open a broader market. Good Luck with the sale! John

 

Jaunty75, that is some really cool information! Thanks so much! I looked around a little and yes, all Toronados were made in the Lansing Plant.
I love how much you can learn from a few numbers and letters!

2blu442, while I am heartbroken that you are too far away to take this baby home with you, I will have to move on, somehow.

I haven't put it on Craigslist, which is probably the easiest next step. I wanted to see if anyone local enough might be on this board first, and try to get a ballpark value. But I will probably put it up there today. I am thinking $1800 obo, and see if there is anyone interested at around $1500. I have been known to give a couple vintage cars away, just to get them a good home.....but any money from this one will go into my dad's '61...after giving my bro a few bucks.

I can't even think about getting it running, too much work, money and not my car, but my dad would make it possible for someone to try to get it running before it left his yard, so maybe someone would want to do that. I do hope it can be of some use, it really is a gorgeous car. Even in this state you can still see how beautiful the lines are!

Kathleen

 

Update: After one guy coming over and nearly tripping himself as he ran away...and a few calls to see if it was a driver..yeah, right.... The Toronado is gone.

It went to a collector with two other cars that this one will donate to. He sent his friend over and it took 4 hours to get it on the trailer. We were pretty much sitting and watching in lawn chairs with ice water....he didn't want us to help him, probably some liability issue. When it was up on the trailer, it looked great. It looked like all it needed was a paint job and it was ready to go! Sadly, that is not the case, and not even close to reality.

What a great ad for Michelin tires, though! He pumped them up and they went right back into shape, and held air. They were on when my Dad got the car, so they are probably at least 25 years old and should have gone away long ago. But other than the mud spot on the part that sank into the ground, they looked good as new!

So off she went, finally....and my dad and bro ended up $900 richer, which I think was fair and a lot better than going to the crusher. I am happy to see the empty spot!

Kathleen

 

Very interesting story. Thanks.