OLD SKL 69

Here's one for ya, that is if you have a little extra pocket change:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=390129889533

70 cutlass s

I don't think I have that many pennies in my penny jar.

Blk71SX

Monthly payments as low as $2,837.00!!!!

Appears to be great craftsmanship but personally I think someone ruined a perfectly good Toronado

Jamesbo

Someone with more Toro knowledge is gonna have to spalin this one to me.

70 cutlass s

It was built by George Barris the guy who built the Batmobile and a lot of custom car for tv shows, movies, and who every had the money. He built cars in the 60's and 70's and was very well known.

jaunty75

How does he come up with a such a precise asking price? $229,900? How do you begin to come up with a value for a car like this? He could ask $150,000 or $555,000, and nobody would think it out of line.


By the way, the Old Cars Price Guide puts the value of a #1 condtion 1967 Toronado 2-door Custom hardtop at $18,000, $19,800 if it's the "425" Delmont series (whatever that is), and $23,400 for one with the W-30 option. It appears that Mr. Barris has not been reading the price guide.

Bluevista

Reading the price guide???
What does that even remotely have to do with anything??

There are a few special circumstances to consider that they don't list in there.

jaunty75

I KNOW it doesn't have anything to do with anything! It was a JOKE! That's why I put a smiley there. C'mon, get with it!!!

Jon442

That car should have been left to die. Looks like very nice craftsmanship, but it sure is fugly.

stlbluesbrother

I went to that classic car dealership here in St. Louis about 3 weeks ago and saw it in person. It's gigantic! There's another Barris car (of the Munsters and Batmobile fame) in the same show room. That one has marble inlaid into the door panels. The handles on the inside looked like they were taken from a casket. Pretty wild.

jaunty75

You're getting right to the heart of the whole customization matter. It's definitely a personal thing. They're really not cars anymore so much as they are artwork that happens to have wheels and a motor, and art is definitely an individual to individual thing.

Dan Wirth

I grew up near N. Hollywood (George Barris country) and during the sixties when he was considered "all in" among car enthusiasts. He went to creative extremes with his car art back in the day - that no one came close to in that neck of the woods. I never thought I'd see the day that one of his customized cars would reach in the hundred of thousands of dollars - from this local guy growing in popularity. Glad to see it though, even if the price seems questionable!

Allan R

X2 with Jaunty on this. (period)

Couldn't resist this next bit, so if you're a purist for art or interpretation, and don't appreciate dripping sarcasm or satirical point of view stop reading now.
Personally the outside doesn't appeal that much to me, but the interior concepts look great! I love real wood. However, too many sharp edges on some of the woodwork and I don't really like the cheap way the wheel flares have pieces of metal as rock protection flaps, not that this car is really intended to be driven, right? Can you imagine the headache of trying to maneuver in and out of a parking spot? Considering they've "allowed a $20,000.00 discount" just for being on ebay, I might ask for an additional 35,000.00 discount for personal taste compensation and see what happens from there. If they offer free wall mounting and delivery, this could be the deal of the century!!! Wait, there's more, I can't see if signed somewhere by Barris, like what C. Shelby does. No signature? it's just a cheap knockoff......and used at that ...Good for another price drop??? Nawww, someone out there with a woody for Barris cars will pony up and pay full retail, then restore it to original, right????? For anyone with that much money, this is just pocket change. Wonder if Leno is interested in a mate for his Toro?

Blk71SX

Barris is a customizing legend! always trying to out-do himself and all others

OLD SKL 69

Yes Barris has done some great customizing jobs on many cars, especially Corvettes. But when I saw what this was and how much they wanted for it, I wondered who would even be interested. That price is definitely "out there"

OLD SKL 69

Personally, if i was going to buy a toro, I would get this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BEAUT...item1e598fde0e

Looks like a real nice one but it probably would not fit in my garage!

wolfman98

I can't understand people paying 3 million for a picaso either but then I could never afford it. Someone with loads of dough will buy it because it's a barris and 1 of 2 and this one has just been redone. the fit and finish on the car is excellent even if you don't like the style.

rocketraider

Another reason I don't put much stock in price guides.

A Delmont "425" an 88, not a Toronado subset.

W30 is strictly 442. Toronado W car was W34, and they didn't come around till 68.

Barris has created some outstanding customs, but like other custom shops has built his share of atrocities too. I think the Alexander Brothers built the most consistently tasteful cars.

Red Delta

80 pics and only one of the interior.

HolidayCoupe

poor oldsmobile gave up its life.....sad

w-30dreamin

I've never seen this Barris creation.

Is George from Texas? I wonder why he formed Texas longhorns over the wheel wells?

toro68

That is a nice example. Many a 1971-78s Toronado met its fate in a junkyard.
What do you guys think of the 1968 W-34 for sale in TX?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Oldsm...item19b89fe272

Allan R

First, it's really sad to see it in that condition. But, on the + side it's intact and running. Aside from the obvious cosmetic issues it looks like a really solid car. Probably cost a chunk of change to bring it back to show condition, but it's a rare car. I've only seen about 5 of these cars offered for sale in the last 4 years. Personally I love the look of the car and would love to have it. $$$ is the only issue. Don't know if the asking price is high or low for what it is. BTW, not being a Toro owner...how hard is it to get parts for these cars? 68 and 69 look really similar to me but I don't think there was a huge number of Toros built back then?

jaunty75

It gives me the *******, especially at that price. Nearly 8 grand is about twice what it's worth, even being a W-34.

jaunty75

One need only ask.

Toronado production:

1968 -- 26,454
1969 -- 28,494

No mention of how many had the W-34 option. Only that it was available.


For comparison, about 40,000 Toros were built in the first year, 1966. After that, production hovered in the 20,000-30,000 range through 1971 before jumping to almost 50,000 in 1972.

Allan R

Thanks for the production numbers jaunty. So overall they weren't a high production item (in comparison with A or B bodies?) There were 2 W34 Toros last year that were in immaculate condition. One was in Texas and had just come out of a museum, and the other was a teal colored one = cant remember which state it was in. The prices on those ones were around 20-25K if I remember right. This car would take that much easily to restore. I just don't see a lot of these around, that's why I was questioning production. Are the 2 years compatible for parts? I have a hard time seeing the differences in the body panels and interiors. Still, this design is one of the nicest IMO.

jaunty75

Not at all. Toro production was drop-in-the-bucket.

Olds built almost 663,000 cars in 1968. About 311,000 of these were A bodies, about 26,000 Toronados, and the rest B bodies.

For 1969, Olds built just under 700,000 cars. About 307,000 were A bodies, about 365,000 B bodies, and about 28,000 Toronados.

toro68

W-34 Production figures:

1968 -- 111, less than 30 know, ambe about 27 now.
1969 -- ? (I asked this question to Helen Early,back in 1988, Olds did not have the figures for 1969), but more than 1968. President of TOA (has 2 or 3 1969 W-34s), says maybe 2,000-2500.

1970 (also know as GTs) -- 5,341

It seems 1969 W-34s, are harder to fingd than 68s. I have t seen only three 69 W-34s (engineless gold 69 in NH, blue from Maine(both cars long gone, but I have the 455 and OM tranny from the blue Olds).
Back in 1996, some fellow from NC, got ripped off for $3500-$3600 on a #4 sivler example. He got is from a low-life in Scarbough ,Maine.\He drove it from Maine to NC and the control arm let go, just when he go to his driveway.
I have seen four 68 W-34s in person.

Wyze

x2

mugzilla

Nice Straight Lines ...

No expansion tank ...

OLD SKL 69

Well, it didn't sell but it has been relisted with a $40k price break. What a screamin deal!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1967-...item5ad5ce47de

jaunty75

I guess it's called testing the market. I still wonder what's the point with the unusual starting price. $187,770. Why not just $188,000? And then his buy it now price is only a few dollars more, relatively speaking, at $189,000. I don't get it.

Allan R

Well I guess the first test failed. I noticed that he was using the Old Barris pricing guide: Monkey coupe, Munster coupe, Elvis dream Caddy etc somewhat exclusively for the $$ strategy. That being said, it should have been priced at the general average of those combined reported sales - around: 201,633.00 / vehicle - and badda bing! Guess what? the showroom price is now 199,900.00 just "pennies off the average! With the discount taking it down to it's current 187,770.00 this car appears to be.... under-valued ... even with the Barris provenance. They must have realized that pricing not taking into account general averaging from the market sales put this baby originally in the 240,000.00 range as nothing more than a tire kicker market. I didn't see anywhere in the auction that the original docs, protecto plate or original build sheet come with the car. Can't add in the Batmobile really because it says it was valued at 2 mill, not sold. Guess we'll have to wait and see if someone actually buys it. Good deals are really enticing around Christmas. Maybe there will be a "Boxing Day Sale" and the price will drop again. Either way, I don't have 93,500.00 spare change for a down payment and I'm not willing to finance the remaining 93,500.00 for the next 15 years even it I stay above water doing it. I plan to retire in the next 2 or 3 years so I can move somewhere with more space and warmer temps to pursue building as many Olds as I can lay my mitts on for kicks. Be prepared for some incredible Allan R creations that will be hitting ebay at ridonculous prices!

I don't get it either. Maybe it's a typo; it should read starting bid 87,770.00.... ??? Generally the buy it now is a good indicator of what they want. Never could understand starting an auction at .01 with a buy it now of 75,000.00 either, because the reserve will never be met until its darn close to the buy it now.

71rocket

Couldn't find a set for the hood?

Neat looking creation though.

OLD SKL 69

I agree Allan. You would think that they would lower the starting bid to get some interest going. It will probably end up on Barrett-Jackson at some point and then go for ridiculous money.