Hi, guys. I'm new here but hope to get some real good advice. Just bought my first "real" project in a '68 Toronado. I live in San Antonio but I work overseas so I come home every 3 to 6 months. I'm gonna have to do this project mostly from long distance. I bought her after giving her about a 10 minute look (I've wanted a '68 for a long time). She's in rough shape but I am patient and have the money to fix her up. What I need is advice on a good plan/schedule and how to begin. Most everything is there but I know the bench will have to be replaced as the sun damaged the plastic pretty well. Anyway, I'm glad to be here and can't wait to hear from some darn good experience and wisdom.


Edit - the first two pics were from the craigslist ad, the last three I took in my garage.

 

Welcome to the site, I've seen worse, but that is a major project. Does it run? Thats where I would start, figure out what condition the powertrain is in.

 

Welcome! Good looking project!
'68 is my favorite year after the '66.
If it runs, start by freshening all the fluids.
Are you going to keep the vinyl roof?

 

That's a lot of project. Is that a rocket emblem on the nose? They are usually missing/ broken. Guard that well....

I take it, not rusty, just sun ravaged?

 

Welcome to the site from up the road in Marble Falls.
I had seen that one for a few weeks now. I had one back in the day.
They are screamers. Mine was anyway. Did you get it for less than the $1500
he was asking? No matter, great project.

 

I hope you spent at least half of the 10 minutes looking underneith for frame and mount rust/rot

 

They told me the motor ran, but I didn't want to take a chance of messing up the drive train. My plan is to yank it out and rebuild the motor/tranny to at least 350 hp (although I would like 450 ) and take my time restoring the body. I did a walk around and the rust is minor but where it is I want to replace with sheet metal. And where it sat, there was no way I could see under. It does seem that it is mostly sun damage, though. I actually found the car the night before I was to fly out. So the next morning I had about an hour to make my decision and have her towed home. Yeah, at $1,500 I don't have buyers regret. I LOVE her lines! So does my wife. I'm ready for the restoration (hopefully no more than a year) where I will come home and see the progress on her. And yes, I'm keeping the vinyl roof. She's going to stay red/white as she came from the factory with minimal changes. I'd like to upgrade to all disk brakes and add a/c if it doesn't have it. But half the fun is the process and the wait, right? So I can't wait to start.

 

That does look like a major project and if the engine does run that's always a good thing. But, I would agree with pogo and hope you did a good walk around and felt for rust spots. As a guy who primarily does body work it can be a hassle getting everything worked out when it comes to rust and holes here and there.

 

I'm not entirely sure this is the one, but for the price I paid I'm not sorry I bought it. I love these cars (I've got my eye on another 68) and I'm sure I'll start a project within the year. My problem is to not end up with five Toro projects just because I love them.