There is a cheap 66 Toronado in my area. It's in rough shape, so I might use a AAA tow to get it home. I've heard you need to look at the CV boots, and water channels in the trunk. What other spots would be a make or break for purchasing? What things, (e.g. horizontal shocks) should I be aware of before purchasing?

 

Does the Toronado run & drive? If so, ask the current owner to leave the engine cold so you can see how it starts.

 

It runs, but needs an ignition switch to be started (missing key/cylinder). The tires are flat and the windshield is cracked, so I doubt it's been on the road for a while.

 

How about your pocketbook?


What do they want for this car? It sounds like a minor horror story. Toronados are not the cheapest things to restore, and many parts are, not surprisingly, specific to the Toronado. Few body/trim type parts are reproduced. Only recently Fusick began selling new reproduction gas tanks for these cars, but they're not cheap at almost $700 PLUS $200 shipping. Yikes. The better part of a grand just for a fuel tank. You're in New Jersey and Fusick is in Connecticut. If you do need a tank, it might be worth your driving up there and picking it up in person.

No one else makes them, so if you need one and can't find good used and yours can't be fixed, $900 looks to be your only choice.

This is just one example. I would go to the Fusick website and "flip through" their catalogs and see just what parts they offer for first-generation Toronados and what their costs are, and compare this to what the car you're looking at needs and what your budget is.

if you really want a '66 Toronado, there are examples out there in far better shape that would cost far less than what I'm guessing it will cost to bring this one up to the level you would want it to be.

 

Sound advise. Sometimes it's cheaper to pass on one. Some of us had to find out the hard way.

 

These Toronados are an absolute pain in the butt. I've got a '66 that I inherited and I love it but, honestly, you have to have a reason to live with one. Mine has sentimental value as it was my family's car since the early 70's and I've already blown more than it's worth 2x over at this point and mine is a pretty well cared for example. It'll never be worth what I have put into it but that's not the point in my case.

 

Part of the problem is, cool cars though they are, Toronados have never been worth very much as collectors' items, at least not compared to A-bodies and ponycars.

 

Yep, it makes almost no sense to restore one if it's in bad shape. You can get a really nice one for 10-15K and save yourself the headache. I've easily blown 9k on mine so far.

 

Your honor, I object!

What is your source for this?


I'm not saying it's the last word or anything, but here's the Old Cars Price Guide listing, latest issue (May 2025), for the '66 Cutlass and the '66 Toronado.

As usual, the prices are shown starting with condition #6 (parts car only) at the left with condition #1 (better than showroom condition) at the far right. Third from the right, #3, is "car-show" condition and is the condition of most vehicles seen at car shows that have undergone any significant restoration.

Anyway, the Toronado beats the Cutlass in every category.







Looking at, for example, the #6 condition, a parts car Toro is worth more than three times a parts car Cutlass (except for the convertible). I think this is a reflection of the fact that very few parts for the Toronado are reproduced these days whereas far more are reproduced for the Cutlass. So parts cars are the only source for many parts for a '66 Toro, making Toro parts cars more valuable. Also, there were far more Cutlasses made, period, compared to Toros, so, again, while some Cutlass parts would have to come from a parts car, there are potentially more Cutlass parts cars out there than there are Toronado parts cars, again making the Toro parts cars worth more.

 

Here's the same comparison for 1970. The Toro even beats the Cutlass Supreme convertible in every category. Add 20% if the car is a GT, and the Cutlass is left in the dust.

 

Well color me impressed! Thanks Jaunty, I was not aware of this! Interesting that a '70 goes for higher than a '66 right across the board. Those '70 Toros looked to me, at least, to be the worst of the 1st gens. I'd call it an acquired taste. They look like they had way too many people trying to redesign it over the years making it appear bloated......bland. I actually prefer the '71 & '72 to a '70.

 

We don't have to limit it to the Old Cars Price Guide.

Here's values from Collector Car Market Review. Again, the '66 Toro beats the '66 Cutlass in every category.





Here's the category descriptions for CCMR.

 

I agree. I think the '66 (and '67, which wasn't much different in appearance) are the best-looking of the first generation Toros.

I think the '68 to '70 redesigns were at least partly attempts to improve sales?

Olds sold about 44,000 Toronados for 1966. For all of the other years of the first generation, 1967 through 1970, sales hovered in the 20,000 to 25,000 range, barely more than half of first-year sales. This had to have been a disappointment to Olds and GM, and I read somewhere once that Olds had briefly considered dropping the Toronado altogether after 1970. They didn't, obviously, but the '71s and later were far different cars in terms of appearance and market appeal. Olds made the Toro a boulevard cruiser like the 88 and 98, and it worked. Average per model year sales of the second gen Toros (1971 through 1978) exceeded the average for the first gen cars, and 1973, actually, was the high water mark in model year Toronado sales over the entire 27 model years of the Toro with almost 56,000 sold (55,921, to be exact.). In only one other model year did Toro sales exceed 50,000, and that was 1979, the first year of the third-generation models.

 

It's an interesting story isn't it?

People always give the 1st gen Toronados heck because they were FWD yet they sold loads of the 2nd gen models and they were FWD as well. Anyway, many of these were great designs that have stood the test of time, in my opinion.

It's interesting though how I feel about the Toros over the years. At first, when I got mine I thought that only the '66 was good looking and the rest looked horrendous to me. However, as time went on, I've realized how wrong I was about that. I think there was just a few features that was throwing me off. The vinyl roof being the main one along with some hubcap choices that just look so outdated to me. Even a '67 with a vinyl roof looks all wrong to me. I guess I just hate a vinyl roof, especially when it looks like an afterthought. The non-vinyl roof versions of the '67 & '68 look outstanding to me.

At the same time, the first time I looked at the 2nd gen Toros I thought they were hideous. Now, as I have seen more of them, I have come to realize that they were spectacular as well just in their own way, especially in the first few years. Again, it seems like too many people involved in the redesigns over the years.

 

I would pay more for a better Toronado, but I only see 1500 or 12000 dollar examples here. I've never been the concours type, so I just want a reliable driver. As long as panels and frame are good enough, I could do brake/engine work. I wouldn't be using reproduction parts when things like racing fuel cells are just cheaper. I'm on the fence about going to see this particular one, but they're cool enough for me to definitely keep looking.

One guy who isn't going the concours route is Pole Barn Garage on YouTube. He recently started on a 68 Toronado. I think his plan is a Mad Max offroader.

 

Great.

 

That car should be in John Dorcey's possession rather than the guy from Pole Barn. He should contact him.

 

This one certainly has its issues, but who knows how low of an agreeable purchase price might be negotiated. At least, it looks good to start, and then one would have to take it from there - some of the fixes would be easier than others.
eBay item number:335983863920

 

If you can buy this cheap enough and you're serious about looking for another one perhaps this would make a good parts car. Oh forgot that takes space

 

Toronado's are unique and remarkable. Luxurious comfort and highway fast. I bought one a few years ago and don't regret it. The actual market is a little softer than "A bodies". Body and interior parts are not "repro'd" but engine and drive train parts are available. Mechanics capable of working on the drive train is a bit of a problem.

I bought a 1966 Toronado Delux. I didn't "steal" it, but I paid a fair price. expecting to put money into it. After a transmission rebuild and paint job, I might break even. Its a great car cruising through a car show three mile long "cruise loop" at an idle making a video without overheating. It will run down the freeway at 75 MPH. It draws "lookers" at car shows and I have had offers to sell it. I am very glad I bought my "Toro".

You DO have to be careful about the condition of the car and condition of the power train, suspension and body. You can spend a lot of money in a hurry to repair things or make it roadworthy.