I’m not thinking about beginning a debate concerning the first personal-luxury automotive, although I open to strategies that the Ford Thunderbird—most likely the second-generation—was it. I do wish to name out the most effective examples of the breed, nonetheless, and that’s the Oldsmobile Toronado.
New for 1966, the large front-wheel drive coupe was decidedly masculine—one thing supported in early promoting for the automotive—in addition to quick, luxurious, and clearly costly. For ’66, the Olds 98 Vacation Hardtop Coupe began at $4165, whereas the all-new Toro began at an enormous $4617 (that’s $44,500 in 2024 {dollars}). Not solely had Oldsmobile entered a brand new market section with the Toro, it had additionally launched a brand new flagship.
As is likely to be anticipated—in the course of the massive coupe’s run—the Toronado was all the time accessible with the biggest engine accessible to Oldsmobile clients. And, as famous above, the Toronado was all the time outfitted with front-wheel drive. At launch, the Toro was the primary front-drive American-brand automotive because the Twine 810 and 812 had been discontinued in 1937.
The Toronado was a part of the Olds lineup between 1966 and 1992, and adjusted dramatically every time it was redesigned. A fast recap of all 4 generations of the Olds flagship:
First Era: 1966-1970
Size (inches): 211-215
Weight (kilos): 4500
Ideas: Absolute design perfection.
Second Era: 1971-1978
Size (inches): 220
Weight (kilos): 4800
Ideas: Chubby. Sportiness gone.
Third Era: 1979-1985
Size (inches): 204
Weight (kilos): 3800
Ideas: Spot-on good design for the day.
Fourth Era: 1986-1992
Size (inches): 188-200
Weight (kilos): 3300
Ideas: Appeared like a puffed-up Cutlass Calais. Mistake.
It’s price noting that, although dramatically downsized, the third-generation Toronado was, by far, the best-selling model of the automotive. With its edgy, purposeful creases, and bulldoggish sense of substance, the 1979-1985 Toros hit the market in precisely the best manner, with a design conveying each effectivity and broad-shouldered luxurious.
The fourth-generation Toros had been a letdown. Additional downsized, the final Toros appeared an excessive amount of like smaller vehicles within the Olds lineup, but price dramatically extra. Additional, a V8 engine was not supplied, which was a disappointment to many returning clients.
Collected listed below are ten traditional Toronado print adverts. And when you’ve got a favourite mannequin yr or era of Oldsmobile’s traditional personal-luxury automotive, inform us about it. The place to go away feedback is down under.
Oldsmobile Toronado: Traditional Automotive Adverts
1966 Toronado
1968 Toronado
1970 Toronado
1972 Toronado
1974 Toronado
1977 Toronado
1980 Toronado
1982 Toronado
1987 Toronado
1991 Toronado
Hearken to the Automotive Stuff Podcast
Oldsmobile Toronado Footage
Click on under for enlarged pictures
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