The Terrifying Toronado Part 2: Building The Twin Engine Beast

[@djzombie1]

Brian, Your presentation: (top notch) Your cadence: (soothing) Your research: (unmatched) Your passion for all things automotive history:..................UNRIVALED!

[@1954shadow]

My dad bought a new, 1966 Toronado. I-70 was right near our house. One evening, my dad with me in the passenger seat, went down I-70 and he floored it. I seem to recall seeing the drum style speedometer, rolling close to 130 mph. He never did that again, this, from a guy who use to race a supercharged drag car in the late 50s.

[@rodshop5897]

Sounds like a great memory of your dad!

[@shamil808]

Ha... Went through the notifications. Saw the comment notification from the part one video and wondered if I'd missed the upload of part two, so I went to check. What fantastic timing, Mr. Lohnes. Edit: A fantastic presentation, as always. We appreciate all the time you took to research all this info.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Nice! Part three will be coming sooner rather than later!

[@The55nomad]

Great stuff. Just great. Your research is impeccable, and your narrative excellent. I can't wait for Part 3.

[@JSki-kb8vf]

The other thing this brings to mind...just how smart were the guys who built Ivo's 4 engine car when it ran for DECADES without major incident...

[@jparker785]

Great installment! Ready for part 3! I have worked on cars since I started helping my dad do maintenance on family stuff. My first all over body job was at 16 on a Luv truck for someone in neighborhood. I'm 50 and have been doing restoration since 2018. I love the back story on so many of the cars. Right now I am deep in full restoration of a 1969 Cutlass Hurst edition 😁✌️

[@shafferjoe1962]

This just keeps getting better and better. Cannot wait for part 3.

[@terrygarvin1392]

Your research and knowledge of vintage drag cars is amazing and interesting.. Keep up the great work.

[@oakridgestars]

Thank you for including details about the Hurst Hairy Oldsmobile. Looking forward to the next installment.

[@JoshFugate]

This has been the greatest channel subscription I’ve made in a long time. Fantastic information and I’m extremely glad I found it. Thank you for all the work you put into the history of drag racing and automobilia in general Mr. Lohnes!

[@Bajahaha70]

The suspense is killing me! Thank you for another wonderful video. Can’t wait for more.

[@oldrustycars]

Another winner Brian, thank you.

[@terryfritsch910]

Great work Brian. Love the story of this car. I never got to see it run but I did see the Hurst Hairy run. I am also an Olds guy so that car is right up my alley. One other note I also ran a twin engine AA/DA. Two small blocks rear engined.

[@mikebaker9574]

You got me hanging on the edge waiting for part 3 already. Super work as always!

[@proracer382d]

Great stuff as always Mr. Lohnes.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks man!

[@williamwagaman9538]

Thank you Brian, you knocked it out of the park again.I can hardly wait for part 3.Thank you.I know you're busy Announcing NH RA on FO.X

[@strykerentllc]

The build details are absolutely bananas. LOL Looking forward to the next episode Brian. Cheers!

[@mouthend]

Aghrrrr .. cliffhanger 😄 ... great work, Brian. Looking forward to Pt 3.

[@Guns_N_Gears]

This story is amazing. Thank you Brian

[@JeffreyPerrault-hk6xe]

Brian... You're killing me smalls! I waited two weeks for part 2😢

[@brianlohnes3079]

It’s here now!!!

[@billm970]

My day always gets better when there is a new Brian Lohnes video 😀

[@jorgegomez4608]

Thank you for bringing it back life Always wanted to know about it

[@mmoly-cj4bd]

Can't wait for part 3. Let's go!

[@michaelgautreaux3168]

Epic! Can't wait for pt. 3! Many thanx Brian 👍👍

[@BobHoehn218]

Another well-researched story. Great job!

[@markmonroe7330]

Excellent presentation. Thank you.

[@chazmister56]

Man! One of my all time favorite drag cars. Gonna need to go back and watch part one so I can get to this! Great coverage as always Brian

[@theschultz-ster]

Man I can't wait for the rest of this one

[@brianlohnes3079]

Appreciate you watching it!

[@Ecosse57]

simply outstanding work, sir!

[@frankdragottasfranktv7675]

Hi Brian, I've been witing for this one. Thank you!

[@MaxwellSmart65]

Great stuff as usual. I always look forward to your videos!

[@clifframsdell8382]

I waited three weeks for the ending… your killing me smalls…😅 Thanks Brian for another great episode.

[@jamesschoonover5068]

Thanks for the history and mentioning the Hairy Hurst Olds which I loved ..dont think I've heard of the Terrifiying Toronado! Really cool and thanks for all the details! I have built the HHO plastic model at least twice. Just tried to find one of the TT but guess there is not one out there. May have to build a custom one if I can find a 66 Toronado model! Great job covering this! WOW! There is a second one street version..how wild is that!! More coolness! Still running today..mind blowing!

[@Sleeperdude]

Great video as always

[@georgedennison3338]

Another home run... I was 15-16 during those days of the Terrifying Toronado, (our name). A good friend's dad own a Saab dealership, another bought a new Toronado, the torque steer in the Toronado was 'interesting' & an engineering prob when compared to driving a Saab. We figured a high perf Toronado would be terrifying. Meanwhile, I had just traded a '52 Hudson Wasp for a '57 Chev Tudor Wagon, & my 5 yr march towards the Winternationals began. I just didn't know it, yet. Thanks for stirring up all kinds of memories. I remember reading some of the source mags you quote. GeoD

[@calvincrews3885]

He’s a genius for his innovations on cars like this awesome creation

[@eddiebuerger9145]

Love your videos Brian! How about a vid on the 1st wheel stander? Would that be "Little Red Wagon? Idk, still would be a great video!!

[@masongiles8443]

Thank you as always!

[@jbopiddy2169]

Great job on video

[@PatrickHandrick]

A good friend and I collaborated on a twin engined Toro. Tail pipes were inner and outer to create tornados in apu mode Would have badged it T2 but life and death got in the way. Miss you Paul, Over & out, Patrick.

[@UberLummox]

Oh wow, this is getting GOOD! @0:00 That artwork is stellar! Is that from Car Craft? Looks like a pulp fiction dimestore novel cover BIG time. The Car Craft photos are mind-bendingly cool as well.

[@brianlohnes3079]

The artwork is from the 1966 Drag Racer Magazine feature. It is amazing

[@UberLummox]

@@brianlohnes3079 Thank you!!! Need a wall-size version of that for sure.

[@bobroberts2371]

I can smell the slightly moldy paper, grass / straw / mud while buying a box of magazines at the swap meet then sitting under a tree in the shade to read.

[@UberLummox]

@@bobroberts2371 Best smell! (or one of)

[@garylucier6817]

It was a great time to be young, and have a step-dad who was a top fuel junkie and huge fan of early drag racing, it was all about the dragster, at least until the first funny cars were adding top fuel to the equation, and then Lions went away (we lived in Carson, CA within the full sound zone that told us head southwest 2 miles for a great cheap fan time today), then O.C.I.R was the place to be at the (screamed all over SoCal radio stations of the day), for the 64 Funny Car Top Fueler Shootouts and Fox Hunt this Saturday Night, repeated over and over, hot dogs, and the pre race ceremony with the track lined up with 32 funny cars all diagonally parked on the racing surface backed up along each guardrail, drivers & crews out there with their cars. Every grandstand seat filled, every standing room only spot taken. And the action that followed was immense and deafening, well beyond any 16 car Elim field of today. Later when I was 18, in 1975, I ran my very first car at an O.C.I.R. Fox Hunt. My 1st night of turning from a lifelong fan to an actual drag racer, running between rounds of a 64 Funny Car Shootout. All the big names were there, and I was sharing the lanes w/ them just 2 lanes over. Yes. It was an amazing time, SoCal and so many dragstrips was an amazing place to grow up, turning from fan to racer. 60 yrs. later, but a shadow of its former self. But, the memories last forever. Thanks Mr. Lohnes! For all the walks down memory lanes. Now back to the staging lanes, that lead to 2 (or 4), well prepped lanes that keep the dreams alive. Times are very different now, but not that different at all.

[@baldbastardo]

I'm from the off-road world where gearing is everything. Well not everything but day one, class one type of a deal. Different methods of power delivery to different tires sounds like an exercise in sending the old ticker into dangerous territory on the dragstrip. Pucker up your behind and pray for the seat covers..

[@deanpaidas8089]

Couldn’t wait for part 2.

[@rdaw33]

When I was a kid (60's) my friend had a model of this car.

[@GR1MRACER]

6 minutes in this sounds like the most unsafe build ever devised sober.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Hahahahaahah

[@david929190]

Motortrend's Hot Rod Garage built a modern day equivalent with a FWD Impala that got a second LT4 out back and turbos.

[@nemesisxrox6773]

... rear engine spinnin' a foot away from flesh while a front tranny using 1st-2nd while the rears always in 3rd ... ''' sweatin bullets '''' or possibly a case of ''' brawn over brain '''

[@ridgerunnerperformance-jas5418]

Great stuff Brian

[@tracydoane4261]

A twin engine 66 was built in the middle 70's as a Seattle daily driver. One rad up front for both engines. Both carbs were drive by wire. It had one ignition switch with toggles for independent control to each engine & starter. I got to help with cosmetics, covering the rear side windows & adding a padded landou top, the rear seat had to be modified & moved 8 inches forward to clear the rear engine. then we disguised the rear engine cover as a steemer trunk. eventually sold to a KTW disc jockey. It used Harley Davidson Baffles instead of mufflers. This was a great time to be a teenager living on Queen Ann Hill ( class of 1974)

[@nemesisxrox6773]

... that b some priceless memories u got there

[@tomp1612]

Good stuff Brian.

[@jfrockon]

You are such a great narrator... Have you done any audio books? Seriously..

[@moparnut6286]

Awesome history!!

[@nemesisxrox6773]

Awesome work Brian ... this along with Part 1 joggled the personal cobwebs of the memory banks big time ... 👍 Now if only Utube would create a ''' mark all as 👍''' to their format for the comment section ... all could b so much easier

[@timrayburn2461]

Great video

[@mcjdubpower]

Another gud vid, from the UK 😊

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thank you!!!

[@southtexashustler]

Man, this dude reminds me of a Steve Evans narrating from NHRA…👍🏾

[@RussellCompton-fh3gr]

waiting on #3

[@tomstiel7576]

Un Fucking Believable,,,very interesting,,,you sure know how to captivate the viewer,,,cant wait for the rest

[@rickmassey1272]

His wife!!!??..Built because of a suggestion from his WIFE!!???...WOW!!!...this guy loved his wife.😊

[@Xsiondu]

Fantastic

[@bobroberts2371]

Another Toro / Eldo bit I've seen pics of car haulers that used the front half of the first gen cars and a deck in the back for the race car. This was similar to the 50's Mercedes hauler, Cheetah Transporter ( the last pics I've seen were where the building collapsed on the car ) and the East German Wartburg Rally Trans . And, for another oddity, look up the Eldo based Sbarro Function Car as well as some of his other " cars " . . .

[@koz8850]

Lifelong Olds guy and I could never find good info on the twin engine Toro.

[@SolamenteVees]

I cannot wrap my brain around the wheel-speed disparity between the front and rear halves of this car...

[@NBSV1]

With 2 separate engine that can each turn different speeds it should work out that the front engine could just turn the higher rpm since they aren’t directly coupled together. But, with such a big gap it’s likely the rear one was bogging to far trying to pull such a high ratio. I’ve seen other twin engine setups that can work fine as long as each drive train is independent. But, they’re normally both the same engine and trans combination.

[@sarahjoable]

Is it a Tornado or Toronado ? I remember sitting in the back of one of these which had been imported into the UK and driven at great speed down English bendy roads by an ex Aston Martin racing driver, front wheel drive was only familiar to us in the UK in the Mini at that time and sitting in the back of the lengthy Olds was exhilarating to say the least.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Toronado (Toro-nahdo as pronounced by us colonists!) This is a wonderful story

[@jamesdamron2065]

Should do a follow up,,with the other twin engine street car!!😂😂

[@CarsandCats]

The rear leaf springs were not inverted, and this can be seen clearly in the photos.

[@zippityzbrake]

i hope to one day make an impact on anything the way youve impacted the sport of drag racing. Youre not the most famous but youll be one of those "betcha didnt know this legend" type of articles or videos 50 years from now. Just as legendary as smokey yunick or anyone else

[@raykaufman7156]

Once again, life stops for a Lohnes drop. 👍 I'm going back to sleep now...

[@samiam5557]

I think the different drivelines for each engine would pose a big problem in synchronizing the wheel speed front & rear. The Hurst olds made more sense.

[@mikeheggem9488]

A twin engine toro was built in seattle by John Gorman back in the day.

[@localcrew]

Another cliffhanger...

[@ronbrusch7290]

Anyone remember propane X it was a tornado too

[@smoothoperator7023]

WHERE'S THE VIDEO?????

[@davidmclellan7591]

OH NO !!!! Cliffhanger..............

[@Turbo4Joe363]

"The Toronado was hugely overweight at 4200 - 4400 lbs".... Lol Yet today's Mopar Chargers and Challengers weigh exactly that! 2+ Tons!!

[@aliassmithandjones9453]

front and back tires turning at different speeds? What the hell was the builder thinking?

[@garylucier6817]

Mo smoke, MO money, whether from lighting them up, or dragging them, MO Smoke equaled MO money dreams. It did not quite work out as sketch planned on the back of that Friday night diner napkin.

[@thegalli]

Back before they invented safety

[@RoosterRocket]

I don't see the Euro styling. The Tornado is all American to me.

[@nemesisxrox6773]

Rear engine spinnin' a foot away from flesh while a front tranny b using 1st-2nd while the rears always in 3rd ... hmmmmmmmm

[@beecj0]

.

[@robertmcfarland3323]

That car was heavy as a tank and not fast.no traction

[@RexCars1]

AMAZING Story BL... Thanks.. SOOO much info that I Did Not Know..

[@cnftnf]

Brian I have been a drag racing fan since 1964 and it's great to hear the insight you provide on the history of my favorite sport. Thank you.

[@gafrers]

Fascinating. I had been waiting for part 2 and didn't disappoint. Now waiting for part 3. Crazy build. Great narration and information gathering as always

[@numlockkilla]

Thankyou Brian for your time and smarts. This story is a GEM.

[@brianmcadow4054]

Great content , I love the way you logically attack your premise and the delivery is top notch

[@rickallen9864]

I love this video. Can't wait for part 3. I have heard a lot about this car. I worked at gale banks eng for over 20 years. Met a lot of people. I'm a huge 60s fan. So what was the first funny car in you eyes?

[@brianlohnes3079]

Everyone has their own opinion, but the Sachs and Sons car has my vote!

[@rickallen9864]

@@brianlohnes3079 unreal. Mine too

[@brassmonkey7566]

Nowadays you can't get a bilt motor for 20k

[@garylucier6817]

You can, but you have to go real slow at it, it can take almost forever to accomplish, and you get an 1/8th mile headstart to dance with factory built racecars at the stripe, and you must live it 17 plus seconds at a time, and do it w/ 1-24th of the total horsepower. Lol. The thrill isn't always being the bullet or the rocket, sometimes you can find it by slowing down and being the 1 chased by the bullet or the rocket. Brian, if you ever want a different look at drag racing as a go fast sport, look me up in the pits please, let's get you in my passenger seat, and a fast 8-9 second Copo Stocker in the other lane for an amazing dial in run so you can witness a car (bullet/rocket), bearing down to that last 2'-4' top end dance to take or leave the stripe decision after a double 00 or better light foot braking both ends w/ the other car at 125-140 and closing fast! It isn't fuel, but it is exciting and the engine doesn't cost 20 grand. Guaranteed, a different view, both of the view of that Copo's undercarriage and the absolutely amazing fast closing rate. Things appear in slow motion, until at the last few milliseconds they don't.

[@garylucier6817]

And then. You take over the turtle and take on that bullet. It is like attempting to outrun a missle.

[@jarm7726]

😎👍

[@eltonv8tao]

Here in Brazil they did a similar deal. They put a Toronado powertrain (apparently all stock) in the back of a Chevy Opala. They say it was faster than a Ford Escort V8 Blower (Ford Escort Dimep).

[@DayTwo-w8n]

I was at the Niagara Falls drag strip in August 1967. As the car left the starting line it made a large snap noise, the engine blew up and a large cloud of green smoke billowed up. The car then veered left crashing into a fence. I was only 14 at the time and remember it very well. This was the very first drag I had been to.

[@DeweyParrish-dn2zu]

It wasn't a 425ci. IT WAS A 455CI!! unless he pulled the 455ci!!!

[@jean-charlesweyland129]

He made a Citroen 2CV Sahara... 9 years after Maurice Bonafous.

[@mikehoncho9344]

Ive got a gold 68 i believe on a trailer in front, little surface rust, complete and for sale

[@franklinbrown8710]

Bob Olmstead Erie, Pa CORVAIR!

[@higgs923]

Thanks for the memories! During my mid-Sixties High School years we lived less than ten miles from Irwindale Drag Raceway. The Terrifying Toronado stayed at a garage two blocks down the street from us a few times. The Kohler Brothers '48 Anglia gasser ran out of our town as did the '55 Chev of Heyer and Main. You shoulda' been there.

[@nemesisxrox6773]

... some priceless memories u have there

[@johnzuck6163]

Awesome Thanks Brian 👍

[@NewRiverRoots]

More More More! Great as always.

[@HomebrewHorsepower]

1200 horses each? That's absurd.

[@zombe5150_]

Love the speedo on those old tornados...

[@TheSilverBuick]

Now this has a cliff hanger ending!

[@brianlohnes3079]

And I promise you that it delivers!

[@jeffmckc2081]

Hey Randal

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

My buddy had a 70 olds jetway cruiser which is a toronado based 16 passenger wagon. That car with a 455 in it would smoke those front tires for blocks.. the th425 was one tough transmission

[@williamparish32]

Bad to the bone