From Distinctive to Conventional: The 1971 Oldsmobile Toronado Could've Been So Much More...

[@ronaldjones743]

The styling of the 66-67 Toronado was futuristic and way ahead of it's time. Im a Ford guy and would love to have one now in my driveway

[@BobConnor-n2g]

The first version looked like something from the Jetsons, then GM made it ugly.

[@aldonchristian1209]

I currently own a '71 Toronado, silver mint with green interior. It had a black vinyl roof. It runs and drives great. I really enjoy it

[@randallfabian6640]

Sounds awesome!

[@cadillacnan]

As always. Great content. Just woke my 1976 sedan DeVille up after 3 months ..started right up, drove it to a gas station for fresh fuel. No issues. Keep up this awesome sight Adam. Thank you

[@carlm8821]

Kudos and she(your 76’ sedan DeVille) sounds like a lovely and fine automobile from an era that every automotive enthusiast seems to loathe and avoid like the plague. My 76’ Bonneville 4dr hardtop is in storage and not so perfect, but I DON’T plan to let her go as she’s one of the last greats before the 77’ downsizing at GM. Sure they sold better and were more popular, but the 71-76 A & B body cars were much better/better looking and had more of a commanding presence in my opinion anyway!

[@michaelwhite2823]

Wow you are cranking these out. Financing more classic cars? Loved the video on the Monte Carlo.

[@bobjohnson205]

Yeah, he's got the formula down good!

[@michaelwhite2823]

He's is totally hitting his stride.

[@MG-sj1em]

As someone that grow up during the time of this, I remember people loved these but they were a bit over the top in styling. Personally I loved them. There was an urban myth that the Olds was a test vehicle for Cadillacs so people who were interested in these size and types would get the Eldo. I loved the Toronado because it was so different and I always thought very Art Deco-ish. Anyway you're my favorite channel!

[@WayneSytsma]

Love the car. My dad had a 72 dark green and a 75 white Toronado. I bought a 78 Toronado in April 2019. Every time l drive it it’s like going back 50 years to simpler times.

[@2011joser]

The best that can be said about this generation Toronado is that it provided its drivetrain to the truly unique and wonderful GMC motorhome.

[@SpookyEng1]

As a 78 GMC Motorhome owner, I concur!

[@jeffshadow2407]

​@@SpookyEng1As a 1976 GMC motorhome owner, I also agree!

[@badcompany-w6s]

@@SpookyEng1 I would love to own one. Quite a few movie and tv stars had them.

[@TheDragnetNod]

My father was a car distributor for the Oldsmobile division of General Motors in Chicago in 1965. He drove company cars his entire career. He tells me a story of driving the new 66 Toronado in Chicago. He said people just looked at it like it was something from Mars.

[@BobConnor-n2g]

It looked like something George Jetson would buy.

[@markmaiello9180]

Some of those proposals were amazing…If only…if only.

[@TomSnyder-gx5ru]

I like every year Toronado, as long as it's before 1986 that is - this one being one of my favorites! I really liked the extra set of taillights under the back window, made it really stand out at the time.

[@ColonelBagshott675]

The first Toronado and the first Riviera are two of the most beautiful cars ever in my humble opinion.

[@RevPaulBern]

I had a 1972 Toronado that I bought as a late-model used car back in 1976. The ride and handling was 2nd to none. One of the nicest road cars I have ever owned.

[@aldoparise1224]

Your videos are wonderful. Keep up the good work.

[@dustin_4501]

From how the Toronado begun his life as a unique car to became an Eldorado rebadge.

[@warrenstephenson3611]

I had a older mentor that had a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible that Burgundy w/ White interior and top. 8.2 litre and rip the front tires. Flat floors. He also had a Junk yard which he had bought 2 Olds tornadoes when was the 1971 solid white with dark brown interior the second one was the 72 with dark brown outside in this crazy multi-colored interior brown and yellow and it was striped never seen an interior like that before I was too young to try to buy they were both wrecked I saved one thing one of them had a factory Oldsmobile aluminum plate on the front still have it I absolutely enjoy tremendously your detailed approach to these cars I grew up around all these cars and they are still fascinate me today I love messing with old cars I hope the content continues on forever and I appreciate it thank you😅

[@giggiddy]

You've got alot of interesting material. But without punctuation, it's more than difficult to follow.

[@garyovermyer1050]

That rear quater view on the clay model looks Just like the Chevrolet Monza from 1974/75!!!

[@MarinCipollina]

Looks like the 1973 Pontiac LeMans and Grand Am as well. Maybe more so, since those are bigger.

[@h.paulsprojects3061]

Was thinking the same thing... resembles the Monza...

[@michaelpfaff6009]

I had a green 72 Toronado with 27k on it. What a smooth ride!!! 8mpg all day but worth it!

[@Porsche996driver]

8. 😅

[@TimGrimes-q2q]

our neighbor had a 1971, I was 5 and we had a nasty winter storm that dropped about 2ft of snow and the power was out in the hood. Our crazy neighbor Hurby C took us up to the 7/11 at 15 mile and Dodge Park and we were just flying through the unplowed streets. Happy days

[@chadakoin1]

The 98 coupe, or my personal favorite, The Buick Electra coupe, were smooth and powerful rear wheel drive options that could be optioned like Cadillacs. Arguably better styling. As a child of the 70's, they were far more likely to be seen where I grew up.

[@markdc1145]

I definitely see the Porsche 928 cues in the rear 3/4 view of that clay proposal. With a somewhat shorter hood, that would have been an amazing car!

[@randyfitz8310]

Thank you Adam for another fine video on your site! This is one of my favorite group of cars which I’ve not yet owned.

[@ricksand6477]

Thank you for confirming what I always felt was the "1971 Oldsmobile Eldorado" look of these cars. Almost like GM product planning decreed that the upcoming 1971 Eldorado was a much more formal and stiff design that would put off a lot of Eldorado intenders who liked the razor edged sportiness of the current car - so they gave them a Toronado that looked like the 1967 to 1970 Eldorado. Oldsmobile went along with the decision because Toronado sales were in the tank anyway and it proved to be the right way to go sales-wise, especially with Buick's boat-tail Riviera sales bombing as they did. Good stuff!

[@cirtapseven3742]

My father had a 1972 dark brown Toronado with beautiful dark brown interior back in 1974. Car was beautiful!

[@scottgrygiel1377]

My dad also had a 72, gold with gold interior. It was a beautiful car. He traded it in on a 76 Buick Electra which ended up being a much better car

[@MarinCipollina]

Those ugly green, brown and gold metallic paints from the late '60s and early '70s were quite common, quite popular, but really unattractive to me.

[@Johnnycdrums]

Nice interior.

[@drippinglass]

@@MarinCipollinaI so agree. 😁

[@SummitHill79]

@@scottgrygiel1377 Nothing better than a ‘76 Electra! Guessing he spent your college money in gas on the ‘72! Fantastic car. Bad mileage. I had one as a kid.

[@Romiman1]

Great stuff, as always! Especcially these pictures of the original proposals and that huge background-knowledge makes this channel so unique and special!

[@bloqk16]

My late dad had a '73 model. To this day I still find it astounding that with all that front-end weight, the steering wheel could be easily turned using one finger placed in the spoke of the steering wheel. That power steering unit held up well, too, with never a problem with it for the 20 years my dad had that car.

[@bradreinhardt1358]

The 1972 Toronado was my choice as one of GM's finest vehicles in styling, performance, comfort, and a real driver's car. We are all used to front-wheel drive vehicles today with their wonderful handling, but few were around 50+ years ago. This vehicle could pull you through mountain curves at high speed with NO tire squeal that was soooo common with pushed rear-wheel drive vehicles. Loved that alligator long hood and the rear high-mounted stop lamps long before government regulations for better visibility. As usual, when the government gets involved, you get 8' high mounted 3rd stoplamps on pickup trucks that are only for the benefit of low-flying aircraft when the bed-mounted stoplamps are higher than most vehicles! Great reveal on this iconic Oldsmobile body.

[@MarinCipollina]

When I think of a front wheel drive car, "wonderful handling characteristics" isn't what comes to mind. I get it, they're good on snow, if you live in a snow area, but other than that? I prefer the neutral handling inherent to a rear wheel drive setup.

[@MrSloika]

@@MarinCipollina I had a first gen Ford Probe (Mazda 626/MX-6) that went around corners like a European sports sedan. Yup, front wheel drive. A front wheel drive car can be set up to handle.

[@MarinCipollina]

@@MrSloika They're not neutral and never can be.

[@bradreinhardt1358]

Idiottt! Did you drive one of these on bias-belted tires in the 1970s before radial ply tires? What car were you driving in 1975? I guess you did not drive a VW bug in the snow in the 1970s where the weight was on the chains. The 'Bug' and the Toronado were the best in the snow in that decade. Chains were mounted under the axle of the powerplant. There were no others.

[@bradreinhardt1358]

My younger twins, brother and sister, had them both at the same time. The Probe got caught up in a few speeding tickets and wound up in a school front yard. A lot of torque steer with the turbo mixed with a bit of alcohol and impressing a lady or being depressed after the date.

[@Beaula2]

Looking forward to you covering the 70-85 Toros.

[@Beaula2]

*79-85

[@us1fedvet]

What a car. Powerful and exceptional driver. Lots of competition in that range.

[@andrecouchman6198]

I own a 1974 Oldsmobile Toronado for the last 3 years. Red with a white vinyl top, white and black inside with white vinyl split front seats. It took me a while to realize and I really never seen anyone talk about the coffin nose hood was copy from the Cord 810/812 especially more noticeable in the 1974-1976 hood with the opening grill on the bottom of the coffin nose. I get a kick out everyone come up to me and say what a nice Cadillac 😃! In so many ways, I feel I have a poor man version of a Cadillac and a cord 810/812 in one 😃! One other thing I love about the car is there is so much room in the front seat area. I drive the car in the winter months and with a big heavy winter jacket on, I don’t feel so confined in it. I own 3 different big lincoln from the 1970’s and even though there is plenty of room in the front seat but my Toronado front seat room out beat my big Lincoln’s! Probably the flat front floor helps giving the extra room and the front seat feels wider also? Even though I like the Toronado, my big Lincoln’s ride much nicer than the Toronado does!

[@baconpizza1239]

This brings back high-school memories of my buddies 67 (edit to 68) Olds Tornado. It was 1992, that big 455 would smoke the front tires without really trying. Everytime the secondaries of the carb would open you could actually see the gas guage move closer to empty. It was a really classy car but expensive to feed. Thanks!

[@mikee2923]

If it was a 67 it would’ve been a 425. The 455 came out for the 68 model year.

[@John-i3t9o]

And, it could be likely that the fuel gauge movement was simply a result of the gas sloshing to the back of the tank as a result of acceleration. @@mikee2923

[@LongIslandMopars]

My cousin's 68 Eldorado would do the same thing

[@baconpizza1239]

My bad, 68. Long time ago.

[@michaelsimko7694]

I see a lot of styling cues on the models. The rear of those fastback models share a lot of style with GM's H-Body subcompacts. I also see some styling that made its way to X-Car hatchbacks and numerous other 80s fastback/hatchback sports cars. The front ends look almost identical to the Cutlass lineup starting in 1973. The rear half of the first notch-back model you showed had similarities to the first gen Monte Carlo and second gen Chevelle. The C-pillar and the shape of the rear end are similar.

[@MarkM-rx2mc]

Mock up at 9:35…. Front end Looks like a precursor to the later Olds Intrigue

[@cybair9341]

I really enjoy those styling/marketing discussions and the prototype drawings are priceless ! 🙂

[@desertmodern7638]

The second car I ever owned - a half century ago - was a 1971 Toronado in silver mint with a black vinyl roof, and every option except Comfortron control of the air conditioning. I loved everything about the styling, including the beltline dip aft of the A-pillar, and Cord-evocative and grill-less front end. The latter feature may have been why the car seemed less than thrilled with the desert heat, despite having a huge radiator and clutch fan, although it never actually overheated.

[@anthonyhunt701]

A friend had a 1970 & I loved it. My Dad a 1971 & I loved IT too. Like two different cars❤

[@machpodfan]

Nice!! Front end styling and that cockpit dash are wild, underrated I think.

[@Gee_Jay]

SiMPLY GREAT Concept Car Content and analysis narration !

[@BXXification]

All of us do appreciate your knowledge.

[@Hawxx9194]

It's good to have you back! Great video

[@dave1956]

I really liked the 1966-1970 Tornado, but I liked the 1971-1978 as well. I have driven both and they are completely different vehicles. I worked at an Oldsmobile dealership and they had a very loyal following. Here in Wisconsin doctors loved them as they were superior in the snow.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Adam, You can never have too many big block Toronados, should have bought that '71 Toronado when you had the chance. 😉🤩

[@meathead585]

As I've previously stated. My dad had a 72 Toro. in the north east. He bought it used, one year old. Though he usually kept his cars in pristine condition and always washed, this one he kept way after the lower door panels were rusted out and no longer attached at the bottoms. He kept it as it was his favorite car ever to drive. Loved it even more than his Lincolns and other vehicles. 7mpg city and 11mpg hwy. It had plenty of power.

[@DanEBoyd]

Wow, I see a lot of styling cues, and curves and angles, in those models, which made it onto other divisions' production vehicles!!! Lots of never-seen eye candy in this video!

[@cadillacnan]

Thanks carl, i have always owned 1968-1976 full size gm 4 door hardtops..favorate was 1970 buick limited..black exterior..what a fast ride

[@warrenstephenson3611]

I would love to see a episode on a 1964 Buick Wildcat my grandmother had one. Thanks again.

[@Smith686plus]

Great looking cars. Oldsmobile was often ahead of their time with styling.

[@steve20118]

66 Toro is simply art on wheels.

[@hiitsstillme]

Not a bad rehash from Olds on this one. Clearly it gave up any sporting intentions, but it seems like it was the right move. Thanks Adam!

[@williamstachour4019]

I just love this period of car design, these big heavy luxurious machines. I had a '70 Riv as my first car and dream about it still. I'd have killed for an early Toronado, shame that one of the most noteworthy vehicles design-wise was not a noteworthy seller. Great content!

[@johnhenrymcmahon6878]

This is a great find for me, Adam. Thanks for introducing me to this '71 second gen Toronado. Conservative, handsome and masculine. Definitely a man's car, as was the first gen. I would love one in Silver mint. With that cocoa interior, I want me some Baskin Robbins, too! JV Johnny ⚾⚾

[@OLDS98]

Thank you Adam. I enjoyed the content of the video. I liked seeing the design proposals. The first one looks like a 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass. I had no idea Cutlass was influenced by a Toronado design proposal. You can clearly see this. This was good to know. I liked the ones where it was starting to come together for 1971.. It was clear Cadillac Eldorado influence the car. I guess they wanted to go a less adventurous route for the second generation. It worked. I knew the Toronado, Ninety Eight and Eighty Eight and Custom Cruiser shared a lot of parts 1971-1976. I can appreciate this. You can see the same Oldsmobile themes on the interiors and in other areas. When they designed the instrumentation panel for 1974, it was the same for all the large Oldsmobiles. I am glad they did not go with the single headlight design. I am not a fan of that and it looks awkward on larger cars too. That is why I do not like the headlight design on the 1991-1992 Custom Cruiser. That brushed aluminum look came back in the 1980s after they downsized the Ninety Eight, Eighty Eight and Toronado. I recall the Eighty Eight, Toronado with that type of trim specifically 1986-1989. I am one of the buyers who bought a Ninety Eight( 1996) and Toronado( 1992). I bought the Toronado not only for the styling, but it sort of gives me a two door Ninety Eight with a different look. I wished they would have used the 1990-1992 Toronado wheel design on 1991-1996 Ninety Eight. That is just me I guess. I liked the 1975-1976 styling best of this generation then 1973-1974. I thank you so much for this video.

[@jeffshadow2407]

The 1993 and 1994 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eights could be ordered with the 'Trofeo' wheels. My dealership had several that we sold.

[@OLDS98]

@@jeffshadow2407 You are correct. Thank you for your post. That was the Ninety Eight Touring Sedan 1989-1992 that had them. The Toronado Trofeo had them 1990=1992. They changed those touring wheels to a different design in 1993. The new wheel ran up until 1999. They were last used on Eighty Eight 50th Anniversary edition. The wheels I am referring to are the standard Toronado wheels 1990-1992 that I have on my Toronado that look like a turbine that bolt on.

[@jeffshadow2407]

@@OLDS98 And I just bought a 1991 Custom Cruiser after searching for twenty years. I do like the composite headlamps. I sold them when they were new.

[@OLDS98]

@@jeffshadow2407 Really? I liked the car/wagon but I did not the headlight design. I think a car like that should have a quad headlight design( two on each side of the grille). It has one headlight on each side of the grille with turn signals. I just wished the 1991-1992 Custom Cruiser also had more unique Oldsmobile parts besides the wheels, steering wheel, the seats and gauges. It shared a lot with Buick Roadmaster and Chevrolet Caprice wagons. The headlights are from the Caprice wagon. The interior door cards are from the Caprice. The instrumentation panel minus the gauges and climate control are from Roadmaster. I think it is great you got that wagon especially they are hard to locate. It took you 20 years! You have my respect. I was the same way with locating my Toronado and Ninety Eight. I saw a family here on You Tube buy a 1992 Custom Cruiser and fix it up and they drove it from Georgia or Tennessee to the western part of the United States all over in many states and back home to the south. Here are a few videos for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXaUnXt4psx8pZI and kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6jRg6qQrrZ4qpo and kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6vOh42Io61prK8 and here is the family. There are five videos of their journey: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHmwY56PqZJ0bZo

[@markmeachen6927]

You do such a great job of showing concept to production. Please keep your eyes out for previews of 1973 models, where they showed an El Camino with side panels that looked like the Malibu coupe’s triangular rear new opera windows, but functioned as sail panels on the rear bed of the El Camino. I dare you to find it. Really cool article predicting the new colonnade renditions from gm.

[@addiewinnie]

Great review, awesome vehicle for the time era

[@Porsche996driver]

My dad had a ‘68 Toronado. He got so many questions about it! Not sure why you didn’t show any images of it - a nice variation of the ‘67 with hidden headlights behind mesh covers - ahead of its time! It was the light Olive color - also classy modern and ahead of its time!

[@thekillercapricorn6334]

Love your channel.

[@hawk00055]

What a great video. Thank you!

[@therealniksongs]

The mint green '71 shown at 16:50 is identical to the one my dad owned. He had traded a white '65 Ninety Eight Holiday Sedan on it (which despite its name was a pillarless hardtop.) Compared to the Ninety Eight, the Toro was a disappointment. It also had numerous quality problems, having been a very early build, from the fall of 1970 just before a GM strike, as I recall. It used to leak water all over the floor for one thing...performance was not as great as one might expect given the car's power and torque ratings. It just felt too big and heavy and used to understeer massively; it felt like it wanted to plow straight ahead when trying to corner. (I was a newly minted driver at this time; my own first car was a beat up '63 Olds F-85 2-door sedan with the 215 aluminum "Rockette V-8" but I had borrowed the '65 for my first date with my first serious girl.) The Ninety Eight was the embodiment of class and luxury. The Toronado was, as my brother (who had a '68 4-4-2 convertible) and I called it, a "tank." Styling wise, I personally was disappointed that Oldsmobile had chosen to turn the Toronado into a rather bland imitation of the first generation front drive Eldorado, having squeezed all the exciting distinctiveness and originality of the '66 out of the car. Ironically, they chose the same model year to destroy (in my opinion) the magnificent '67-70 Eldorado and turn it into some hideous, fat, bloated whale that thought it was a '56 Coupe deVille with those side strakes. Yuck. . Dad traded the Toronado on a '74 Vista Cruiser and then traded that on a '77 Ninety Eight Regency sedan in a similar metallic green color to the '71 Toronado. His last Olds was a gray '84 Ninety Eight, essentially the same car as the '77 but without the Olds 403 V8. If I were to rank them all, I think the he would have chosen the '77 as his favorite, just narrowly edging out the '65. Next would have been the Vista Cruiser, then the '84. The Toro was dead last.

[@rickeyricardomatthews2147]

The final product of the Tornado 71, beautifully designed

[@Ed_Stuckey]

I didn't realize the early models were such poor sellers. I worked with a guy who bought one of the early 442 models. It was a beast.

[@paulcateiii]

nice video - thanks

[@bretfisher7286]

I completely agree, when discussing the previous years of the Toronado-- leaving aside the subject of your video here. The '66 -- '70 Toronado is probably the epitome of American luxury-- and uniquely American, like no other car. It was the rare example of a car of American manufacture that proposed a new paradigm-- if only in form. Like many here, I'm sure, this car is a point of real pride for me as an American.

[@digitalkov]

Awesome history!

[@jamessharp9790]

Another great video .

[@truman1158]

My uncle bought a new 1971 Toronado, Kashmir Copper, black vinyl top, black interior. A beautiful car.

[@SeaTravelr123]

Number 3 has a lot of Pontiac in it.. looks like a 71 LeMans. Final product is really nice... Im feeling hidden lights on this car, would have looked nice.. Great car though.. thanks for the content..

[@joehumenansky8225]

My father had a '71 Toronado in a light shade of yellow I believe called Bamboo. Darker color tan vinyl roof with the custom level interior. The car was loaded. I always liked the driver centric instrument panel. It was sad GM cheapened the interiors on all of their car lines. The horrible lowers with the armrests always cracked and the hinges sagged even with maintenance. Still it was a rather handsome car and I would like to find one in decent shape someday.

[@kroge007]

The last early proposal you showed had a rear end that looked more like a Pontiac instead of an Olds.

[@DSP1968]

I thought the earlier versions of this generation were really good-looking cars with decent interiors.

[@MarinCipollina]

Thanks for this one, Adam.. This 1971 Toronado like all of the big GM cars from 1971 forward until downsizing later that decade have a heavy bloated appearance. They were relatively popular however. I would have preferred the rear wheel drive 1971 Buick Riviera with the boat tail, but that's just a matter of personal preference.

[@TomSnyder-gx5ru]

I agree - although I like the Toronado, if I had to choose between the two the Riviera boat tail wins hands down, truly one of the last ahhhh---- "uniquely styled" cars ever made IMO! I remember being pleasantly shocked at the time that Buick had the guts to bring to market such a polarizing design - it was definitely a love it or hate it situation, there was no middle ground on this one!

[@badcompany-w6s]

I love the first generation. I want one so bad! My 4th grade English teacher owned one. Beautiful car. was painted turquoise.

[@JMgmkh]

In the 80s ,I lived next to the small town of Oldsmar Fl.

[@jw77019]

I remember thinking the airflow through the grille seemed half-obstructed, yet I never heard of any issues. I remember seeing Pat Sullivan, 1971 Heisman Trophy winner, driving one of these at Auburn University while living in the married student apartments. It was another twenty years before the big crackdown on giving the football players gifts.

[@japanjack62]

My Mom wanted this exact color and model that was on the lot, but my Dad said either the 98 or the Custom Cruiser as they had 4 kids, she chose the 98 LS sedan. another 98 (regency)sedan followed in the late 70's and by the time their last child left the Toronado was downsized and Mom hated it so she went with another and her last 98 ( Regency Brougham)

[@tombrown1898]

A friend of mine Freshman year's parents had a green 1972 Toronado on order from Oldsmobile. For some reason delivery got delayed, and poor Ed called home, collect, every night to see if "The Green Tornado" (as he called it) had arrived! It finally did.

[@RichMander1]

16:37 To me it looks like the three lines on the Grand Prix c pillar, only larger. Because Olds = more cost?

[@michaelwitas9482]

I kept thinking the obvious during this video. . . "that car is so HUGE". A grade school classmate's mom had a powder blue Toronado, perhaps a 77 or 78. After the full size GM cars downsized in '77, all the older big car designs which remained in production looked large.

[@josebarrera1746]

Love the videos any chance on a video for the 1971 Chevy Impala sport coup

[@alexanderspenser4960]

Comfortron was ahead of its time in '66, which was in my Caprice. Boxes of wires and relays, by 1970, it was reduced to a single component. In my 66 Caprice, the cruise control bezel speed control was on a rotary dial. Although quirky by today's standards, as a teen it was cool to have my foot off the accelerator and watch it go to the floor when I rotated the speed dial. 🏁

[@Primus54]

Looking at this design one can already get a hint of how GM would trend toward the ultimate curse of badge engineering.

[@fredholley6248]

@10:16 is that back side glass concaved in?? Interesting.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

That concept toro is awesome. They should’ve used that design

[@oldsmobilethompson1658]

Interesting stuff

[@dlrbsf]

Check out the light on the forward part of the triangular window…now fast forward to the Celestiq.

[@DaveKCMO-u6n]

Awesome review and great insight into the design. Did the high mounted taillights flash with the turn signal, or were they just brake lights? Do you think data was collected as part of a study on the benefits of a high mounted indicator / stop light? I love your reviews, always enjoyable to watch!

[@RareClassicCars]

Flashed w turn signals

[@eddstarr2185]

Collectible Automobile magazine ran a fascinating series of interviews with automobile designers. Eugene Bordinat was adamant that in general, car buyers do not like fastback or boattail rooflines on large cars. That style is better suited for smaller, sportier cars. Henry Ford II loved the 1966 Toronado and wanted a Ford car in the same design language. The Ford design team convinced Henry that all the '66 Toronado needed was a conventional, "luxury car" roof. Sales of the 1972 Continental Mark IV proved Gene Bordinat correct.

[@Jack_Stafford]

"GM was disappointed it didn't sell well at only 60,000 units." For an expensive luxury car? They would love to have near that for today's run of the mill cheap Chevrolets, that is more units sold than Malibu and Camaro, combined last year and also more than the Mustang or Corvette, by far. And those are cars with sheet metal that only changes once an epoch, where the Tornado changed its front metal fender pressings and other details every single year. How far GM has fallen, a modern version of a car like this would sell today, in the near luxury segment with super comfortable seats, rakish looks, a reasonably but not crazy powerful engine and dramatic styling... sold at a healthy butt attainable price. People are aching for something new then look alike boxes with zero character. Just like the Toronado made a dramatic entrance when it first entered the scene, a whole new era could be in front of GM if they just would listen to their customers, read the radar and feel the room. Boomers and Gen Xers and even many Millennials grew up with personal luxury coupes and have gone through the import hatchback era, the minivan era, the SUV era, the hybrid era, and want something easier and more comfortable to ride in and drive and that looks better than a shoebox. As a guy in my 40s, I can tell you, so many guys who buy a new pickup "just for them" say they buy it due to lack of choices, and many say the would love a car like the Monte Carlo, Cutlass Supreme, Thunderbird for their personal car (as opposed to the family truckster they have for their families). And guys our age are at a place that we can afford a comfortable "me" car, or even as a main car if there are no kids or they are grown. Something like a Monte/Riv chassis that could be shared to save costs, but with styling and price to reflect the distinct brands, very comfy seats and ride, easy to drive, but great to look at and reasonably powerful and efficient, we don't want narrow tight leather wrapped Recaro seats, tiny confining cockpit, 22 inch rims, steam roller tires and 500hp, we don't go to the Saturday Night Drag races anymore, and the current Mustang and Camaro have gotten FAR too supercar oriented with no "comfort" versions offered, like the Berlinetta or LX. A boulevard cruiser. Long, Low, Wide. These kind of comfortable cars with rakish styling have been in demand since the dawn of the birth of the automobile... except for the last decade or so, and it IS an untapped market that someone (probably Elon) will eventually tap. But, for decent size and room at a reasonably attainable price, we are all forced into family SUVs or trucks, that all look alike, and no one wants our money for something new, better, different. Believe me, I can speak for many, many guys at least from 40s-60s, we have the money if it is done right... BUILD IT AND WE WILL BUY!

[@Cody_Drake]

Amen Bro! But don't ignore us guys in our 30s, who don't have kids yet and grew up in the back of those dang SUVs. i know we won't ever have cars exactly like this Olds, but why not something modern and cool like it, with comfort and sleekness in mind? i also could buy a new truck, but hate them. i'm not a farmer and also don't wanna drive a bus-like SUV just for my road trips and to get to work. i've had mustangs and camaros, the challenger is dead and been unchanged for too long, and none meet my wants or needs. none were comfy highway cars, either. Gm, build a new Toronado or Cutlass and take my money!

[@Matt6B]

Well said. And agree, first new Monte Carlo-type American car at around $40K-$50K gets my money, for two, one for me and one for the wife. For the record, I'm 39, kid off to college.

[@Jack_Stafford]

And I should add... comfortable, but just the basic luxuries, a modern smooth automatic, air conditioning, power windows seats and mirrors, a decent stereo. Then just the stuff required by law. Optional leather, moonroof, convertible, and engine options for people that want them, sure. And much prefer a beautiful and tastefully designed dash that I'll spend most of the car's life looking at than overly BRIGHT SCREENS EVERYWHERE with top tech that use and adjust things once, then break at 20,000 miles, and ruin your night vision and are perpetually smeared with fingerprints in this age of drive through EVERYTHING, we tend to live in our cars when we use them, and just like in our kitchens, we know that "smear free" surfaces are better where possible. But still, nicely crafted instruments and pleasing shapes, nice soft touch materials, it can be done well. Early 2000s Mercedes and Lexus found a great compromise here. Even some Buicks. Safety things, fine. Airbags, antilocks and rear camera, I know they're required and a good idea. But everyone will admit, that 90% of the tech stuff is rarely if ever used. It can be modern, but restrained, but still beautiful and satisfying. Like the "Baby Cadillac" Monte Carlo that Adam featured in a recent video. What a bullseye car that actually knew its market, and gave them what they needed while still letting them work up to something even better (Riv and Eldo). They need to find those 80 or 90 year old executives that were leading GM during that era and fire all of the enviro-dorks and woke-skirts that are running the place now, and putting it in bankruptcy immediately when the next gas crisis will CERTAINLY happen.

[@dustin_4501]

I wonder if the $4,590 price was considered too much for an Oldsmoblie, maybe if they slipped a Cadillac logo on it, they would sell like ice cream on a hot sunny day.

[@CharlesWiningham]

Both Buick and Oldsmobile wanted the A special platform from the Grand Prix and the Monte Carlo. As you found out in an earlier stylist interview, Buick wanted the A special for the boat tail Riviera. So it wouldn’t be a stretch for the Toranado to be on that platform.

[@keeganandersson4281]

I much prefer the aerodynamic design proposals to the boxy B-body proposals and production model. I understand why they went this way with the final design, but it would have been cool to have a worthy successor to the first-gen toronado

[@drippinglass]

My neighbor got one In around early ‘71. It was quite unique. 😁

[@larryfeeks6620]

Beautiful car.

[@turbofanlover]

Wow. Those 60s Toronados really were great looking cars. The 1971 model was a major step backward in the looks department, IMO.

[@AntonisHL]

Gold or green with black vinyl roof are the best combination for that Oldsmobile Toronado (my opinion). The best looking Toronado for me are the 1971-72.

[@elplata7224]

Thanks Adam. Would you care to give a ‘how to’ on how to to find a specific model? Do ever do actual vin searches?

[@andyj631]

That first design proposal makes me think of an overgrown AMC Pacer in profile lol

[@cementer7665]

I would have expected a comment (at the 11:25 mark), on how the nose and headlights were taken off the Studebaker AVANTI.

[@FitzArias]

7:33 - 1973 Cutlass. Wow.

[@stormythelowcountrykitty7147]

Magnificent

[@MrThomas2587]

The late model 71 GM cars had the trunk grills reduced dramatically in size later in the production-run.

[@roger628]

I'm a purist when it comes to Toros. The 66 was perfection and it was downhill from there stylistically. It's too bad they changed it in 67 as that year had a lot of mechanical improvements, like disc brakes, collapsible steering column etc.

[@Crow12619]

I personally prefer 67-69 models. I don't like how they got rid of the pop up headlights in 70. The second generation are good cars, but are kinda ugly and lame. Same can more or less be said about the third gen, although at that point it really had lost any identity it had left. They tried doing some weird stuff with the last generation in the late 80s/early 90s, and while it is interesting it still fails to capture what made the first gen special.

[@marko7843]

Whereas the original car had slight Cord cues, they really went all out this time. In fact, with both front and rear coffin noses, and the squared-off pontoon fenders, I never understood why they didn't go back to hidden headlights...