Thread: Need Opinion

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Hubby looking at my next project. Was wondering what you guys thought of this car. Talked to the woman and she said that it is all original with the 455 in it.

http://norfolk.craigslist.org/car/666063336.html

I like.....you could do it up like Jay Leno's 66...

If you are going to flip it, maybe, but otherwise you`ll be passing everything but a gas station

If you are interested in a Toronado...

I have a good friend that is wanting to sell his 69 Olds Toronado Custom. I have seen this car first hand and it is a very nice 50,000 mile original. He is asking $5500 but is considering offers.

IMHO this is a much better deal than a fixxer-upper that you would have to sink thousands into to get into a similar contition as my buddy's car in the attached photo...

Just my 2¢...

Dave Brisco

Well, $1200 doesn't really buy much and it looks pretty solid IMO. The Toronados come with a steel crank in the 455 so that is pretty cool.

But the bottom line is, does this car excite you and the Mr enough to want to own it? That has to be the real key to whether you buy it or not. I can't imagine owning just any old car just because it was old and available. Some old cars don't so a thing for me, so I tend to buy ones that I can see myself driving.

Don

the car intriges me. i want to get my hands on it and see what i can do. it looks different. I am very interested in the engine. I have never seen this car before and my hubby remembers one his teacher had many years ago that everyone ooed and awed over. So i guess if the frame is sound and everything else looks good we are going to go for it. I can see myself driving it as far as the gas mileage takes me . Don could you tell me more about the steel crank as I am in the dark about this. I would love to have the 69 but can not afford it.

These were quite interesting cars. I think it would make a very unusual and memorable project!

Thanks hotrod. I think so too.

isnt this a front wheel drive car?? seems like my dad had one for about 15 seconds and it was a front wheel drive car.. i dont have anything against them really and the burnouts would be really interesting..

yes it is front wheel drive kenny. with a transaxle. Something new for me to learn about as i have not rebuilt one of them before. Not that this one needs a rebuild.

Most 455's come with a cast iron crank, but for some reason (maybe the additional stress of being FWD) Olds put forged steel cranks in the Toronados. If I remember correctly, the HP is also up a little from the 455's put in other models of Olds for those years. The steel crank really isn't needed until you get up in HP a little but they are just nice to have. The cylinder heads may also be better in this model too.

We put a steel crank in the 455 we built for my Son's '29. These things are just torque monsters and even that big old Toronado was no slouch in it's day. Yes, the do love gasoline, but most big block anythings do.

If you really like the car then that should be reason enough to check it out. I think they are cool, and when was the last time you saw one running around?

Don

Thanks don. The specs on this car say 375 hp with 500 torque at 3500 rpm. That it will burn the front tires very nicely. I am definetly getting this car.

Had one years ago. 455/TH425. Still have the desire to put that engine/transaxle in the rear of a small pickup and widen the bed to cover the tires.

Front wheel burn-outs are defiantly different. Front wheel drive handles differently than rear wheel drive. If you hit the gas off of a turn the torque will want to straighten the front wheels. If you hit the gas hard enough it will want to pull the steering wheel from your hands. Hopefully the trans axle is in good shape it could be a costly rebuild.

well we decided to not get the car. The engine leaks oil very badly and it has a knock. I guess I will keep looking. Thanks anyway.