[pfloro]

Hello Everyone:

Some might be thinking: "But it's so new..." Yes, it's only 25 years old but I'm the original owner & it has been my daily driver for all this time.

The Queen Mary spent the first 20 years in NJ & did succumb to some rust. But the frame was sound & the body rust was confined to the bottom areas. The vinyl landau roof is new as is the headliner & carpet. The leather seating surfaces & all interior vinyl is original.

The Olds 307 V8 has not been rebuilt. Except for a timing chain & gearset (now double roller) installed @ 153,000 miles, the engine internals have not been touched. The 325-4L Hydramatic has been rebuilt twice, first @ 77,000 due to a burnt intermediate band and again @ 175,000 due to worn sprocket bearings & drive chain. The shift kit installed during the first rebuild has kept the shifts crisp but not harsh for 186,000 miles...

A few years ago, I finally converted the troublesome rear disk brakes to conventional drums. I got tired of a low pedal, no e-brake and poor stopping ability. The front disk/rear drum setup works just as it should with a consistent high pedal and much better stopping performance.

The Queen Mary was an ordered car and I opted for several less frequently ordered options: Astroroof, 2 position memory driver seat and Delco Bose stereo. These options continue to provide enjoyable motoring. Although I have replaced the original Delco Bose cassette radio with a unit which plays CDs, I have kept the original radio.

Over the years, I have done most of the maintenance myself. The factory shop manuals have probably been read cover to cover. I am grateful for the fine mechanics and body/paint people who have done the work which was beyond my abilities...

I plan to keep this car for many more years & drive it on a regular basis. The Queen Mary is even more special since Oldsmobile is no more and GM has gone through so much upheaval. Although not a first generation Toronado, the front drive underpinnings are very similiar. The great heritage of American automobile engineering is quite evident.

Happy Motoring,

Paul

[talarico8447]

Great car, thanks for the info. I had a 1983 for a short time and loved it.

[CarAdMan]

Too new to restore, I think not. My wife's '85 Riviera (kissing cousin to your Olds) is a joy to drive and gets comments aplenty on Cruise Night. We've put in a new 307, new vinyl top, headliner and replaced the cracked bumper fillers. Love the Astroroof, air suspension, and Quadrasonic Stereo. (also put a CD player in the glovebox- to listen to that old time Rock'N'Roll). My daily driver is a '65 Ford F100 with a 460/C6/9" drive train. Let's keep them old cars on the road. - RICK