hollywood958

Are you kidding me? On a post-war car, if the color and interior are not correct, what is left....it is nothing but a street rod! If the AACA is not concerned about authenticity or it's reputation when a car like this is promoted by a national magazine, then it will never be a credible judging organization-at least as far as authenticity is concerned.

The magazine is Hemmings Classic Car, not Collector Car (oops!) Jay, your points are good ones. However, a 66 Toronado ain't no Amphicar. While I wouldn't expect a judge to know every factory color, I would expect that late model Corvette Torch Red should stand out like a sore thumb on a 1966 car, where even the brightest factory reds were subdued compared with today's colors. Sounds like you haven't seen the magazine cover, but let me tell you that the color on this car SCREAMS out as incorrect. Greg72Monte, I'm with you. Seems like so-called Senior cars should be the best and most authentic. Skating through the judging process due to uninformed judges would offer no pride or satisfaction to me either! Anyone else seen the magazine yet? What about that interior? I thought the color was wrong, but a friend with more Olds knowledge than me believes the sew pattern may be incorrect as well.

Jay, I appreciate the clarification. I looked at the judging sheet and saw "non-authentic" listed below color, and assumed it meant non-authentic color. Apparently it means non-authentic body or body part. Still, it sure looks to be cutting it close to make Senior with wrong color + radial tires. Can you explain if there is a deduction for incorrect interior color? I couldn't see a spot for this on judging sheet. This car sure seems to have the wrong color for a 66 Toro.

I have seen cars with special order paint, but I don't think that is the case here. In the article on the restoration of the car, the owner is quoted as saying he didn't like the original darker red on the car and elected to have it painted in a bright shade of red (his words were Corvette Torch Red). Yes, the car had radial tires. I think these may have been available as a factory option, but certainly not in the modern p-metric sizes. Another item, the wheel cover centers have been painted red to match the car. Don't misunderstand me. I am all for individual expression. Paint it purple, if you want to. My point is that the car is held out by the magazine as some spectacular restoration that was deservingly awarded AACA Senior status. With all due respect to the owner, it is not a restoration, but a restification. That seems to be the term the hot rod mags use to justify updates and changes during a restoration.

I've enjoyed this forum for a long time, but something has got me worked up enough to register and make a posting. Anyone seen the 66 Toro on the cover of Hemmings Collector Car mag (January 2005)? Beautiful car BUT it was painted (according to the owner) Corvette red. How about that beautiful tan interior? Doesn't look like 1966 color to me. What do you Olds guys think? Why does this matter? Because the car is described as an AACA Senior! I've posted a question on the AACA judging forum to query how such an incorrectly restored car could be a Senior award winner.

Has anyone seen the Jan issue of the new Hemmings Collector Car magazine? The cover features a 66 Toronado. In addition to a story about 66 Toronados, there is a story about the restoration of this car. The car is described as a 2003 AACA Senior that has subsequently received Preservation awards. The car is clearly an incorrect color (the owner admits it is Corvette Torch Red). I'm not positive, but the interior also appears to be an incorrect color. I'm new to the hobby and not intimate with AACA judging. However, if I understand the judging form posted on the AACA website, it looks like an incorrect color is a mandatory 40 point deduction. If so, how is it a car with under 360 points become a Senior? This assumes the rest of the car has no other deductions, which seems unlikely. Since the owner is from PA, I assume the car was judged at Hershey. Can anyone from AACA judging explain this to me? It seems that a car that is so obviously inauthentic, displaying its AACA Senior badge on a national magazine cover, creates a credibility problem for AACA and its judging methods.