Any Toronado owners out there?

[Guest trofeo73]

hello everybody, I own an 89 Olds Toronado Trofeo, I am new to the forum and have ventured over to the Reatta forum a time or two. I am very knowledgable about these cars, having wanted one for a long time and recently owning one as well. One of these days I will put up some pics of it.

[86 2dr.ltd]

Close but not. 1986 LeSabre Limited, 1986 Riviera.Hang in, someone will be by eventually.

[Guest trofeo73]

I am quite fond of the late 80s Rivieras and Reattas. I also would'nt mind a Lesabre T type in my drive way either!

[86 2dr.ltd]

All nice cars! Then what the heck might as well add one Eldorado to the stable. Hard to believe my 86's are 16 model years old.<P>You know of Sparky's Toronado site right?

[Guest trofeo73]

Sparky?? No I guess I dont. Does he have a web site?

[86 2dr.ltd]

<A HREF="http://www.toronado.org/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.toronado.org/</A> <P>Check out the web site of the month,under the "Features" does your car have this dash?<P>I'm a wanna be owner of a 66 or 67 someday.

[Guest trofeo73]

Yea, I have a digital dash, but no touchscreen computer. I guess the original owner did'nt want to pay the extra 1000 or so for it.

[Guest]

I bought my Trofeo new back in Nov. '89. Still love the car after 169K miles. I just found this group and hope it'll be usefull to keep this car going. <P>I'll probably post this separately later but has anyone had any quirky brake problems with this or a similar car? About once a year the brakes fail while driving. (Pedal goes straight to the floor and idiot lights come on. Luckily enough reserve power to stop quickly.) When it gets towed to the shop, everything goes back to normal so there is nothing to diagnose.<P>Thanks in advance! I look forward to following this group in the future.

[86 2dr.ltd]

Sounds like you've got ABS. I don't on our 86 LeSabre and 86 Riviera. Thank you very much.Must be that ABS stands for anti-brake-system. Hard to believe insurance companies give reduction for this. There has been much talk on the Reatta forum from time to time. Go to bottom of topic page and scroll up to the BCA and choose Reatta. Maybe you can find something there. There most likely is a similarity if not the same system.<P>Welcome & Good luck!

[Guest trofeo73]

86 2dr.ltd is right,,,These cars have the Teves anti-lock-braking system. There is a brake test mentioned in the Reatta forum that can be usefull. I have only had my antilock brake system fail once, and all it did was just lock up (but it did'nt go to the floor!) I would have loved to have owned a Trofeo when it was new, I wish my parents would have bought one instead of the caravan!

[Guest]

I have a 1986 Toronado Brougham. Love it. Been thinking about adding a supercharger to the 3.8. I know GM supercharges a lot of their 3.8's. Never heard about one in this car, anybody else?

[Guest]

Sorry I meant 87 toronado brougham for the post above.

[Guest]

<B>Hey trofeo73...</B> I recognize your handle from the Reatta forum. Did you seemyu post there about the 79 Toronado I bought in December month???

[Guest trofeo73]

I sure did, that is tight, I can't believe you got such a good deal. Most of the late seventies toros in Mo. seem to be very roached out. Thats such a shame. I am trying to add a twin turbo settup on my 89. I need to get another daily driver so that I can play with it.

[Guest]

mine does the same thing but it is a 78 and my dad sez its the brake assist<BR> e-mail me with any coments mine is justinkrutsinger@hotmail.com

[rocketraider]

Justin, it's possible your 78 Toronado has anti-lock brakes. Option JL9. Look under the rear of the car and see if there are wires going to the rear hubs, with a toothed wheel on the axle. If so it's an ABS car. They were on the rear only those years, and used the same technology used today.<P>I have a 78 factory chassis manual, I'll look thru it and see what it sez about the ABS.<P>A lot of people don't realise ABS and airbags were offered by GM in those years. All this hype the foreign manufacturers scream about, well, there's nothing new under the sun. More innovation from the people who brought you the Rocket engine and HydraMatic transmission, as well as Tilt-Away steering.<P>AND OF COURSE, THE FIRST MODERN FRONT WHEEL DRIVE AMERICAN CAR!!<BR> <p>[ 02-21-2002: Message edited by: rocketraider ]

[Guest trofeo73]

Wow, I didn't know that that was available back then. I guess it has always been there, just was not hyped up.

[rocketraider]

It was one of those "unproven" options and people were afraid of it, and more to the point, afraid of what it would cost to repair it if it broke. Same with the ACRS (Air Cushion Restraint System). Worked exactly the same as it does today, off bumper sensors. Had a driver's and passenger's side bag, and I think what killed it as much as anything was, you could not have Tilt-Away or Tilt-Telescopic steering wheel if you ordered airbags. People weren't as concerned with safety options then, and the insurance companies were too busy trying to kill off performance cars to offer ABS and ACRS discounts as they do now.<P>At the Oldsmobile 100th Anniversary bash, the show staff looked for a 1974 airbag car unsucessfully for months. I've only seen one in my lifetime.

[Guest]

<A HREF="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1822043624" TARGET=_blank>http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1822043624</A>

[Guest]

I have a 1989 Trofeo, the same color and it has driven more than 350 000 miles. The drivtrain still runs like new, but all these electrical gadgets are fading one at the time. Right now I´m trying to figure out, how to get the blower to work again, it died a week ago and starts in about every 100-th try, blower itsself is fine, but the climate control is probably the one to blame. Does anybody have an electrical drawing of this system? lauri@amperracing.ee

[Guest]

Hey, I want to know why all of these guys up here in Minnesota with there 66 Toronados all say that they are standard models? When these cars are loaded to the gills in options. Mine only has power steering and brakes, and it even has the untinted glass all the way around. Just woundering?

[rocketraider]

The difference is the interior. 9487 standard cars have a square-backed bench seat and small door armrests. 9687 deluxe cars have the Strato-Bench seat with fold-down armrest, molded door panels with full length armrests and usually, power windows.

And then some years you could order a 9487 car with Y69 deluxe interior option. All of those I've ever seen had wind-up windows.

[Guest]

The true tell tale sign to checking it out if it is a standard or delux is the front windshield!!!! DELUX models all had the blue tint on the front windshield and the standards did not. I got in a huge pissing match at last years quad states show up here. This guy took a standard and turned it into a delux at the dealer. Tilt,strato bench seat, air, am-fm, and even added power windows and locks. Sounds like this guy had more money than brains. But then I looked at his front windshield and saw the blue strip! and then asked him if the glass was original or did he have that changed also and he said that it was the original glass and that he would know becouse he was the original owner! I guess you meet all kinds.

[rocketraider]

Unless the 1966 car ordering information is wrong, you could get tinted glass option on any 1966 Olds. Option AO2 windshield only or AO1 all around. All 1966-70 had a silvered reflective band at the top of the rear glass to deflect sun off the rear seat passengers' necks, whether they had tinted glass or not.

[Guest]

That is not right. My standard has clear all of the way around. Tims 66 is also the same. I have owned mine since 76 and am the second owner. The silver tint that you described is not on my car or Tims. I also work in a glass factory and know what tinting is all about. It is clear LOF all the way around no silver, no blue no nothing? I don't know where you got your info, but going thru my books, and lit it states that sun screen is standard on ALL delux models. Thanks, Dan.

[Guest]

One more thing, last years Quad states, this guy was a senior winner so he wasn't allowed in our class with his 66, no big deal! His is silver blue with Toronado Stickers all over the windshield and glass! But here is the kicker!!!, If you owned a Toro and were showing one you were not allowed to judge that class! Guess how was judging the Toro class? need a guy say anymore? If you plan on attending the nats up here in 04, make sure these guys stick to there own rules. I know, I will be a judge in the Delta 88,98 calss. I was also judging that class at the Quad states in 01. Just a word of caution watch these guys close becouse half of them don't have a clue, and the wrest of them are pretty good! Thanks, Dan.

[rocketraider]

I didn't say it wasn't standard on the 1966 Deluxe car. I said it could be ordered on any 1966 Oldsmobile, F85 thru Toronado, standard or deluxe car. So that is not a way to differentiate between a standard and deluxe 1966-70 Toronado. The interior (and in 66 the VIN) is the key. Look in the 1966 Color & Fabric album.

What did the VIN plate say on the 66 that was dealer converted to Deluxe? If it said 9 <span style="font-weight: bold">4</span> 87 it was a standard. If it said 9 <span style="font-weight: bold">6</span> 87 it was a Deluxe. End of discussion.

In Minnesota, I doubt many were sold with air conditioning. Here in the South, probably 90% of them had it and tinted glass would have been ordered with it. I have yet to see a 1966-70 Toronado (or Riviera for that matter, which used the same glass) that didn't have the silvered band or remnants of it on the backlight. My information comes from experience and the factory sales and service literature.

In OCA, there's a reason why you don't judge your own class, or a class that contains a car that you participated in its restoration. It's to eliminate any possibility of high-scoring your own car or your buddy's. If you have a car in 14A 1966 Toronado, you can judge 14B, C or D as long as you did not assist in restoration of a car in that class. Likewise if you're showing a Senior 1969 Toronado, you cannot judge 20G.

[Guest]

Rocket radar, I think that your rucket is welded and rusted to the launch pad! You are way to book smart, and Open your eyes stupid that you can't grasp reality anymore!!! by the way that is RUCKET, I bet your front emblem on your 69 flies twards the ground!!! Tinted windows came with air! If you want my respect, on a standard model 66 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO, What other GM had the same arm rests? If you get this right I will appologize, and eat my words!! That is the bottom arm rest, both driver and passenger? And I do not want any flipping numbers!!! Make, year, model. Love ya man ToroGuy!!! Front doors only! But I bet you know where there is a four door!!!!

[66400]

Tinted glass and factory air was not tied together, they were seperate items in '66. Only mandatory option included with factory air was the heavy duty cooling system as part of the package(fan clutch/3row radiator). This info is from the Oldsmobile Salesman Album. So much for quoting from books my personal knowledge of my '66 f-85 with only options of factory air, V8 and auto trans, it has clear glass throughout no radio or anything else.

Standard Toro arm rest was shared in many GM cars '65-'67 Cutlass, Deltas 88, Chev Impalas a nd others. Henry

[Guest]

I ordered mine from a 66 Caprice

[rocketraider]

Nope- no four doors <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />, but I can show you two 8-door limousines.

First tell me where the front end Rocket is located on a 69, then I'll tell you if mine's pointing the right direction (it is, by the way). Then tell me where the Rocket is on a 1964 Starfire.

Let's see on the armrests- offhand I can think of the following cars that used the long separate armrest.

Buick-1965/67 Electra, Riviera, Wildcat Custom 2-doors

Chevrolet-1965/67 Impala SS coupes and 1966/67 Caprice coupes

Oldsmobile- 1965-67 Delta 88 and 1965/66 Starfire coupes

Pontiac-1965/67 Bonneville, 1966 Bonneville Brougham and Grand Prix coupes

ToroGuy, I'm sorry you don't like me for whatever reasons you have. Bottom line is I don't care, nor do I want or crave your respect. You've come on this forum with your ass on your shoulder and immediately attacked me when I offered a reasonable and fact-based answer to your question. I've never claimed to know everything about Oldsmobiles, but I <span style="font-style: italic">can</span> hold my own in any discussion or argument you can come up with about them.

BTW, I'm an OCA Master Judge and served on the OCA Board of Directors from 1990-2000, so I think I'm qualified to offer an opinion on how OCA and the judging program operate. I might add I was on the BOD when the Minnesota group first made their bid to host Nationals. Don't make me regret my vote for it.

[Steve Moskowitz]

Nice post Glenn! Amazing that guys in the hobby have to get so crazy over this stuff...it's a HOBBY! As you probably know, Olds has serial number 1 66 Toronado and although I have driven this car many times I can't recall the tinting issue. However, as an ex-factory guy and dealer I can tell all of you not to get too crazy over what literature says or does not say. There were so many changes going both ways during every year based upon engineering changes, marketing changes and parts availabilty that you had better be careful in saying that they did not make a car a certain way. I have tons of bulletins on changes filed away from these years.

I have learned from experience that once you set yourself up as the expert there is a long hard fall awaiting you. I have made the mistake myself and have seen a lot of "experts" embarrassed when proven wrong!

To anyone thinking that it is appropriate for you to judge a car in your class, well, you must be new to the hobby. There is not a club I know of that permits this, as it is not fair to the judge nor the class. If the worst thing that happens is that you do not get the trophy you want or someone gets a trophy they do not deserve...call me, you can have one of my dust collectors! All my cars have won National Awards in OCA,NAOC and AACA and they do not give me near the pleasure I get from driving them, talking with fellow owners and letting the public see the result of our work!