53,771 miles. Smooth and torquey 403 cubic inch V8. Great color combination. Loaded with options. Lifetime Florida car. Runs and drives great, very clean inside and out. Oldsmobile’s iconic front-wheel-drive luxury car, ready to cruise.

The first Oldsmobile Toronado in 1966 was a game-changer: front-wheel-drive in a full-sized luxury coupe. It gave the Toro great road manners and even into the ‘70s, the combination of a big V8 pulling instead of pushing lent these cars a distinctive personality. 1978 was the final year for the truly immense Toronados, riding on a giant 122-inch wheelbase and showcasing about an acre of sheetmetal. The angular Toronado bodywork has aged well and looks awesome today, with a crisply folded look that stands out among its Eldorado cousins. There’s about six feet of hood out front leading the way, and we especially like the little dive the fender line takes as it hits the doors, a detail picked up again in the quarters. This car appears to have been repainted once in its original code 79 Dark Carmine and it looks great today with a deep shine and great panel alignment, particularly for 1978. This car spent the entirety of its life in Florida, away from harsh weather and salt, so it’s extremely clean with none of the issues in the usual spots. It also features one of the most unique design features of the 1970s—those high-mounted taillights sitting atop the trunk. Common today, but ground-breaking in 1978. You’ll also find plenty of shiny trim, all of which is in great shape, as well as the padded half roof, which appears to be original with no signs of rust bubbling underneath. There’s some delamination around the opera windows, but it’s not particularly noticeable even close up.

The dark red cloth interior is pure 1970s funky, with deeply padded velour chairs, button-tufted seating surfaces, and carpets deep enough to swallow a quarter. Oldsmobile wrapped the dash around the driver, putting all the controls as his fingertips and letting the passenger just enjoy the ride. The seats are still comfortable and there are no splits or tears in the upholstery, which is rather remarkable all by itself. The original carpets are protected by a factory mat, which is virtually impossible to replace today and the door panels are in great shape. The car appears to be loaded with virtually every option you could get, including power windows and locks, power seats, dual remote mirrors, A/C, cruise control, tilt steering column, and twilight sentinel for the headlights and it all works except the wipers. Even the original AM/FM/8-track radio works (including the power antenna) along with the clock that still keeps time. It might just be the nicest $15,000 car we’ve ever had! The back seat looks unused, and if I had to name the demerits, it’s a missing dome light lens and a crack in the dash that’s probably inevitable after a lifetime in the Florida sun. The trunk is upholstered in black and gray carpet and includes the original cardboard bulkheads that are in nice shape, as well as a full-sized spare and jack assembly.

Oldsmobile’s 403 cubic inch V8 was a workhorse throughout the ‘70s, and in the big Toronado it provides the kind of effortless torque that makes big cars feel so luxurious. It’s also easy to service and parts are still plentiful, so keeping it in top health should be easy in the future. With a 4-barrel carburetor on top, it steps out pretty well from rest, but where it really shines is on the open road where this big coupe just loafs along at highway speeds. There are no modifications or significant alterations and the factory equipment remains intact. It starts easily, idles nicely, and just goes about its business without a lot of fuss, just as you’d expect. The TH425 3-speed automatic is simply a TH400 turned backwards and tucked in next to the oil pan, so it’s virtually indestructible and with 2.73 gears in the front differential, it’s a peerless highway cruiser. The front suspension is by torsion bars, which explains the cushy ride, and the brakes are effective. There’s a new muffler and tailpipe, but the original catalytic converter remains in place, more evidence of this car’s easy life, and it sits on recent 235/75/15 whitewall radials with factory hubcaps on the unique FWD wheels.

We didn’t expect to like this car as much as we do. It makes a great first impression and holds up under scrutiny. Sure, it’s a 50-year-old car, but luxury was different in the ‘70s and this Olds is the epitome of American personal transportation. It has obviously been well maintained, it looks dynamite, and it always seems to attract more than its fair share of attention—after all, when was the last time you saw one? Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.