 1975 Oldsmobile Toronado
Here, in its splendor, is Bernard Harfield's
1975 Oldsmobile Toronado Brougham, done in saddle brown with a chocolate
brown half vinyl roof.
This is a fully loaded car that came with a 455 Olds big block, 850 cfm
Quadrajet and 3 speed automatic transmission. It is a front wheel
drive car as well. The car only has 23,000 miles on it and as Bernard
says, "I'm currently in the process of addressing all of the 29+ years of
storage related issues. There's a few to say the least. So far so good
and I should be finished with it this summer."
 The
car is in excellent condition both inside and out, with only a few body and
paint related problems. More significant, but not daunting, issues are
with the shocks, tires, brakes, exhaust, transmission, engine, carb, stereo
system and AC. As Bernard notes, "I can honestly say that this wasn't
exactly my 'type' of car, but I have been pleasantly surprised at how much I
enjoy driving it! The Toronado floats like a dream down the road and
with that 455 there's no lack of power to sail along with, to where you may
be going."
The car shared the same body style as Cadillac's Eldorado, however the
Eldorado had a larger engine and was far more decorative in its finish.
A popular model at the time, the Eldorado's production numbers reflect that.
When the word "Eldorado" was mentioned everybody knew what that car was.
Mention "Toronado" and only some people knew what you where talking about.
 The
Toronado is unique in a number of ways. First and foremost, it's a
front wheel drive at a time when all cars were rear wheel drive.
Limited numbers meant that you didn't see a lot of these cars, even back in
the "day", and now you just don't see any at all. "I feel that this is
a fine example of Oldsmobile's top of the line luxury model", says Bernard.
"I'm proud to own and drive this very unique and almost one of a kind
automobile. I bought the car for sentimental reasons, with the
intention of re-conditioning this car to it's original beauty and
brilliance."
Bernard's father was the original owner, new from Carter Chevrolet
Oldsmobile (Winnipeg, Canada) in May of 1975. Bernard remembers riding home
in it with him when he picked it up from the dealership. "I reached to
turn on the radio and he sternly warned me 'DON'T TOUCH A THING!' and so it
began", notes Bernard. The car saw regular duty for the first 18
months of its life. When Bernard's father bought Bernard's mother a
1974 Mustang, the Toronado became an "occasions only car". Between
1976 and 1979 it saw the road quite a few times, but after that it went into
storage for 29+ years. During that time Bernard's father would start
the car at least once a year and let it run for about an hour. "Not the best
thing to be doing", notes Bernard.
In 1999 his father did put license plates on it and the Toronado saw the
road again three times that summer and even participated in the Club's
Parking Lot Party at Park Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd. in August of 1999. In
2008 Bernard's parents were down sizing, and his father decided to part with
the car.
It was too much to resist the temptation and "I entered into an agreement to
take the car off of his hands. Oddly enough I was the same age when I
got the car as my Father was when he bought it back in 1975", muses Bernard.
Learn more about Bernard's other
car, an immaculate 1977 "Bandit" Trans Am by
clicking
HERE.
Be sure to send an e-mail to the President or Membership Chair to request information
about upcoming shows/events where the Members can be met and cars seen.
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