953 nut 65,856 #1 Posted March 16 March 16, 1968 General Motors produces its 100 millionth automobile, an Oldsmobile Toronado. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 31,771 #2 Posted March 16 (edited) The Olds Toronado, Back when you could get front wheel drive and a big block. The 455 Rocket engine was available at 375hp or the W-34 version at 400hp. Very futuristic looking car for '68. With such a long nose that the front bumper arrived to town a good 30 seconds before the driver. Edited March 16 by Achto 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 16,479 #3 Posted March 16 The Olds Toronado drive train was later used for the GMC Motorhome. After some initial teething pains with the heavier load, it was quite successful. 5 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 65,856 #4 Posted March 16 I had a '71 Toronado in '74 as a tow vehicle for my travel trailer. With the front wheel drive and the weight distribution hitch I had to play around torsion bars to maximize traction going into some semi developed campgrounds. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 8,842 #5 Posted March 17 The 1st generation Toronado is one of my favorite cars. Never had one, though. The early ones had drum brakes all around. Being a heavy car with ample power, brake fade set in quickly. Popular Science, or maybe Popular Mechanics, a story about weight distribution hitches when they first came out. The article featured a picture of a Toronado hitched to a travel trailer with an equalizer hitch. The car and trailer were sitting level - eeven though the rear wheels on the Toronado had been removed. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 16,479 #6 Posted March 17 12 hours ago, 8ntruck said: Popular Science, or maybe Popular Mechanics, a story about weight distribution hitches when they first came out. The article featured a picture of a Toronado hitched to a travel trailer with an equalizer hitch. The car and trailer were sitting level - eeven though the rear wheels on the Toronado had been removed. I remember that article! Thanks for the memory. I also remember wondering, at the time, how the car could be steered without rear wheels if the trailer hitch still pivoted. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 65,856 #7 Posted March 17 12 minutes ago, Handy Don said: how the car could be steered without rear wheels if the trailer hitch still pivoted. Must have been equipped with front turning brakes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
