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In 1965, General Motors knew exactly what Oldsmobile stood for: Engineering, says former Olds designer Stan Wilen. Olds made a point of accentuating its engineering leadership. If you were looking for something nicer, sportier than a Chevy, you'd buy a Pontiac. If you were too embarrassed to buy a Cadillac, you could buy a Buick--it was a doctor's car. Weighing 4800 pounds, 211 inches long, and riding on a 119-inch wheelbase and the first front-drive production car made in America since the 1937 Cord 810 and 812. Its long hood and short, true fastback deck proportions were exaggerated, but the long dash-to-axle ratio betrayed what lay underneath: a longitudinal 425-cubic-inch, 90-degree V-8 engine. With a dual-snorkel air cleaner, an extra-large intake manifold, and twin exhaust pipes, the Toronado had a gross output of 385 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque.Then add the Deluxe edition and you have the finest of the rarest.Never again will there be such power Cruisers. Not a Toy for boys but a piece of American Automotive History. An appreciating asset that can be enjoyed by its proud owner.
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