1970 Oldsmobile TORONADO GT

An elegant Lansing-bred neck-snapper for discerning tastes

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS A. DeMAURO

Since the redesigned 1971 Toronado would cast aside any semblance of performance and instead wholly embody opulence, the sportier 1970 edition was the last that could be equipped with an optional high-powered engine befitting its personal luxury/performance car image. The W34 Toronado GT Package of 1970 reinforced how effectively the outgoing design could deftly meld muscle car power and styling cues with plush surroundings. For just $47.39, the W34 included a 400-hp 455 with a more aggressive camshaft and bigger intake valves than the standard 375-hp 455, and its dual exhaust poked its tips through cutouts in the rear bumper. The three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic and torque converter were tweaked, and a “Toronado GT” hood emblem and paint stripes highlighting the wheel openings were included. A main attraction of the Toronado since its…

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Hemmings Motor News (Digital) - 1 Issue, May 2021

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