Meet the 1980 Toronado, Oldsmobile’s flagship of personal luxury, in this original dealer film.
Along with its Cadillac Eldorado E-body sibling at General Motors, the Oldsmobile Toronado received a radical downsizing for 1979. Nearly 1,000 lbs was slashed from its curb weight, from 4600+ lbs to a more sensible 3,721 lbs, while the overall length shrank a full 16 inches. So in this dealer film for the 1980 Toronado, one year later, the focus is on the detail improvements, including another 115 lbs in weight savings and revised suspension calibrations. Priced at $11,934, far and away the most expensive car in the Olds lineup, the ’80 Toronado was loaded up with standard equipment, including an AM-FM stereo, power windows, seats, antenna, and door locks, and a digital-mechanical clock.
Drivers who preferred their personal luxury with a little sporting flavor could select the XSC Sport Coupe option with slightly firmer suspension, bucket seats, and a console. But that’s where the sport ended: Engine choices were limited to a 307 CID V8 with 150 hp, a 350 CID V8 with 160 hp, or the ill-starred 350 diesel V8 with 105 hp, all coupled to GM’s THM325 front-drive transaxle.
Toronado sales were fairly decent in ’80 at 43,000 cars, down somewhat from 50,000 in ’79, but it was down year for the industry overall as the USA entered a double-dip recession. We can’t help but wonder if the popular Cutlass Supreme Brougham, which offered a similar personal-luxury vibe but with a 40 percent lower base price, may have cut into the Toronado’s volume, especially given the tight economy. In any case, the buyers who did opt in got a solid, stylish, and well-equipped car for their money. Video below.
