Original Documentation

[Gator]

One of the really cool things about my Toro is that I still have the original vehicle purchase order, plates, and owner's manual. The original owner wrote on the purchase order and in the manual: He kept a bit of journal of the original gas mileage for the first 2 months and work performed until he sold the car to my father-in-law in 1976. Kinda like looking at a time capsule.

Listed Options:

Color: 68 (Cinnamon Bronze Metallic), Trim: 59 (Saddle), Top: A (White Vinyl)
Cornering Lamps
AC
Tinted Glass
Power Trunk Latch
Light Group (?)
Shift lever controlled washer and wiper combination
AM-FM stereophonic radio with rear speaker
De Luxe [SIC] seat belts
Remote Control Mirror
Front Mats
Custom Interior
Power Side Windows
6-way adjustable seat
Smog control
Power door locks
Plus all standard equipment (Power disc brakes-Power steering-automatic transmission)


A few of things of note:
- Purchased in Palo Alto, CA on Dec 4, 1969.
- Price out the door: 6,455.07 (1900 trade-in, 1,378.07 paid when ordered, 3,077 paid upon delivery)
- Gas mileage for the first 2 months was between 9 and 11 mpg.
- Owner was apparently concerned about the rear defroster. Made a note of it on both the purchase order and in the owners manual. Also, he underlined references to it in the manual: Car doesn't have one (nor did it back then).
- He also made note of rattles and clicks that occurred over the years. Some fixed via servicing, some not.
- He underlined and questioned the existence of "Night Watch Light Control"...Yeah, I have the same question.
- The car had 63,405 miles on 10/7/1976.
- The car was transferred to my father-in-law on 12/3/1976.

[Otto Skorzeny]

... between 9 and 11 mpg...

And here I thought the fuel economy of my '66 might benefit slightly from a little carburetor TLC. Apparently not.

I crack 11mpg once in a blue moon and hit 13mpg once. Most of the time it's around 10.5. (10.4 on my fillup 3 days ago)

I guess that's a good indication that my engine is at peak performance. Hahaha!

[Gator]

...and hit 13mpg once...

You must have been driving the speed limit between Chattanooga and Atlanta.

I haven't had a chance to get my Toro on the road. I've promised the wife that I would guarantee no oil drips on the driveway. I thought I had it conquered until this last weekend.

[Otto Skorzeny]

...and hit 13mpg once...

You must have been driving the speed limit between Chattanooga and Atlanta.

Close. It was on secondary roads up to a car show in North Georgia. It was 50-60 the whole way with few stops. My '56 Coupe DeVille gets better mileage than this beast. I get 15-18mpg at 75mph. 11-13mpg is normal around town.

[Otto Skorzeny]

I've promised the wife that I would guarantee no oil drips on the driveway. I thought I had it conquered until this last weekend.

I'd never make a promise like that. I should have named the Cadillac Exxon Valdez instead of Bismarck. The Toro leaks p/s fluid. I just put cardboard under everybody.

[Doc Hubler]

I did get about 17 mpg with my Toro years ago on the hwy. We'll see how everything is after it's put back together and on the road.

[Gator]

17? Were you going downhill at the time? Or are you using imperial gallons?

[Doc Hubler]

No, driving the interstate in NW Oregon mainly. Had just put a new exhaust system on the car which improved the breathing significantly. I wasn't gunning the car around, but just normal driving. As more vacuum problems occurred, the performance went down of course. My 68 Mercury 428 big block would run a pretty consistent 12-13 mpg max. But haven't gone through the system on that one, and the Holley carb always seems problematic.