Finally on the road again!!!

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xgecko
Posts: 454
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 9:21 pm
TOA Membership Number: 831
Years Owned: My first Toronado was a 1968 W-34 with the bucket seats and center console... (weeps gently) It was a New England rustbucket in 1982 after less than 14 years. So sad. But it is what infected me and before I knew it I had another '68, a '69, a '70 and eventually inherited a friend's '67 and another friends '73. After buying my brand new Grand Prix in 1988 I retired the last of my Toronados and pulled the 455 I had rebuilt along the way and put it into storage in a friend's barn where it is to this day.
In Mid September of 2010 I happened to see a repeat of the show where Jay Leno did his 66 Toronado and had an instant remission of the disease which resulted in my purchase of a 1969 in very good condition. I am now in the process of fully rehabilitating it and hope to have it on the road in the spring of 2011.
Location: Gig Harbor, WA

Finally on the road again!!!

Postby xgecko » Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:51 am

My exhaust woes are behind me, the brakes are working great, and the engine is behaving wonderfully! The suspension is taut, steering is precise almost to a fault, and the ride is smooth. 8-)

I have never had a Toronado as nice as my '69! My past cars were tired old beasts from a suspension standpoint even though I built a super strong motor back then.

I have a few more weeks to enjoy driving before the winter season sets in. My plan is to upgrade to fuel injection, rear disk brakes and new seats. Not sure if I will take the front end apart at this time; I think I will wait until I have another car on the road first so I always have some sort of classic to drive. If I can find a nice 69 Riviera I will drive that while I work on the Toro, otherwise I may restore my 68. All I need for that one is a good parts car to get the right fender, bumper and valence from as the 68 was hit in the front right corner...

https://picasaweb.google.com/102116096803999165281/Toronado#

Image
I have my Fuel Injected Toronado. Life is good! 8-)
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Jimsss
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 25, 2011 1:48 pm
TOA Membership Number: 0
Years Owned: 1966

Re: Finally on the road again!!!

Postby Jimsss » Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:22 pm

what a beautiful car!

User avatar
Chazzer
Posts: 120
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:17 pm
TOA Membership Number: 146
Years Owned: 1968 Ocean Mist Metallic, purchased September 2005. Ripped into a kazillion pieces in 2010 for a full blown resto. A few more kinks to work out and she’s almost done.
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Finally on the road again!!!

Postby Chazzer » Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:26 pm

Agreed...lookin good!
Cheers, Jim

TOA# 146

User avatar
xgecko
Posts: 454
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 9:21 pm
TOA Membership Number: 831
Years Owned: My first Toronado was a 1968 W-34 with the bucket seats and center console... (weeps gently) It was a New England rustbucket in 1982 after less than 14 years. So sad. But it is what infected me and before I knew it I had another '68, a '69, a '70 and eventually inherited a friend's '67 and another friends '73. After buying my brand new Grand Prix in 1988 I retired the last of my Toronados and pulled the 455 I had rebuilt along the way and put it into storage in a friend's barn where it is to this day.
In Mid September of 2010 I happened to see a repeat of the show where Jay Leno did his 66 Toronado and had an instant remission of the disease which resulted in my purchase of a 1969 in very good condition. I am now in the process of fully rehabilitating it and hope to have it on the road in the spring of 2011.
Location: Gig Harbor, WA

Re: Finally on the road again!!!

Postby xgecko » Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:42 pm

Thanks, guys! :D The amazing thing is I bought it as you see it for $3250... I redid all the running gear and engine but did nothing except wax it Sunday morning. It has what is best described as a great 10 foot paint job; up close you can see chips and all sorts of bad paintwork but it is good enough to do until I get the rest of it restored.
I have my Fuel Injected Toronado. Life is good! 8-)
Image

User avatar
toro_mike
Posts: 183
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 6:31 pm
TOA Membership Number: 4
Years Owned: 1968 and 1969 W34
Location: Denver, CO
Contact:

Re: Finally on the road again!!!

Postby toro_mike » Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:57 pm

I agree with the rest. Looked through your online gallery and great looks at the process. Nicely done!
Mike
TOA #004, Webmaster
Forum Administrator
1968 Toronado
1969 W34 Toronado


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