1984 Toronado / Original Owner...
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:05 pm
Hello Everyone:
SO glad this new forum has arrived...!
Some might be thinking: "But it's so new..." Yes, it's only 25 years old but I'm the original owner & it has been my daily driver for all this time.
The Queen Mary spent the first 20 years in NJ & did succumb to some rust. But the frame was sound & the body rust was confined to the bottom areas. The vinyl landau roof is new as is the headliner & carpet. The leather seating surfaces & all interior vinyl is original.
The Olds 307 V8 has not been rebuilt. Except for a timing chain & gearset (now double roller) installed @ 153,000 miles, the engine internals have not been touched. The 325-4L Hydramatic has been rebuilt twice, first @ 77,000 due to a burnt intermediate band and again @ 175,000 due to worn sprocket bearings & drive chain. The shift kit installed during the first rebuild has kept the shifts crisp but not harsh for over 100,000 miles...
The Queen Mary was an ordered car and I opted for several less frequently ordered options: Astroroof, 2 position memory driver seat and Delco Bose stereo. These options continue to provide enjoyable motoring. Although I have replaced the original Delco Bose cassette radio with a unit which plays CDs, I have kept the original radio.
Over the years, I have done most of the maintenance myself. The factory shop manuals have probably been read cover to cover. I am grateful for the fine mechanics and body/paint people who have done the work which was beyond my abilities...
I plan to keep this car for many more years & drive it on a regular basis. The Queen Mary is even more special since Oldsmobile is no more and GM has gone through so much upheaval. Although not a first generation Toronado, the front drive underpinnings are very similiar. The great heritage of American automobile engineering is quite evident.
I look forward to helping others who own '79 -'85 'Third Generation' Toronados.
Happy Motoring,
Paul
SO glad this new forum has arrived...!
Some might be thinking: "But it's so new..." Yes, it's only 25 years old but I'm the original owner & it has been my daily driver for all this time.
The Queen Mary spent the first 20 years in NJ & did succumb to some rust. But the frame was sound & the body rust was confined to the bottom areas. The vinyl landau roof is new as is the headliner & carpet. The leather seating surfaces & all interior vinyl is original.
The Olds 307 V8 has not been rebuilt. Except for a timing chain & gearset (now double roller) installed @ 153,000 miles, the engine internals have not been touched. The 325-4L Hydramatic has been rebuilt twice, first @ 77,000 due to a burnt intermediate band and again @ 175,000 due to worn sprocket bearings & drive chain. The shift kit installed during the first rebuild has kept the shifts crisp but not harsh for over 100,000 miles...
The Queen Mary was an ordered car and I opted for several less frequently ordered options: Astroroof, 2 position memory driver seat and Delco Bose stereo. These options continue to provide enjoyable motoring. Although I have replaced the original Delco Bose cassette radio with a unit which plays CDs, I have kept the original radio.
Over the years, I have done most of the maintenance myself. The factory shop manuals have probably been read cover to cover. I am grateful for the fine mechanics and body/paint people who have done the work which was beyond my abilities...
I plan to keep this car for many more years & drive it on a regular basis. The Queen Mary is even more special since Oldsmobile is no more and GM has gone through so much upheaval. Although not a first generation Toronado, the front drive underpinnings are very similiar. The great heritage of American automobile engineering is quite evident.
I look forward to helping others who own '79 -'85 'Third Generation' Toronados.
Happy Motoring,
Paul