In a Glass of its Own: 1977 Oldsmobile Toronado XS

Sometimes its just two letters that make the car. The Mustang GT, the Cobalt SS, and the Spirit R/T, for example, tacked on a bit more driving involvement with two extra majuscules.  In the case of the Oldsmobile Toronado, however, this gets you a back glass that looks like it was constructed by a team of workers who normally do upscale bathroom renovations. Find this 1977 Oldsmobile Toronado XS here for sale in Tempe, AZ for $8,000 via craigslist.

It’s a bit tough to tell from the photos whether this seafoam green XS is equipped with the ominous sounding AstroRoof sliding moonroof, however, rest assured that it does have its main feature; a hot wire formed, angled back glass that resembles a walk-in shower. The look was first debuted on the XSR concept which took the whole bathroom simulation thing a step further and had sliding glass panels allowing access to the sky. Unfortunately, this also provided unrestricted access to the rain and the concept was dropped, leaving just the weird back glass framed in vinyl.

Instead of the tufted blue velour that you may expect, this Toronado wears the hydes of about 57 Corduroy and Teddy Ruxpin bears. I’ve never sat in this generation of a Toronado but I want to go to sleep in that thing right now. In typical late-70’s GM fashion, you got a comically undersized steering wheel which, as legend goes, can be used to alter the trajectory of the vehicle.

No legendary 455’s were available anymore in 1977, instead, the 185hp 403 was subbed in while nobody was paying attention. A vehicle of this status deserves a good running, high compression 455 for which to liquefy the front tires.

See a better two letters? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com

Matt, a self-proclaimed bottom-feeder of the classic car market, spends half of his time buying cars, half of his time retrieving them, and the remaining third on keeping them on the road.