Finding an oldsmobile 70 x toronado for sale is a lot like trying to find a specific grain of sand on a very large, very windy beach. You’ve probably seen the listings. Or maybe you saw a grainy photo on a forum from 2008 and thought, "I need that in my garage."
But here’s the thing: most people don't even know what the "70-X" actually is. They confuse it with the standard 1970 model year, or they think it's just a trim package like the Cutlass S. It's not.
The 70-X is a ghost. It’s a 1967 experimental prototype—built for the Expo 67 world’s fair—that eventually birthed a very limited run of cars modified by the legendary George Barris. Yeah, the Batmobile guy. If you’re looking for a 1970 Toronado, you’re looking for a great classic. If you’re looking for a 70-X, you’re looking for a unicorn with a Rocket V8.
The Barris Connection: Why the 70-X is Different
When George Barris got his hands on the Toronado, he didn't just add some stripes and call it a day. The 70-X was meant to be the "Car of the Future."
It featured a radical vertical-opening door system (think early scissor doors but weirder) and a cockpit that looked more like a private jet than a GM cruiser. Most of these were finished in a striking gold metallic paint. Under the hood, it carried the 425 cubic-inch Rocket V8, pushing out 385 horsepower.
That’s a lot of weight to pull with front-wheel drive.
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Honestly, the engineering behind the Unified Power Package (UPP) is still impressive today. It squeezed a massive engine and a heavy-duty transmission into a space that shouldn't have fit both.
What You’ll Actually Find on the Market
If you search for an oldsmobile 70 x toronado for sale today, you are likely to find two things:
- One of the very few surviving Barris-customized 1967 units (rarely listed, usually at high-end auctions like Mecum or Barrett-Jackson).
- A high-condition 1970 Toronado GT (the W-34 package) that a seller has mislabeled.
Let’s talk about that 1970 GT for a second. It’s often the "consolation prize" for people who can't find a 70-X, but it’s a monster in its own right. The 1970 W-34 came with a 455 cubic-inch V8 and a cold-air induction system. It pumped out 400 horsepower.
In the current market, a clean 1970 Toronado GT will run you anywhere from $17,000 to $35,000. If a "real" 70-X Barris car hits the block? You're looking at six figures, easily. I’ve seen them move for over $100,000 when the provenance is solid.
Reality Check: The Headache of Ownership
Buying one of these isn't all sunset cruises and thumbs-up at stoplights. You've gotta be ready for the "Toronado tax."
- The Transmission: The TH-425 is tough, but when it breaks, your local mechanic will probably just stare at it and scratch his head.
- The Parts: Finding trim pieces for a 1970 is hard. Finding trim for a Barris 70-X is impossible. You’ll be haunting eBay and obscure Facebook groups for months just to find a door handle.
- The Drive: It’s a 4,500-pound car that pulls from the front. It handles surprisingly well because of the low center of gravity, but it’s still a boat. A very fast, very thirsty boat.
Expect to get about 10 miles per gallon. On a good day. With a tailwind.
How to Spot a Fake
Because the oldsmobile 70 x toronado for sale keyword draws so much attention, people get "creative" with their listings.
Check the VIN. For a 1967-based 70-X, the VIN should reflect a 1967 production year. If someone is selling a 1970 model as a "70-X," they are likely just using the name of the Expo 67 show car to drum up interest.
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Look for the "70-X" badging on the C-pillar and the unique taillight configuration. The real deal has a much more aggressive, futuristic rear end than the production '67 or '70 models.
Actionable Steps for Collectors
If you are serious about putting an oldsmobile 70 x toronado for sale in your own driveway, don't just wait for it to pop up on Craigslist. It won't.
- Join the OCA: The Oldsmobile Club of America is where the real knowledge is. Members often sell cars "within the family" before they ever hit a public site.
- Monitor Auction Results: Set alerts on CLASSIC.COM or Bring a Trailer specifically for "Toronado Barris" or "Toronado 70-X."
- Inspect the CV Joints: If you find a lead, check the front drive axles immediately. If they’re clicking or leaking, it’s a sign the car has been neglected, and those parts aren't cheap to remanufacture.
- Verify the Paint: The 70-X used a specific Gold Metallic. If the car has been resprayed a generic GM gold, the value drops significantly.
Buying a car like this is a commitment to preserving a very weird, very cool slice of American "what if" history. It’s not a daily driver. It’s a conversation piece that happens to have a 7.0-liter heart.