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Cars That Could Have Been Great, But Missed

421 messages,  Last post on Jan 31, 2013 at 2:32 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chrysler, Wagon

Messages Page 39 of 43

#372 of 421 Re: 1970 Riv/Toro [lilengineerboy] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

May 03, 2011 (4:12 pm)

Replying to: lilengineerboy (May 03, 2011 3:59 pm)
Yeah, he missed the Rhine River barge on that one. Oh well, what's a few cracked cylinder heads among friends?

#373 of 421 Re: 1970 Riv/Toro [Mr_Shiftright] by oldbearcat

May 03, 2011 (8:19 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 03, 2011 4:12 pm)
Would you believe Dad owned that BMW for 17 years, and, the head never cracked. Did a bunch of other bad things - including catching on fire twice.
 
Regards:
Oldbearcat

#374 of 421 Re: 1970 Riv/Toro [oldbearcat] by andre1969

May 04, 2011 (5:42 am)

Replying to: oldbearcat (May 02, 2011 8:49 pm)
One evening in 1977, he took the Toro downtown, and, came home with a new BMW 530i.
 
That might seem like a drastic change in automotive choices, but I can see the rationale behind it. All you have to do is look at what the Toronado had turned into by 1977. Other than being big and heavy and FWD, it was nothing like the 1970.
 
I'm sure the '70 could be quite a handful, and probably nothing you'd want to take through the slalom at high speed, but at least it was still powerful, fast in straight line, and imparted a youthful, sporty look. Sure, not too many young'uns bought them, but that's because they were expensive and out of reach.
 
By 1977, the Toronado was even bigger and heavier, and powered by a slightly hopped-up Olds 403 that might have put out 190-200 hp (it put out 185 in most other applications). It was pimpy and bloated and cushy, and was doing its damndest to isolate the passengers from the world outside. And that youthful spirit was, for the most part, gone. Although that XS model with the wraparound rear window was pretty cool, but it wasn't enough to make up for everything else.
 
Personally I like those big 70's Toronados, but if I wanted something that handled well and had some performance to it, it wouldn't be my first choice!

#375 of 421 Re: 1970 Riv/Toro [andre1969] by lemko

May 04, 2011 (7:04 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (May 04, 2011 5:42 am)
I think there was also a Toronado XSR that had retractable T-tops.

#376 of 421 Re: 1970 Riv/Toro [lemko] by andre1969

May 04, 2011 (7:14 am)

Replying to: lemko (May 04, 2011 7:04 am)
I think there was also a Toronado XSR that had retractable T-tops.
 
That was in the works, and I think even made it into the brochures, but unfortunately the retractable T-tops were troublesome. I believe only one or two prototypes were built, but it never made it to mass production. Even the XS model was pretty rare. I believe only around 3,000 were built.

#377 of 421 Re: 1970 Riv/Toro [andre1969] by lemko

May 04, 2011 (7:39 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (May 04, 2011 7:14 am)
1977 Toronado XSR
 
I heard this particular car now resides in Rockville, MD.

#378 of 421 Re: 1970 Riv/Toro [oldbearcat] by fintail

May 04, 2011 (9:08 am)

Replying to: oldbearcat (May 03, 2011 8:19 pm)
He was way ahead of the curve buying a 5er in the 70s. Did he have another car afterwards (not sure of his age etc)?

#379 of 421 Re: 1970 Riv/Toro [oldbearcat] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

May 04, 2011 (9:49 am)

Replying to: oldbearcat (May 03, 2011 8:19 pm)
Well the failure rate on cracked heads for the 530i was only 10% (which is a LOT for a factory defect but still you have a 9 in 10 chance of dodging it).
 
Also these cars suffer from horrible gas mileage (as low as 12 mpg) and pernicious rust issues in the wheel wells.

#380 of 421 Re: 1970 Riv/Toro [andre1969] by oldbearcat

May 04, 2011 (9:15 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (May 04, 2011 5:42 am)
You're right about the Toro's handling. Driving it on back country roads here in WV was miserable. It was so nose heavy that cornering with any enthusiasm was dangerous. It was a great interstate flyer though.
 
Regards:
Oldbearcat

#381 of 421 Re: 1970 Riv/Toro [fintail] by oldbearcat

May 04, 2011 (9:29 pm)

Replying to: fintail (May 04, 2011 9:08 am)
He keep working until age 85, and, actually bought three more cars after the BMW. He had his hips replaced, and, went looking for some really comfortable car seats. He switched over to big Chryslers. He bought a couple of the big long-nosed plush monsters, and, his final car was a Chrysler Concorde. Mom had me sell it after Dad passed away 4 years ago.
 
Regards:
Oldbearcat

Messages Page 39 of 43

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