I was always one of those guys who harbored some sort of resentment toward the cars of the middle and later 1970s. Like most everyone else, my opinions have softened over the years when you realize that it was poor management that bled down into forcing engineers to do things they didn’t want to do which then resulted in some real junk piles that ankled Detroit for decades. That being said, there were some brighter points in company lineups in that era and the light was coming from the one thing Detroit still knew how to do, big cars. Their ability to scale stuff down was a disaster but they could keep cranking out dinosaurs like your read about. The 1978 Olds Toronado XS was one of them. Remember it was in 1977 when GM had their historic “shrink” and the brought their big cars down a notch. The Caprice, Saville, and others were examples of this.
The Toronado was not part of that immediate shrinkage and so when it got to 1978 in the whale like shape you see this car, it really stood out and likely for the wrong reasons. Gone was the 455 and in was the 403. Other changes would lie ahead for the model but when one looks at a 1978 Olds Toronado they are really seeing the tail end of an era.
This XS model is in fantastic shape and it is really rare. The XS package got you all kinds of luxury appointments, the power sunroof, and some other touches but the biggest deal was the awesome rear window which wrapped completely around in the back. There was no “C” pillar in this car so the next effect was pretty dramatic. We think the look is pretty cool. The interior is amazingly clean and the seats with their big cushioned pads seem like they’d be comfy enough to sleep in. The ox blood red interior is also an eye catcher. Check out the “high gear economy” gauge on the dash among other things.
So in all of its pimp-tastic glory, this 1978 Olds Toronado XS is BangShift approved!
Scroll down to see more of this lux0-liner circa 1978 – Olds Toronado XS
eBay Find: Check Out This 1978 Olds Toronado XS
Cue the late great Curtis Mayfield, get a tiger-skin velvet suit, platform heels that match the interior and go out and strut yo’ stuff!
Ah’m jus’ checking on ma bitches an’ ma ho’s…..
Are you gettin’ a cut from the mid-engine Datsun truck? The link above says “yeah”. I wanna see the Toronado!
Fixed!
“XS” indeed. I think at that time there were still a few shoe-store owners or whatever that had worked the last ten years of their lives to buy a new traditional Toro, and GM didn’t want to let them down at the last moment. I figured then, that would be the final 20′ long (slight exaggeration) 5,000 lb (also) that anyone would ever buy to haul his lone ass around in, as both the public and manufacturers had seen the light and there were finally pretty good American smaller cars hitting the roads. Then of-course the nineties happened and we were back to where we were again. “Excursion” also has an X and an S in it, doesn’t it?
These are great and drive beautifully. The one right after it in 79 too. Hammer on it all you want,you dont know what you are missing.
Is it for sale and if it is about how much would you be asking for it.