quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Thanks to my dad, I owned a ‘69 Toronado. Had a 455 cubic inch V8 as I recall.

Still miss that car.

I had a Toronado--don't remember the year model, but I bought off a guy during my first tour in Alaska, 1974-77. Red, beautiful car--and fast!

Hell of a car; one of the ones I sure wish I'd kept. That and a '67 Buick convertible and a '68 Wildcat. Not feasible to keep every car you own, but there are a few that would be worth a lot today.

I was raised poor, so I bought cheap cars. Mostly well worn out, got what I could out of them & then moved on. Some of my cars were under a hundred. I once test drove a fairly decent, good running 58 Cadillac for 275 dollars. I didn't buy it because I didn't want to go into debt to get it. I took home 64 dollars a week. My 1st car was a 48 Plymouth Special Deluxe that cost 45 dollars in cash and a hog I raised worth 40 dollars. Times were very different.

Indeed. I used to buy them from the wrecking yard in the early 70s. You could get some good deals then. I bought a 59 Impala for $50.00 + drove it for a couple of years. Also bought a 56 Chevy 2 door Belaire from a one owner in 1972 for $75.00. When I tell my son about that, he just cringes. I tell him that you have to remember that in 72 it wasn't a classic then, it was just an old car.

Randy:

Yep, back lot of new car dealers sold many for $25=75.
Bought a bunch of 'em.

How'd you like those fins on the '59?

Do you think they helped keep things flying straight?

Wrapped the R fender & fin on my Biscayne around a fire plug once. Christ the amount of water that blew 30 feet in the air I was billed for the water, plug, labor, rebuilding the gravel street that washed out and am sure there were other things added! Sure was expensive hot rodding around that corner.

They had a very weak front crossmember that bent under the engine when bounced enough. Flying down a country road where a culvert was laid across the road, then just covered up with ramped dirt. Made a long flying leap over it. Landed hard and inside of both tires rubbed the inner fenders. Shop guy in a little town hooked a come along to the bottom of the wheels and pulled until they didn't rub any longer.

George

Buick 455 was an Olds engine, not the traditional Buick Nail-head. Could be had with twice pipes and two 4-bb Carter carbs
6-8 mpg.