Disclosure: This site may receive compensation from some link clicks and purchases.
The practice of transforming Sedans or Hardtops into Convertibles isn’t new, and everyone from ambitious amateurs to renowned coachbuilders has tried it. However, when a company famous for producing Presidential limousines performs the work, you can be sure the result will be top-notch. Such is the case with this 1983 Oldsmobile Toronado. It is a beautifully preserved classic with a genuine 21,000 miles on its odometer. The elderly owner has recently entered a nursing home, leaving his son to send the Oldsmobile to a new home. He has listed the Toronado here on Craigslist in Grandville, Michigan. He set the price at $15,000 OBO, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Mitchell G. for spotting this rare drop-top.
Oldsmobile’s Third GenerationToronado graced showroom floors from 1979 until 1985 and bore little similarity to its predecessor. It retained the front-wheel drive mechanical layout but was significantly smaller and lighter than the car it replaced. The wheelbase shrank by eight inches, and the company reduced the overall length by nearly sixteen inches. The result of this labor was a curb weight reduction of over 900 lbs. It remained a two-door-only proposition, but some buyers sought additional exclusivity. That was the case with this car’s first owner, deciding to transform the car into a cool Convertible. Several companies, including ASC, have performed such conversions to the Toronado. However, this car found its way to Hess & Eisenhardt in Fairfield, Ohio. The company name may ring a bell, and for good reason. The firm produced the armored limousines for US Presidents from 1948 until 2001. Its services spread far and wide, with the Heads of State of sixty countries transported in its limousines. Therefore, if anyone were going to make structural changes to a vehicle, a company with enormous experience producing reinforced cars would seem an ideal choice. Records aren’t conclusive, but it is believed that about ninety-two Toronados received the Hess & Eisenhardt treatment. This Olds presents well, although the limited listing images make it impossible to determine whether there are minor faults or flaws. However, there are no signs of bumps or bruises and no evidence of rust. There are no photos of the car with the top raised, so its condition is unclear. The trim and glass are in good order, and this is the only H & E Toronado I have seen with Ventiports.
The seller’s description of this Toronado is frustratingly brief, with no information about whether he holds evidence supporting his claim that the odometer shows 21,000 original miles. However, the spotless interior makes that figure seem plausible. The burgundy leather has the typical character creases that develop with age but no significant wear or physical damage. The carpet is equally impressive, while the dash and timber trim are spotless. It doesn’t just look good because it features the luxury touches a buyer would expect in a vehicle of this caliber. The new owner receives air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power seats, cruise control, a tilt wheel, and a premium AM/FM radio/cassette player.
The frustration continues when attention turns to the car’s drivetrain because the seller supplies no engine bay images. That is disappointing because that aspect of a classic often tells more about the life a car has led than any other. The Olds features the 307ci V8 coupled to a four-speed automatic transmission. The output of 140hp and 240 ft/lbs of torque doesn’t promise startling performance, but it deserves some context. The last Second Generation Toronados rolled off the line in 1978 with the company’s 403ci V8 delivering 190hp and 325 ft/lbs. Those figures suggest it should have been significantly faster than this car, but their performance was almost inseparable. The secret was in the weight reduction program for the later car, allowing it to utilize its power more effectively. An added bonus is that the smaller engine achieved an impressive 33% fuel consumption improvement. Apart from the unverified odometer reading, the only information supplied by the seller is that the Olds runs and drives smoothly. That suggests it should be a turnkey proposition for its new owner.
This 1983 Oldsmobile Toronado Convertible is a fantastic custom. It is believed that as many as two hundred examples rolled out of the ASC and H & E factories. The latter appears to be rarer, but that doesn’t make valuing it easy. A search of the internet revealed another H & E Convertible that recently sold for around $10,000. However, its condition wasn’t as impressive as our feature car’s, and its odometer had rolled over. Therefore, the price seems realistic, but it would become more so if the seller accepts a reasonable offer. Does that tempt you to follow up on this classic?
