1968 Oldsmobile Toronado

Toronado Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

3948878M611867

Gasoline

1968 Oldsmobile Toronado "Cars Of Dreams Museum" 34,703 Miles with Documented 3 owner History Exterior: Cinnamon Bronze (Color Code M7) Interior: Medium Buckskin Deluxe (Trim code 088) Serial Number: 3948878M611867 Mileage: 34,703 (Documented Mileage) The Dealers invoice shows this car had the following options....a copy is posted in the auction. It had a retail price or MSRP of $6316.99 Tinted glass 6/way power seat Trunk opener Door edge guards Rear window defogger Deluxe wheel discs Radio (AM/FM) Power antenna Rear speaker Deluxe interior Power windows Air conditioning White side wall tires Vinyl roof Front floor mats Deluxe seat belts Light group The owner of the fabulous Cars Of Dreams Museum in North Palm Beach,FL has a real affinity for Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles. His first new car franchise in Brooklyn, NY was a franchise for Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles. He is currently ranked in the top ten new car dealers in the U.S. This Oldsmobile Toronado has been in his Museum for the past couple of years and is one of the best looking and driving examples I have ever seen or driven. Here is the history..... This car was first sold by Velie Motor Company, 1300 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was a specially ordered car for Mr. Harold O'Brien and his wife Ellen, 6802 51st Place, Crystal, Minnesota. Mr. O'brien was born in January of 1916 and finally got his "Dream Car" at the age of 52 in 1968. This car remained in his family for approx. 30 years...you can only imagine how everyone in the O'Brien family loved this Toronado!!! The original dealer's bill of sale to Mr. O'Brien (included with this car) and Factory Original Protect--Plate (also included with this car) show that this car was delivered on April 22nd, 1968. I strongly suggest you call me ASAP if interested in this fabulous car...954-873-6495 ...you will be surprised at how reasonably priced this incredible car is! You could not restore this Toronado for the price you can own it!!!! The O'briens really loved their Toronado and it is evident that this car was never driven in the wintertime or in inclement weather. I have not been able to see any signs of body work on the car....maybe you can? It is laser straight. On May 12th, 1969, the Obrien's took their car to ZIEBART in Minneapolis and had the entire car rustproofed with the Ziebart process. The original invoice is shown in the auction and will be included with this car. Also included with this car are many of the registration renewals for this car for the many years it was kept in the O'Brien family. In the late 1990's or early 2000's, the car was sold to a Mr. Michael Resnick of Stamford, Connecticut. Michael took this car to the Fairfield County Concurs d'Elegance with just 31,000 actual miles. The car was described as being all original with the exception of one paint job that was done approx. 10 years earlier. A copy of that information is shown in the auction & will be included. The car was sold to a Paul Petroch sometime in the Spring or early summer of 2007. Paul took the Oldsmobile to Otis Automotive in Fairoaks, California for a tune up, oil change and complete brake job. Included is the invoice dated June 22nd, 2007. A copy is shown in the auction. An Oldsmobile 8 track tape player was installed by the originally dealer in 1968. This system was developed by William "Bill" Lear who also invented the 8 track tape player. I was personally involved with Earl "Madman" and the original 4/track tape player called "AutoStereo"Muntz (1962) I have a large collection of both 4 track and 8 track tapes and will be happy to include a few 8 tracks at no additional charge to the new lucky owner. This is a magnificent Museum quality car that you can hop in and drive to a local car show or Coast to Coast. While in the Cars Of Museum, this and every one of it's cars are started on a regular basis and driven a short distancebefore returning to the museum. It is a full time job for two very skilled and competent car guys...if they find anything that needs addressed, they have a 10,000 sq. ft. shop with two lifts to fix the problem. As good as this car looks in the photos...it is even better in person. If you want the best....you have just discovered it on Ebaymotors.com. This car is not cheap or a "fixer-upper" but it is certainly NOT overpriced. This is a Platinum Investment documented vintage car....this was when Oldsmobile was a world leader in the automotive world thanks to the genius of Bill Mitchell who designed the OldsmobileToronado....GM's 1st modern front wheel drive car. The Oldsmobile Toronado personal-luxury coupe marked the return of front-wheel drive in Detroit for the first time since the Thirties and provided a long-range forecast of the design revolution that would sweep the U.S. industry in the Eighties. Here's the story of the engineering tour de force that now ranks as one of the most collectible automobiles of the Sixties. Oldsmobile promotion personnel conceived this special cutaway car as an auto show exhibit to highlight the unusual mechanical layout of the original 1966 Toronado. The automotive blockbuster of model year 1966. was the Oldsmobile Toronado. It not only made headlines in all the major enthusiast magazines and most of the national news weeklies, but also stopped crowds at auto shows and dealer showrooms from coast to coast. And what stopped the crowds mainly was one feature: a virtually flat passenger compartment floor. You see, the Toronado was the first American car with front-wheel drive since the Cord 810/812 of three decades earlier. Not only that, it was the largest such car ever attempted: a big personal-luxury coupe riding a full-size 119-inch wheelbase and tipping the scales at better than two tons. Skeptics said front drive would never work on such a heroic scale, but Oldsmobile proved them wrong -- and did it beautifully. Today, the first-generation Toronado is recognized not just as an engineering tour de force but as the stage-setter for GM's near-wholesale commitment to front drive in the Eighties. Add in luxury, fine craftsmanship, exceptional roadability, and distinctive styling, and you have a modern milestone that stands as one of the most collectible automobiles in U.S. postwar history. The idea of driving a car by its front wheels instead of the rear ones was nothing new even in the Sixties. Though it's difficult to say who tried it first, the basic engineering principles were largely established by the early Thirties and the concept generally regarded as workable, though far from practical. Aside from Harry Miller's successful Indianapolis racers, one of the first American cars to employ front drive was the first to bear the name of Errett Loban Cord, the classically styled, low-production L-29 of 1929-1931. And Audi likes to remind us nowadays that it pioneered the concept in Europe as early as 1931 with its first car, the aptly named "Front" model designed by August Horsch. The Oldsmobile Toronado's Front-Wheel Drive The Oldsmobile Toronado certainly wasn't the first front-wheel drive car -- the basic engineering principles were largely established by the early Thirties. But the Depression was simply the wrong time for an automaker to introduce anything radical or untried, particularly if it made a car more expensive. So while many manufacturers experimented with front drive, few took the production plunge. For most of those that did, the results were disastrous. A look at the 1966 Toronado’s compact driveline package. The engine differed from other versions of the 425 in having a reshaped carburetor and intake manifold to clear the low hoodline. Though front drive's greater compactness and superior wet-weather traction were widely appreciated even in those days, its main attraction was the much lower ride height it conferred, a styling advantage with obvious sales implications. Unfortunately, front drive was -- and still is -- more costly to design and produce than conventional rear drive, and most of the early systems were not at all reliable. In the face of an ailing national economy and a faltering market, the decision by Ruxton and Gardner to adopt front drive only hastened their demise, and mechanical problems ultimately caught up with the Cord. The only front-drive car of the prewar era to achieve genuine sales success was Citroën's significant traction avant sedan series, introduced in 1934 and the mainstay of the French automaker's lineup through the early Fifties. But front drive was far from dead in Detroit. Partly in response to the Depression, the Big Three companies had been looking into the possibility of offering much smaller models alongside their standard offerings, just in case the market should want them. A variety of experimental projects were initiated towards this end beginning in the mid-Thirties, and were well advanced as World War II approached. Because of the more difficult packaging problems involved with a smaller car, these programs did not necessarily rule out radical engineering solutions, and front-wheel drive was one of those investigated, along with rear engine/rear drive, radial engines, air cooling, unit construction, and other way-out ideas. Some of this work was carried on into the war years, as time permitted, with an eye to postwar planning. Both GM and Ford had concluded there would be a strong upsurge in small-car demand once peace returned, and both had new compact designs all but locked up when the industry resumed civilian production in late 1945. But the demand simply wasn't there -- and wouldn't be for another dozen years or so. And because accountants at both firms had calculated that a small car couldn't be built or sold for that much less than a standard-size model, there was no incentive to build compacts -- or resort to costly complexities like front drive. It may have languished on Detroit's back burner in the Fifties, but front drive wasn't completely ignored. General Motors engineers gave some serious thought to it in 1954 for the LaSalle II, a long-hood/short-tail roadster then being developed for the 1955 Motorama season. However, the problems of making front drive compatible with the 429-cubic-inch V-8 planned for this one-off proved insurmountable in the short time available, and the show car appeared with an ordinary front-engine/rear-drive format. The Oldsmobile Toronado Design Long before work on the Oldsmobile Toronado began, a talented young engineer named John Beltz was on a fast track toward the division's top engineering post and, quite possibly, the general manager's job. Beltz was fascinated with the possibilities suggested by a front drive mechanical package and quickly rallied a group of colleagues to pursue them. It was a classic example of being in the right place at the right time. As GM's most innovative division, Oldsmobile was certainly the best place in the company to work on a new drivetrain that might be as significant as the division's breakthrough Hydra-Matic Drive of 1940 or (with Cadillac) the industry's first high-compression overhead-valve V-8 in 1949. The Oldsmobile Toronado Chassis Clever is the word for the Oldsmobile Toronado chassis. Power was supplied by the most potent Rocket V-8 yet, a new 385-horsepower version of a 425-cubic-inch engine introduced for 1965 on the division's full-size models. Equipped with dual exhausts, it was mounted conventionally (i.e., fore/aft) on a stub frame partially welded to the main perimeter chassis. The Toronado engine differed in having a reworked carburetor and intake manifold, necessary to clear the low-profile hood, as well as a reshaped exhaust manifold to make room for the front suspension. The suspension at both ends was out of the ordinary. At the front were longitudinal torsion bars and a heavy-duty anti-roll bar. A simple beam axle on single leaf springs was used at the rear, along with quad shock absorbers -- one pair mounted vertically, one horizontally -- to keep the back tires firmly planted on the road. Large drum brakes with standard power assist were used all-round, with cooling assisted by large slotted wheels evocative of those on the classic Cord 810/812. Steering was the customary power-assisted recirculating ball, geared at a relatively quick 17.8:1 ratio. Nearly 41,000 Toronados were built for 1966, a figure that wouldn’t be topped until 1972. Said Motor Trend magazine: ''The Toronado's a truly outstanding car, and this first model is highly perfected. We think it's destined to become a classic in its own time." Considering the new mechanical layout, the 1966 met with a very warm reception. Of course, the Toronado's most unusual aspect was that driveline. The standard and only available transmission was a special split version of the famed Hydra-Matic, with the torque converter directly behind the engine and the gearbox mounted remotely under the left-side cylinder bank. Connecting them was a two-inch multiple-link chain, and differential torque was split evenly between the half shafts. This arrangement produced surprisingly balanced weight distribution for a big front-driver -- 54/46 percent front/rear -- and contributed greatly to the car's over-the-road prowess. An early elevation drawing proposed a steeper windshield than was practical for the production model. Note wrapped backlight, mild rear fender hop-up, winged fuel cap, and front fender vents. And the timing couldn't have been better. By happy happenstance, GM was about to embark on a design program to produce a new compact car, slated for 1960 introduction. The result was the novel rear-engine Chevrolet Corvair, GM's response to the growing popularity of imports like the VW Beetle in the Fifties. Fisher Body Division had developed a new unitized body/chassis structure for the Corvair, designated the Y-body, with a 108-inch wheelbase. Buick, Olds, and Pontiac took one look and wanted in, only they wanted more passenger room and a more conventional drivetrain. Accordingly, Fisher stretched the Y-body to a 112-inch wheelbase for three slightly larger compacts that would bow for 1961. What better place for Beltz's new front-wheel drive? Oldsmobile looked at a variety of front-drive arrangements for what would become the F-85, the Buick Special, and Pontiac Tempest. Gears, belts, and chains were considered for transferring the drive, and a purpose-designed V-6 engine and four-speed manual gearbox were built and tested. The effort progressed as far as a running prototype outfitted with an aluminum-block V-6, mounted transversely in the now-popular manner, and connected via chain to an automatic transmission. But cost again reared its ugly head. The production F-85 arrived with bog-ordinary Hotchkiss drive and a front-mounted V-8 courtesy of Buick, though it did have an aluminum block. The Tempest, of course, was the only one of this trio with any engineering distinction: John Z. DeLorean's unusual rear transaxle arrangement, which usually produced some pretty unusual cornering behavior. Beltz was undeterred. Over the next couple of years, division engineers and GM Engineering Staff continued working on a variety of fronts to perfect a marketable front-drive system. Their efforts culminated in a February 1964 presentation made by Beltz and his allies to top corporate brass gathered at GM's Mesa, Arizona proving grounds. Bearing the XP-784 project designation, it was not a compact, but a two-door hardtop coupe almost as large as a big Ninety-Eight. Oldsmobile badly wanted this car to counter the highly acclaimed Riviera from intramural rival Buick and as a challenger to Ford's well-established four-seat Thunderbird. To be sure, it didn't really need front drive -- certainly not to open up more space in an already roomy passenger compartment. But it was a feature perfectly in keeping with Oldsmobile's "innovator" tradition -- and it impressed the execs with handling and roadholding that were uncanny for such a car. The response was enthusiastic: the front-drive Olds was approved for 1966. The Oldsmobile Toronado Styling Styling development for the Oldsmobile Toronado, code-named XP-784, had been started about a year before formal program approval, and was completed in remarkably short order under the direction of design vice-president William L. Mitchell. Even early clay models -- some of which wore "Sidewinder" and "Starfire" script -- displayed the major elements that would make the production Toronado so distinctive. A full-scale seating buck graced Oldsmobile's Design Staff auditorium in July 1963. The dominant theme was a long front with an uncommon amount of overhang and thrusting fenderlines, both suggestive of front-wheel drive and undoubtedly chosen for that reason. The basic fastback shape was enhanced by muscularly flared wheel arches and a beltline that terminated ahead of the C-pillar, curving upward and forward to leave an unbroken line from the rear roof area to the lower body. Designers initially favored a sloped tail, but moved quickly to a cropped Kamm-style treatment that further emphasized the front end. Hidden headlamps were coming into vogue, and there was no question the new Olds would have them. In all, it was a brilliant styling package appropriate for the revolutionary new chassis, which Mitchell said "opened entirely new possibilities for vehicle architecture and provided the opportunity for styling designers and engineers to come up with a completely fresh approach." Oldsmobile lacked sufficient body assembly space at its home plant in Lansing, Michigan, where the new car would be built, so it was decided to truck in bodies from the Fisher plant in Cleveland, hundreds of miles away. Meanwhile, production engineers began laying out a special single-model assembly line within the vast Lansing complex, intended to move at a slower-than-usual rate. This plus a veteran work force would assure exemplary workmanship from the start. By early 1965, some 38 pilot cars had been built and were ready for final shakedown. Toronado mechanicals were tested in this remarkably stock-looking and well-finished Buick Riviera. The Toronado was one of the most exhaustively tested new cars in GM history -- no surprise considering its unusual mechanical makeup and the company's well-known aversion to making mistakes. Both the Milford, Michigan and Arizona proving grounds were pressed into round-the-clock service, cobbled-up prototypes disguised as Ninety-Eights were evaluated on public roads, and no less a "test driver" than Bobby Unser took a pre-production aluminum-body car up Pike's Peak, just for good measure. One of the more interesting development "mules" was also surprisingly well-finished. It was, predictably enough, a modified Riviera with enlarged rear-wheel openings and an extended snout to accommodate the front-drive powertrain. Otherwise, it looked much like any normal Riv. The 1968, 1969, 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado Oldsmobile had scheduled a heavy face-lift for the 1968 Toronado, and it helped a little with slumping sales. Production went up to near 26,500. The main styling work appeared at the front, a full-width bumper/grille with a short vertical divider. The headlamps were still hidden, but instead of pivoting up out of the nose they were now fixed, mounted behind dummy grille sections that lifted up whenever the lamps were switched on. Once again, there were minor chassis tweaks to make the ride more lush. A blunted nose with split grille announced the 1968 edition. Though not intended as a performance car, the Toronado got swept up somewhat in the division's "Dr. Oldsmobile" campaign for 1968. The standard powerplant was upgraded to the new 455-cubic-inch engine, which took over for the 425 that year throughout the Olds lineup. It was rated at 375 horsepower in the Toro. And there was an engine option for the first time. Listed as the W-34, it came with special camshaft, heat-treated valve springs, modified distributor, and low-restriction dual-exhaust system, good for a rated 400 horsepower. Car Life tested a W-34 for its May 1968 issue, reporting a top speed of 123 mph and "best" fuel consumption of only 12 mpg. Said the editors: "It is not an ordinary automobile. When fitted out like the test car it is expensive, but it has some strong attributes: high performance, dependable handling, strong masculine styling, the flair of front-wheel drive, and the availability of enough luxury options to furnish a pleasure dome for a khan. Taken together, they describe only the Toronado, an unusual and enjoyable automobile." The Toronado's rear deck was freshened up for 1969. Toronado rolled into its fourth year with a restyled rear end that added a bit more trunk space and 31/2 inches in overall length. Styling was otherwise much the same as before, but you could now order an optional vinyl roof covering that destroyed the clean C-pillar line. There was nothing new on the engine chart, but engineers added more sound insulation and fiddled with motor mounts and spring and shock absorber calibrations in a quest for greater refinement. The Toronado notched a modest gain in sales, which rose to about 28,500 for the model year, still way below the 1966 figure. One factor in this so-so sales performance may have been another GM competitor, the Cadillac Eldorado, introduced for 1967. Like the Riviera, it was based on the Toronado bodyshell and even borrowed its front-drive mechanicals -- and it had the prestige of being a Cadillac. All this only undermined the Toro's image as a unique and exclusive product. Furthering that impression was the more glittery and less distinctive 1970 model. Headlamps were exposed for the first time (some owners had complained the headlamp doors acted up on the earlier models), trim was rearranged mostly for the sake of change, and a more conventional instrument panel appeared. Base price went over $5,000 (by $23) for the first time (it was $4,836 the year before), though you now got the previously optional front disc brakes as standard, still with power assist but augmented by a new tandem booster that produced higher line pressures. Both versions of the 455 V-8 returned at their previous power ratings. One interesting new package option appeared this year. Dubbed "GT," it consisted of special seats, front console, and discreet ID emblems. Less than 1,000 cars were so equipped, indicating most Toronado buyers simply weren't interested in anything remotely like "sport." Model year sales skidded to about 25,500, thus ringing down the curtain on the first-generation design. The pioneering 1966-1970 Toronados were almost instant collectibles. And for the enthusiast who marches to the beat of a different automotive drummer, we can think of no better choice. Keep this in mind now that you know most of history of this incredible car....When your bidding on this car...you are not just buying a means of transportation or an ordinary vintage car....but a car the revolutionized the way most cars are built today....front wheel drive. This very, very special 1968 Original low mileage Oldsmobile Toronado is owned by the owner of the fabulous "Cars Of Dreams" Museum in North Palm Beach,FL. Recently the Cars Of Dreams Museum was featured on International TV...Here is a link to the Special on the Museum: PLEASE write to me at luvdg@aol.com and we will send you the link to the Cars Of Dreams Museum in N. Palm Beach,FL. The owner keeps his cars anywhere from a few weeks, to a few months, to several years...then sells them (often at a very substantial loss) and replaces them with other spectacular cars or takes on several more projects. All of the Cars Of Dreams cars are started once a month and driven a couple of miles. Checked for any problems, even minor leaks, fixed if necessary and then put back in the Museum with a trickle charger kept on every single car. John has created the same thing with Mega-super yachts....He loves the challenge to create and build something that has never been done before... His Company, Millennium Yachts built "The World is not enough" to ultimately attain the world speed record for a 141' Super yacht....70 knots with 22,000 horsepower. Here is a 8 minute U-Tube of John attempting to break the world's record for a 141' Luxury Motor Super Mega Yacht. In this attempt, the Yacht hit 65mph but a few month's later the record was broken...70knots ....approx. 80MPH. An absolutely incredible feat...if you take the time to watch the video with this 22,000 Horsepower Mega Luxury Yacht...it will give you an indication of how John applies his same love for vintage cars. After selling the "World Is Not Enough", he followed with "Casino Royale" and now "Quantum of Solace"..coming in the Fall of 2011 is "Diamonds Are Forever" It is a 200' Mega Yacht currently well-under construction in Italy at the Benetti Yacht Factory. The World is Not Enough MEGA YACHT John also has built many other Super Yachts...just a few are Octopussy, Casino Royale, Moonraker and now Quantum Of Solace...all named after James Bond Movies. I suggest you call me ASAP if interested in this fabulous car...954-873-6495 ...you will be surprised at how reasonably priced this incredible car is! You could not restore this Toronado for the price you can own it!!!! PLEASE DO NOT e-mail me and ask for the reserve as you will NOT get a response. Just call me and I will be happy to discuss the reserve with you. E-mail me at luvdg@aol.com with any questions. Call me at 954-873-6495 and I will give instantly the lowest possible price!!! I am easy to reach....9:00am until 8:00pm...7 days a week. Eastern Standard time. Please Ask for Marv! John has decided to sell this car and several others that he has had in the museum. Some vehicles he has owned for the past few years...and others for a few weeks or months. The Museum is under constant change and is now being expanded to make room for all of the new (vintage) cars he has purchased in the past few weeks. If you go to the Carsofdreams web site you can see this and many, many other incredible cars on display in the museum. The museum is unique in all the world...it is a recreation of a typical small town in America back in the late fabulous 1950's. It is complete with a working drive-in movie screen & cars, a functioning drive-in "Bob's Big Boy" restaurant, the 1915 children's carousel from Coney Island, A Fire station with Fire Truck & Fire Chief's car, an actual working Good Humor truck, Nathan's hotdog & popcorn stand, Bank, Post Office, Rexall Drug Store, Butcher shop, Dress store, Barber Shop, NYC Central train station, Cadillac/Oldsmobile dealership, Mobil gas station, Sidewalks & Curbs, parking meters & street lights and much, much more. The Cars Of Dreams Museum has been featured several times on International television and is open just a few times a year to raise money for some of the owners favorite charities. Some of these are Make-A-Wish Foundation, American Cancer Society, Boys & Girls Club, Hospice of Palm Beach County, Darrell Gwinn Foundation to raise money for wheelchairs for handicapped kids, and "Shop with a Cop" held in conjunction with the Palm Beach Sheriffs Association for underprivileged kids. The next event is October 17th to benefit the Florida Highway Patrol and then on November 7th to benefit the Palm Beach Sherrifs Society to raise money for underprivileged kids. 100% out of every dollar goes to the charity! This car is a magnificently restored example and we welcome and urge your personal inspection. We have on premises a 10,000 sq. foot air-conditioned shop with two lifts. If you can not come in person to the Cars Of Dreams Museum and inspect the car yourself, than hire anyone you wish to come on your behalf...all we request is a 1-2 day notice...so please call Marv at 954-873-6495 to set an appointment. Hours by appointment only are Monday thru Friday from 10:00am until 5:00pm. The Museum is NOT open on the weekend or Holidays for any inspections. The Museum is a 15-20 minute drive from the Palm Beach International Airport. We are urging you to PLEASE come and inspect the car in person, drive it or to hire an expert inspector to do this for you. Please do not ask us to recommend anyone....we want you to select & hire your own inspector. There is no such thing as a PERFECT 43 year old car and we are NOT making that claim. However,in my opinion this Car is as nice as an example as you will find. anywhere at any price. If you wish to schedule an appointment to see this car, please call me at 954-873-6495. I need at least a one day notice. This car is stored at the fantastic Cars Of Dreams Museum in North Palm Beach, Florida. The Museum is private, and is not open to the public and is only open to a few special charity events throughout the year. All cars are owned free and clear and we have the title on hand. After you speak with us on the phone, it is possible to have a scanned or faxed copy sent directly to you. The car is owned free & clear and a copy of the title can be e-mailed or faxed to you upon a telephone request....call 954-873-6495 to attain a copy. We know this is a Platinum investment collectable car....it is foolish to invest your hard earned dollars in clones and fakes....this is a car that you can still drive & enjoy and will increase in value...not decrease in value.....and if you so chose to...you could drive it every day. Please don't buy a car like this unless you have a garage to store it inside. We do not think this car has ever been left outside. We don't "play games" We love when a car is inspected prior to meeting the reserve. We have no secrets and are proud of our 100% feedback. Please...do not e-mail us and ask "What is your reserve" just call us and we can discuss money...the car...a trade...or whatever is on your mind. Instead call me direct at 954-873-6495 or even if your calling from Australia,Europe or Japan. We will not e-mail you the reserve but will discuss it with you on the phone! We are all car guys that are very easy to speak with...no Prima Donnas at this end...just car lovers that do this for the fun and passion of loving our hobby...for the past 50 years! We really do love the cars...a lot more than the $. Once you speak with us...you'll agree...we are sincere and dedicated to this eternal love affair with the automobile The reserve is set at a fair number...if you wish to discuss the amount...please don't write and ask "What is the reserve price" Instead...please call us at 954-873-6495 Anytime between 9:00 am EST and 8:00pm Eastern Standard Time. Monday thru Sunday As with all of our fine cars...we invite your and urge your personal inspection. If you see it....and drive it...you will buy it! You will be amazed at how incredible this car drives...JJBEST has financed many of the cars previously owned by Cars From Dreams, LLC. If you have a trade...please e-mail us a complete photos....details and a phone number.E-mail photos & details to luvdg@aol.com We accept most anything in trade but please, NO Motorcycles or Kit Cars. Very Special Street Rods and Rest-o-rods will be considered. No Hot Rods or drag-race cars, No Boats,Airplanes, Jewelry, Motor homes, Real Estate,ect. We will consider any nice vintage or antique car or late model Luxury car or sports car with a clean carfax report. Please call us first and discuss this with us..and if we have an interest, we would then have you e-mail a complete set of photos and details. Thanks and best of luck! Please write or call for more details.... If you are interested in this vehicle, please call us at (954) 873-6495 and we will stand next to the car and go over everything with you in great detail...there will be NO surprises...or better yet...come and inspect it yourself. (appointment a day or two in advance is required) eBay recommended services · History Report - get a vehicle history report and protect yourself from hidden problems · Shipping - get free shipping quotes and information on options to pick up this vehicle · Financing - learn about lending choices · Buyer Checklist - review steps to take to make a safe, successful purchase AS IS - NO WARRANTY This vehicle is being sold as is, where is with no warranty, expressed written or implied. The seller shall not be responsible for the correct description, authenticity, genuineness, or defects herein, and makes no warranty in connection therewith. No allowance or set aside will be made on account of any incorrectness, imperfection, defect or damage. Any descriptions or representations are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle, and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value and to bid based upon that judgement solely. The seller shall and will make every reasonable effort to disclose any known defects associated with this vehicle at the buyer's request prior to the close of sale. Seller assumes no responsibility for any repairs regardless of any oral statements about the vehicle. There is no such thing as a "PERFECT" car...especially when dealing with vintage cars that are 25,35 and even 50 years old. Arranging for an independent third-party inspection is a great way to validate a seller's claims about a vehicle's condition. There are many companies and individuals who offer such a service. Of course your personal inspection and scrutiny are suggested and most welcomed. The seller has made a diligent effort to accurately describe this vehicle but does not expressly or implicitly guarantee the accuracy of the above description. Bidders and prospective purchasers are urged and cautioned to conduct their own due diligence, including a physical inspection in person or through a qualified third party inspector or appraiser, before contemplating a purchase or making a bid on this vehicle.In fact, we would welcome and encourage such an inspection, and will make every effort to make the above described vehicle available at a time convenient to the perspective purchaser or their agents We charge NO fees of any type. NONE! We will help arrange to have your vehicle picked up on a bonded, licensed and insured carrier. There are no dealer fees or other charges and you are responsible to pay all sales taxes in your home state . Required payment is 20% within 72 hours and the balance in full within 7 days thereafter.If you buy a car from us and are not happy with something, please call us and let us know. If we feel it's our fault, we are only too happy to discuss making a possible adjustment on the price...even though the vehicle has already been paid for. This is just for your enjoyment....especially if you were born 1930-1960...it will bring back lots of great memories ------------------------------------------------------ Welcome to "Cars from Dreams"..... You've found the place for car buffs, car lovers, car aficionados, for guys and girls.... from 8 to 88 and even beyond. If your among the nearly 200 million Americans who still have an ongoing love affair with the automobile... WELCOME... and should you happen to be from a country other than the U.S........ your equally welcome! Little did Daimler realize just how much his tiny one cylinder motorized bike was going to change the world when invented in the mid 1890's. This motorized bicycle was refined and eventually became the 1st automobile. (one cylinder) and his company became known as Daimler/Benz. (Mercedes Benz) (DaimlerChrysler today) James Dean Step back with us for a return to the middle of the twentieth century... The late, great fabulous 1950's...It was a wonderful time, offering so many new beginnings, as the terrible memories of World War II began to gradually fade and the dreams of our returning heroes and soldiers, as well as their families, could now be fully realized. With the promise of a lasting world peace, came the hope of prosperity and tranquility...all of which was soon to become a reality. Elvis "An Age of Innocence" The Fabulous Fifties was an "age of innocence" and as a young man growing up during this period, a guy would consider himself to be "lucky" if he was able to hold a girl's hand on their first date. If he got a peck on the cheek by their third date, well.... he knew they were made for each other! It was an age of integrity and trust. One could actually leave your front and rear door unlocked and your car keys in your ignition... and when you returned, nothing would be missing. "The Rock n' Roll Era and the The Drive-In Craze" Book by Michael Karl Witzel Book by Don and Susan Sanders In the 1950's life was less complex and perhaps a little slower. People actually took time to wave from their convertibles to friends and to even smile to a stranger and even give a friendly "Hello" to a passerby. Remember those great nights at the local drive-in restaurant or those "make-out" sessions at the local drive-in movie theater. And the term "Parking" took on a whole new meaning. By the mid 1950's Rock n' Roll had burst onto the scene. Both new cars and souped-up hot rods had become part of the youth culture. The entertainment industry, not to be left out, brought out countless low-budget movies that brought teens to the drive-in movies by the thousands. By the early 1960's songs such as the Beach Boy's "409" and "Little Duece Coupe", The Ripchords "Hey Little Cobra" Jan & Dean's "Drag City" and Ronny and the Daytona's " GTO" were riding high on the charts. Our love affair with the Automobile was in "full bloom." A few days prior to the new model cars being shown to the public, most new car dealerships would cover their showroom windows with brown paper. Many times I recall try to catch a peek or a glimpse of the new models.... The American Public could hardly wait to see what new and exciting creations were about to be offered by Detroit. It is these very cars... the Cars from Dreams, that we will feature and reminisce about... and every month we will offer stories and memories of these great "Cars from Dreams."... as well as offering the very best examples for sale. The cars of the 50's and 60's for the most part had "personality!" The great Chevys, Pontiacs, Cadillacs, Buicks and Oldsmobiles helped make GM a world leader and giant of the auto world. Ford produced fabulous cars including Ford Thunderbirds, Lincolns and Mercurys. Chrysler offered all those incredible Mopars... Plymouths, Desoto, Dodges, and Chrysler. 1959 Cadillac Brochure Cover Competition was fierce, but other marquees like Studebaker, AMC, Nash, Kaiser, Hudson, Muntz, Tucker, Avanti, etc. tried to capture a piece of this huge exploding marketplace. Unfortunately, they didn't have the dollar and staying power to compete with the "Big Three." As the 1960's drew to a close, cars began to change. New EPA requirements and increasing prices for gasoline hasten the demise of the "Muscle" car. The horsepower race came to an end by the early 1970's.... at least for a while. In 1976 Cadillac crushed the molds to build their last Convertible... the Cadillac Eldorado. They theorized that the American buying public didn't really want convertibles anymore and that production numbers were too small to bother with manufacturing "open air" cars. Boy were they wrong! Heinz Prechter seized the opportunity to custom make convertibles for most manufacturers and ASC (American Sunroof Corporation) exploded with orders and sales. So what exactly is it that makes us lust after those "Cars From Dreams?" Simple.... it's the memories, the happy times..... those great times from our youth and the freedom to go where we wanted...when we wanted... with whom we wanted...and in a car that was a ball to drive. It's where Johnny took Mary on their 1st date! It's so easy to spot a "Car From Dreams" on our highways today... just look for someone motoring down the street with a huge grin on their face. Today our hobby is pursued by guys and girls alike...it's just not a "guy" thing anymore and I think that's great. There are enough great memories to go around for everyone. How big is the car-collecting hobby? No one really knows for sure. However, there are several million cars that have been preserved or restored and our hobby is expanding... not shrinking.... and with sixty million "Baby Boomers" with disposal income and spendable dollars out there... the prices will continue to escalate. The nice thing about our hobby today, as opposed to the wild speculation on vintage cars that occurred throughout the 1980's is that these cars are being driven and enjoyed... not just been stored away in warehouses and garages. So celebrate with us as we embark on the next fifty years and if you feel compelled to exclaim "Hubba Hubba" or a loud "Hooray" as we reminisce with these "Cars From Dreams"... it's perfectly acceptable! On Feb-23-11 at 17:45:36 PST, seller added the following information: On Mar-16-11 at 18:19:32 PDT, seller added the following information: Sellers: Get your own map today. Click here now. Simple."