The Mark IV and V were actually intermediates, but stretched. I don't think GM considered any of their large cars to be classed as intermediate.
I wonder if it has to do with interior volume - as classified by the government. It would make sense as those 4/5/Fatbird family really weren't that much more roomier (if atall)than an Elite or so. But say an Eldo/Toro were significantly larger due to the flat floor(?) - again I'm just guessing. Kinda like how the gubmint classifies a Dodge Magnum wagon as a truck(which is true)
Yeah the bodies and chassis were definitely classified as “full size personal luxury coups.” But I can tell you as the owner of a Mark IV and V they are not spacious on the inside and the trunk capacity on the 5 is ridiculous.
By the way, another lesson for those out doing carspotting for '77 and '78 Toros, the other dead giveaway between a '77 and a '78 is the grille. On the '77, the openings are oriented horizontally while on the '78 they're oriented vertically. But they are interchangeable, and I've seen photos of these Toros with the wrong grille. That suggests that the car was in an accident and the correct grille wasn't available but one from the other year was. '77 Toronado grille. These are both my cars, and note that the "Oldsmobile" script is missing from the front of the '77. It should be right above the grille on the driver's side. This suggests that the car has been painted, and that script wasn't replaced. I have a spare, which I will put on once I've decided whether or not I'm having the car repainted. '78 Toronado grille
I received the dealer invoice for the '77 from the GM Heritage Center. The car was originally sold in Independence, Missouri. The option list is nearly identical to that of my '78. Here's the invoice for the '78.
Finally had a chance to get it out in the sunshine and take some photos of my own. Until now, every photo I've had of ot was taken by the seller. Still no license plates yet. The state DMV offices operate by appointment only (pandemic, you know), and available appointments are typically two to three weeks out. Mine is on April 21. Until then, it's move it around the driveway and take it for a quick spin around the block in our very untrafficky neighborhood, which I did! I know these cars don't grow on trees these days, so you typically take whatever color it is as long as it meets your other requirements. If I had had a choice, I probably wouldn't have chosen white. But the color is growing on me quickly. The car wears it well.
Whites especially practical in our state. And you are correct. It looks lovely as it sits, and wears the white quite nicely.
Thanks! I took some photos of the two Toros together. The '77 still doesn't have a license plate because my appointment with the DMV is not until the 21st, but I snuck it 200 yards down the street to a nearby parking lot. One thing I need some opinions on is why the '77 sits so high on the front. When the two are side by side, how high the white one sits is obvious. I measured the distance from the center of the wheel to the bottom of the fender opening at all four wheels. For the red one, it's 15 inches plus or minus a half-inch at all four wheels. For the white one, it's 17 inches for the front wheels, 14 inches for the rear. I've not yet looked at any part of the front suspension, but what kinds of things can cause the front to sit so high? Thanks for any opinions.
How the car is optioned, how the car is used, etc., that can affect ride height. You can consult Fisher body manuals, which will have ride height charts. But if I had to guess, it comes down to how good or bad the springs were at the factory. But your mileage may vary.