1978 Oldsmobile Toronado Brougham

$2200.

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/6121952012.html

 

Looks pretty good for the price. He doesn't come right out and say that it runs, but I presume it does.

 

I'm liking it.

 

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/6121952012.html

 

People are not rushing to buy it, apparently.

 

If I owned it, I think I would take the effort to buy and replace those missing filler panels (and bump up the price accordingly). Without them, you're going to lose a lot of potential buyers.

 

3D printing could help.

 

You would most likely need a good set in order to scan them, to make the new ones on a 3D printer. Sort of defeats the purpose.

I was unable to find any source for replacement end caps on a '78 Toro. There was a center piece available, but our car here doesn't need that. Could be the reason they haven't been replaced - owner can't find any.

 

Those pieces are available. I bought mine for my '78 Toro here:

http://www.replica-plastics.com/product/ot-75-rlx-rear-left-quarter-panel/

http://www.replica-plastics.com/product/ot-75-rrx-rear-right-quarter-panel/

They're not made out of the flexible plastic the originals were but rather are made out of fiberglass. But at least there is something available.

 

Those fiberglass pieces would be about the best you could use for the scan templates, as the original factory pieces may be Unobtainium. At the very least, if I owned Replica Plastics, I would be investing in an industrial rapid prototype printer.

 

The thing about original factory pieces is that, even if they've spent the last 40 years in a box, they're just as old as anything on a car. It's not mileage that causes these to deteriorate, it's simple age as the polymer slowly crystallizes/oxidizes/whatever. Anything in a box will be in a little better shape than anything that's been on a car because it won't have been exposed to the sun, which hurts as well. But it's unlikely anything like this that's 40 years old will be in like-new condition. I've seen any number of ads for low-mileage, '70s-era cars that show just as much degradation of these plastic pieces as any "normal" or high-mileage car exhibits.

 

Still not moving.

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/d/olds-toronado/6201264136.html

 

I think his price is pretty fair. This, coming from someone who paid that much for a '78 Toro that didn't run!

 

I agree. The price reflects what it needs cosmetically, and the parts are available.

 

Just to finish the thought there, I now have first-hand proof that the pieces from Replica Plastics can be made to fit, and, when painted, look gorgeous.


For anyone who hasn't seen the after-paint-job photos I posted in the other thread, I don't mind posting them again.