1970 Oldsmobile Toronado Product Development Update from Stamp Models

Posted by: @mg-harv

@chris-sweetman I should try to find some of those batteries, if they are still made.

Hi @mg-harv Harv Mercury batteries are no longer made due to the metal being poisonous, but there are alkaline replacements.

I made an error as the mercury cells were 1.35v and the alkaline replacements are 1.5v. 

An alternative is the Wein cell which is 1.35v made for hearing aids but these are four times the price as the alkaline ones and don't last long.

Apparently mercury cells hold their voltage until they expire but in alkaline ones the voltage is unstable as the power is depleted. So not much use when needed in a camera for the metering system but I don't think the Solido bulb in either their Olds or Mustang would be effected. Several collectors on a Solido FaceBook group have used alkaline cells and they work OK. 

Yes sir, now THIS is how to replicate a model accurately & precisely!  So far, so good.... very impressive!   😀 😉 😀 

Wow! Those are beautiful colors!

Thanks for the preview Dave. I like all of the colors but will have to pick one when the models are available.

Posted by: @bob-jackman

but will have to pick one when the models are available.

"One?"  Are you being punished?  😀 😀 

Very impressive color selection!

@bob-jackman +1

OK, the cat's out of the bag! These will be shipping in October. Keep in mind that these are prototypes, and are being refined further! Especially the rear fender.

Posted by: @daveg

and are being refined further! Especially the rear fender.

Well, that's a good thing. Looks like the front might be a bit low, and the quarter window cut-out a tad high-on an angle (??)   Also, I was hoping to see "stiped-whites"  on the tires. All 1970 Toronado Brochures featured those (most '67-'71 GM cars had stripe patterns too ).   I'm so glad STAMP is listening!  Thanks for posting Dave! 

They're looking great.  I'm torn between the rose and the aqua but I like all the colors.

I can't remember ever seeing any whitewalls with three stripes back then. I remember two stripes. But those were aftermarket tires. 

@jkuvakas Many GM cars, had 2 or 3 stripe tires from 1967 -1970.  I know my dad's '67 & '70 Cadillacs came with two-stripe tires.  Aftermarket "3 stripers,"  as far as I know, were available as early as 1962 from General Tire. They were called Dual 90s.  I never knew anyone who owned a '70 Toronado, but optional whitewalls were "3 stripers."

@chris, I know about the two-stripe versions. I've seen them before. I owned a '70 Toronado, just like the green one shown by GLM. It had one-stripe whitewalls. All I'm saying is that if three-stripe tires were available, I don't remember seeing them. Clearly, they are shown in the brochures. I've just never seen one in the showrooms.

Posted by: @jkuvakas

I remember two stripes. But those were aftermarket tires. 

Oh, when you wrote this, it implied that you thought all "2 stripers"   were "aftermarket."   I know some Mopars from the late '60's to early '70's could also be fitted with optional 2 or 3 stripers.   Even Chevrolet had stripers....  (nicely duplicated in 1/64  😎)

If you purchased a new '70 Toronado with conventional whitewalls, then perhaps stripers  were whitewall upgrades.  As I noted, I never knew anyone who have a '70.... you're the first! 😀