1970 Oldsmobile Toronado Product Development Update from Stamp Models

Being an Adam 12  fan, I remembered that season 4, episode 2 (1971) "Million Dollar Bluff"  featured a cop-want-a-be named Thorton Jennings who drove a 1970 Toronado.  Despite being VERY POOR pics, a 2-stripe whitewall can clearly be seen.

I haven't yet been able to find period-photos of any 1970 Toronados wearing 3 stripe whitewalls.  The plot thickens..... 🤔 🤨 🤔   Looks like it's going to be a L O N G night. 🙄 🙄 😯 

After an exhaustive search to determine just what type of tires were available on 1970 Toronados, I've come to really appreciate the car. 

From what I can find/see there were 3 variations of whitewalls offered:

1) Single stripe.

2) Optional double stripe.

3) Optional (and rare!) triple stripe.

Below is a brief account from a "fussy" (like me!) collector who owns a 1970 Buick Electra 225 convertible BUT wanted the correct "double striped" whitewall tires....he contacted Coker tire and convinced them to produce them.  You'll see 1970 Toronado "triple-stripers" at the bottom.

"Thanks for the kind words about my 70 225 convertible. To have these tires made, I first contacted Corky Coker, of the Coker Tire company. That was several years ago. Corky indicated that if I could convince him there was a reasonable market for the tires, he would consider reproducing them.

I did extensive research, and created a report that I sent to Coker. It included documentation of where the J78 tire was used, and (of particular importance to me) when the dual stripe styling was used. Did you know, for example, that the dual stripe styling was created by GM and forced upon the tire companies? GM had so much influence in those days, it could do this. The other car companies (Ford, Chrysler, AMC) reluctantly accepted the dual stripe tires.

Anyway, Coker found some original BFG molds for the J78 and I was able to successfully convince them there was a market for this size of tire. The reproduction of the dual stripe version is particularly faithful to the original, as I supplied detailed dimensions from original tires I had obtained (including the never-been-down spare in my 225).

To answer your question about where J78x15 tires were originally used, here is a list. There were several variations on the stripe, which are also listed below. Note that Coker currently only provides the tire in dual stripe and single (7/8") sizes.

J78x15 Tires were standard on:

1970-1974 Buick Electra

1970-1974 Olds Toronado

1970-1974 Olds 98

1970-1973 Chrysler New Yorker

1970 Chrysler Town & Country wagon

1970-1973 Dodge Polara/Monaco wagons

1970-1974 Plymouth Fury (Suburban) wagons (2-seat models only in 72-74)

1973-1974 Ford Full-size wagon (w/o radials)

1973 Mercury Full-size wagon (w/o radials)

J78x15 tires were optional on:

1969-1974 Buick LeSabre/Wildcat/Centurion

1969 Buick Riviera/Electra

1969 Cadillac Eldorado

1969 Olds 98

1969 Olds Toronado

1969-1974 Pontiac All full-size, except wagons

1970-1974 Chrysler Newport, & other full size

1970-1973 Dodge Polara/Monaco non-wagons

1971-1973 Plymouth Full-size non-wagons

1973-1974 Ford Full-size non-wagons

1973-1974 Mercury Full-size non-wagons

Dual Narrow Stripes:

70-71 Full-size Buick, Olds (exc.Toro), Pontiac

70-71 Full-size Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth

Single Stripe (approx. 7/8")

72-74 Full-size Buick, Olds (exc.Toro), Pontiac

72-74 Full-size Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth

73-74 Full-size Ford, Mercury

Triple Narrow Stripe

70-74 Toronado

Single "slim" Stripe

69 Full-size Buick, Olds, Pontiac

Hope all this is helpful and of interest everyone!"

It was an amazing highway cruiser, large and very much in charge of the interstates.

@jkuvakas Yes, that's what I've discovered.

Base hp was 375, rare GT versions pushed that to 400, weight distribution, handling, 1/4 miles times, even breaking (front discs were optional starting in '68 ) were ALL very respectable.  Also, that FWD driveline was apparently bullet-proof (albeit some-what complicated ).

Some, even go so far as to call 1st-gen. Toronados "muscle cars."    😎 😎 😎 

UPDATE!

Unfortunately, it will not be feasible from a production standpoint to provide vinyl tops on some of the cars, and slick tops on the rest as previously planned. The issue is the trim at the base of the top. This obviously needs to be there as a termination point for the vinyl top, and to simulate the chrome trim. On the slick tops, this trim would need to be removed by hand, greatly increasing the finishing time. Although vinyl tops were a popular option back in the day, it has been decided that the elegant, sweeping C-pillar on this car will look better without the interruption of the trim. Therefore, all cars will be slick tops. It's just one of the typical snags that are a part of the product development process!

I like them better without the vinyl tops anyway so I'm good.

A bit disappointing but certainly understandable; trade-offs must be made for the greater good.  Who wants to hide that sweeping C-pillar anyway?  😏 😌 

It is no problem ! These beautiful Oldsmobile Toronados look great in any configuration and color, with or without vinyl tops.

It was a good decision. This brings to light the conundrum of vinyl tops in the sixties and seventies, particularly the sixties. They were de rigueur back in their time. No self-respecting luxury car or personal luxury coupe would be found without them. If you wanted to add some class to a fairly plain car, you would order the vinyl top. The higher-end luxury cars even had "padded vinyl tops." Looking back on forty and fifty-year-old designs, it now becomes clear they looked better for most folks without the vinyl top. This Toronado is a prime example. The lack of the halo top allows the beauty of the design to sparkle. 

John,

Your last sentence sums this issue up perfectly. Thank-you. 

.... I never liked them much because they invariably trapped water & bubbled-up, causing premature rot.  On the other hand, I love to see them offered as a variation-options on scale models.

Thanks for understanding about the vinyl tops, everyone! While perfection is always the goal, the realities of schedules and economics cannot be ignored.

I spent a lot of time over the weekend comparing the model images with photos of the real car, and was VERY impressed at how much they got right on this one! Below are the feedback images that I sent to them. Each image was accompanied by a narrative description (sent in text format so that it could be translated if needed). I am not repeating the narrative here, since I think the images are pretty self-explanatory. I also included a comment about the height of the windshield and the top of the rear window opening. Some of these suggestions may not be feasible due to the small scale, but I included them just the same.

I am confident that the rear fenders will be corrected, and I really hope they are able to refine both the wheels and wheel covers. I know that these will be amazing!

Any other comments that you would like me to pass along that have not been mentioned already?

Posted by: @daveg

Any other comments that you would like me to pass along that have not been mentioned already?

Nope!  You pretty much got 'em  all!  (..great effort BTW! )   Now we wait.       

A question on the colors.  I just received an email from a diecast seller I've bought from in the past.  They show the Regency Rose and Cinnamon Bronze colors being issued as standard colors by Stamp.  So, what is different about those 2 color choices?  Is it the wheel covers?  They don't show the blue or green versions as being available so they are unique.  Just wondering.

I always though vinyl tops helped hide the welds for the rear fenders. My first car, a '69 AMC Ambassador, had a vinyl top.

So I guess the green Toro will be green all over?