For those of you who follow my offerings, you will recall the very unique two engine 1966 Toronado built by the Grant Piston Ring Company. That car was sold in 2007. Imagine my surprise and delight when I received a phone call from a gentleman from Olympia, WA who also owns a similar two engine 1966 Toronado.

The car was built by the late John Gorman, a true craftsman and known for his building of the Indy car driven by Jerry Grant. The VIN # on this car is 396876M502405 and mileage is 6886 (believed to have been zeroed out when the second engine was installed).

The folklore of this particular car is that the builder John Gorman was part of the engineering team that designed and built the Grant Piston Ring car. He decided to build another one for himself while improving, modifying and creatively adding some amazing engineering wizardry to this car.

The current owner purchased this car in 1978 and has only driven it approx. 300 miles in the last 32 years. Unlike the Grant Piston Ring Toronado which needed a complete restoration, this car is in very nice condition and can be enjoyed and driven today. The car was re-painted prior to 1978 and the paint is holding up quite well considering the amount of time that has passed. It is certainly not show condition but it is quite good according to the owner.

Spring 2011, both carbs were rebuilt. Car starts and runs fine.

This unique car features:

4-Wheel Drive

850 Cubic Inches

approx. 850 Horsepower

MSD igntion system

high performance Oldsmobile camshafts

Holley 850 CFM double pumper carbs

Unique Features of this Car

Street legal engines may be operated together or independently. Only two of these cars are in existence today of which the original car was built by Grant Piston Ring Company at a cost of $40,000 in 1966. This car, the second one built, has far more engineering advancements over the first including:



• Unique single oversized cooling system to support both engines. Coolant lines route through frame rails to support rear engine with modified rear engine water pump to allow rear seat/firewall clearance

• Single Tachometer and Throttle pedal to run both engines

• Oil pressure gauge light split to show both engines separately

• Oldsmobile rocker switch starts rear engine

• Two engines feed off of the one original gas tank

• Oldsmobile switch located on dash modified to override the transmission and shift from 3rd to 2nd using the horn button.

• Two extra fans in front, and two in trunk to remove engine heat

• Functional trunk w/o view of rear engine

• This car has a functional trunk and a functional rear seat to completely conceal the rear engine. The Grant car had a back seat but no trunk.

• Car has been driven less than 300 miles in last 32 years by same owner

• Odometer reads 6,886

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Car Specifications

Drivetrain:

Engines (2)

No. of cylinders and type………………………………………..……… V-8 OHV

Bore x Stroke, mm…………………………………………………..…… 105 x 101

Inch…………………………………………..………….……………… . 4.11 x 3.98

Displacement (cubic inches)……………………………………………. 850

Compressions Ratio…………………………………………………… 10.5:1

BHP @rpm (both engines)………………………………………….. 850 @4800

Ignition………………………………………………………………. 2 Independent systems/MSD

Fuel Type……………………………………………………………… Premium Unleaded

Chassis & Suspension:

Frame Type…………………………………………….. Boxed perimeter supplemented by Grant sub frame in rear

Brake System…………………………………………… Drum front and rear

Swept Area………………………………………………………… 367 sq. in.

Tire Size…………………………………………………..………. . 8.85-15

Steering Type………………………………………………… Power Rack & Pinion

Turns, lock to lock………………………………………………………….. . 3.4

Turning Circle……………………………………………………..……… .. 43.3

Front Suspension………………………………….. Unequal, A-arms, torsion bars, tube shocks, anti roll bars

Rear Suspension…………………………………… Same as front, except mounted on subframe with locked tie rods

General:

Curb Weight, lb……………………………………………….…… 5661

Test Weight, lb……………………………………………….……. 6041

Weight Distribution (with driver)

Front/Rear %……………………………………………………………………. 48/52

Wheelbase, in…………………………………………………. 120.0

Track, front/rear, in……………………………………………… 63.5/63.5

Overall length, in…………………………………………………. 211.0

Width………………………………………………..…………… 78.5

Height……………………………………………….…………….. 52.8

Frontal Area, sq.ft……………………………………………….. 23.0

Ground Clearance, in…………………………………………… 4.7

Overhang, front/rear…………………………………………… 48.0/42.0

Departure Angle, degree………………………………………… 13.4

Usable Truck Space, cubic ft.……………………….……….. 12

Drivetrain: (2)

Transmissions…………………………. Automatic, torque converter, 3-Speed Turbo Hydromatic TH400

Gear Ratios: 3rd (1.00)………………………………………… 3.21:1

2nd (1.48)…………………………………………..…………… 4.76:1

1st (2.48)…………………………………………….…………. 7.96:1

Differential Type……………………………………………….. Planetary

Ratio…………………………………………………………….. 3.21

Instrumentation:

Tachometer……………………………………………………….……… 1

Ignition Switches………………………………………………..………… 2

Water Temperature Gauge…………………………………..………… 2

Oil Pressure Gauge……………………………………….…………….. 2

Fuel Gauge………………………………………………………………… 1

Speedometer, 130mph………………………………….………………. 1

Fuel Consumption

Normal Driving, mpg…………………………………………………… 7-10

Data plate information:

ST-09C

TR66-39687

EUC-1077-Body

050-D- XX Paint

5Y Body by Fisher

VIN # 396876M502405

VIN Decodes as follows:

First digit – GM line = 3 = Olds

2nd & 3rd digit = series within model line = 96 = Toronado Deluxe

4th and 5th digit = body type = 87 = 2 door plain back hardtop coupe

6th digit = year = 6 = 1966

7th digit = production plant = M = Lansing, MI

last 6 digits = sequential production # = 502405

The data plate information decodes as:

ST = style = 09C

TR66 = refers to the year 1966

39687 = same as above VIN Decode

EUC = refers to Toronado

1077 = refers to body #

050Trim refers to black all vinyl interior (not sure about the D)

XXpaint = porcelain white

5Y = refers to the build date = May (not sure about the Y)

According to my research, the Toronado Deluxe model includes:

– Strato Front Seat with Fold-Down Armrest

– Full-Length Front Door Armrests with Dual Door Handles

– Optional Power Window and Seat Controls Located in Deluxe Armrests

– Assist Handles on Door Panels

– Unique Sew Style on Seats and Side Trim Panels

– Wheel Trim Rings

– Door Panel Reflectors