Scariest car I ever did see. If this was someones first impression of a Toronado they might be ruined for life. Here it is 1 of George Barris's 67-X's




extended 15" the custom accomodations in the rear seat is the only thing I can deal with.


heres a short story

In 1967, Imperial Oil of Canada requested 3 new customized Toronados also from G. Barris to be won through a lottery. The lucky winners received a beautifully redesigned Toronado known as 67-X. Its wheel base, extended by 15 inches, provided extra leg room for the luxurious interior which had been fitted with front swivel bucket seats, a rear seat lounge as well as a console and a stereo AM-FM radio. The front end had been extended and two simulated air scoops added to the hood while the back end sported a fastback style. Extended front and back bumpers achieved a pointy look, but the over-emphasized wheelwells contributed to the futuristic allure of the whole car. (source: 1001 Custom and Rod Ideas).

Yeah- this is the monster in my edition of the Peterson painting book we were discussing a while back. Downright awful- not a single change for the better IMO. Barris has done very little that makes me go WOW!

Whats this sig Balthy a Buick ? Wires ! a Cadillac ? I dont get the Barris thing either. I have seen a few Ok jobs, the Toro Mannix roadster wasnt bad but then he made the tonneu so that it mess up the finale. This Toro reminds me of that awful thing Hundia or Kia had going on a few years back with that crossover and the "sportscar" I forget what it was called. The last Javalin/AMX had a more tastefull version of this exagerated wheel arch.

:lol: What would you do if you came across one of these in a barn ? :lol: "start smoking again !" Na , Id loose the arches, make tastefull grill with hidden lights and some form of lower facia or airdam. Hide the line on the C pillor and it wouldnt be too bad. I think those mods are buckets of bondo :lol:

My current sig is labeled below: the '58 XP-75, a Buick 2-passenger job predicting the styling of the '59s publically a year early. 2 built (one a pusher, one fully functional), but not widely shown. If I had money falling out my ass I'd promptly comission the reconstruction of it. Needs diagonal headlights, tho. ;) I daydream often about finding a whole laundry list of one-offs in a barn, tho I may slam the door in horror if this Barris-nado was behind it. I don't think it's savable without a 75% reversion to stock... or something else.

tho I may slam the door in horror if this Barris-nado was behind it.

:lol: peeks back in through cracks in boards

Higgins - "Oh my God ! "

I was thinking when I began this Custom Toro parade I was going in the wrong direction. i should have started with the worst and finished with the best. I was afraid of the mental damage this car might cause if seen first and everyne would be afraid to open any further related topics :lol:

:o "Oh my God !"

My current sig is labeled below: the '58 XP-75, a Buick 2-passenger job predicting the styling of the '59s publically a year early. 2 built (one a pusher, one fully functional), but not widely shown. If I had money falling out my ass I'd promptly comission the reconstruction of it. Needs diagonal headlights, tho. ;)

I daydream often about finding a whole laundry list of one-offs in a barn, tho I may slam the door in horror if this Barris-nado was behind it. I don't think it's savable without a 75% reversion to stock... or something else.

Hmmm..that 2-seat Buick would be fun to build in scale.. the same idea could be applied to the Revell '59 Impala ht kit that is currently available.

As far as Barris, I've never really gotten into his stuff..I find most of it rather tasteless and overdone..

I like Barris, not necessarly all his cars, but his attitude. He never took cars seriously, they are fun conveyances...I thank him for that.

Yeah- I'll give Barris that (attitude). Design-sense, tho: not usually. My favorite Barris job off the top of my head is the original Batmobile. Moltar- no '59 Buick kits issued since the '60s- very rare today. I just learned from another board that Buick built 2 running XP-75s (plus a clay/fiberglas full-size model), the 2nd of the 2 runners is documented as still being retained by BMD as of the summer of '67. It was initially slated for production. It's likely the design's engine set-back & shortened chassis were reasons enough for it to have been cancelled. Un-frickin-fortunately.

Edited October 4, 200520 yr by balthazar

the design's engine set-back & shortened chassis were reasons enough for it to have been cancelled. Un-frickin-fortunately.

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I cant believe I missed that, I never really looked it over. Look at the lenght of those front fenders ! So it was a front engine mid mount :D I cant believe the stuff this is going through my mind with modern potential. Interesting.

Yeah- I'll give Barris that (attitude). Design-sense, tho: not usually. My favorite Barris job off the top of my head is the original Batmobile.

Moltar- no '59 Buick kits issued since the '60s- very rare today.

Yes, I know..that's why I suggested doing a 2 seat coupe similar to that with the Revell '59 Impala (it's a readily available kit). I have the original AMT '59 & '60 Buick kits..neat models.

I had a really nice unwarped '59 Invicta 2-dr hardtop promo, but it sat in a box on the closet shelf for 5 years so I sold it. I prefer to put the money into the steel one instead. ;)