1966 JUNKYARD TORONADO

Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this junkyard is a pull & pay operation. The owner, Easy Russ, said he is willing to strip and ship parts. Click here to view Easy Russ' location and phone number.

Have fun looking, and best wishes to those who plan to contact Easy Russ for purchases. I found him to be very friendly, easy to deal with, and apparently not intent upon retiring off the profits he may earn from parting out what remains of this Junkyard King.

FRONT

What would a junkyard be without weeds growing through classic cars?

The license tag remains in place. Its registration sticker reads 1979. Apparently this car has been in this spot for more than 25 years.

The grille, bumper, and body panels associated with the headlights are all in remarkably good condition. The only parts I took so far were the turn signal lenses, which I will auction on eBay in a few weeks. Everything else is yours to negoatiate with Easy Russ.

Somebody pulled the engine and tossed the hood off to the side. It has no dents.

I don't know if the power steering apparatus is worth removing, but vacuum canisters occasionally sell on eBay. This one has no rust or dents.

The "transmission blanket" appears to be in good condition (just a little dirty). No cornering lights were ordered with this car.

The antenna has slight bend near the top (look in the regionof the treetops on the left photo). The rubber base appears too new for this to be an original factory part. Just my opinion.

The driver's door mirror is gone. So is the VIN tag. Note the gaping, rusted hole where the tag was once riveted.

REAR

The trunk lid surface rusted but probably servicable if somebody is desparate. The rear grille (or louvre as I like to call it) has only a fine layer of minimal surface rust here and there. It's all yours.

The roof and fenders, however, are severely rusted and are probably unrestorable. It always cracks me up to see what's inside junkyard cars' trunks and interiors. This one sports a busted-up window air conditioner, part of a cooler (see below), and a different car's hubcaps. Note again the well-preserved louvre.

Trunk lid detail: this is the worst spot on this panel.

The taillight lenses and their surround (What is this called? Rear grille?) are also ripe for the taking. The multiple brown splotches are dirt, not rust. The Toronado emblem is gone, but Fusick sells reproductions. The left taillight lens appears to be missing part of one of the horizontal chrome trim strips. The right one is perfect. The bumper has a few small dents, but is definitely servicable.

The trunk latch mechanism is vacuum powered. The button remains in place in the glovebox. There is no visible rust or dents on the latch.

The upper component of the latch mechanism has some surface rust. The trunk lock cylinder is gone.

INTERIOR

The upholstery is nuked. Here's the steering wheel metal insert. Its central plastic part has multiple cracks. Sorry, no headrests. But perhaps you might be interested in a 25-year-old red vinyl luggage set?

What's decent:

+ all the windows appear perfect
+ rear seat radio grille
+ rear seat ash trays
+ both sun visors
+ passenger visor mirror*
+ rear view mirror
+ 3 out of 4 window cranks (not power windows or locks)
+ both front door pull handles
+ TORONADO emblems*
+ both front door's release handles (remember, each door has 2 handles)
+ both front door release handle metal recesses
+ red and white lenses covering door lights*
+ chrome trim throughout interior
+ glovebox door and interior
+ front ash tray*
+ A/C vent eyeballs
+ upper A/C vent louvre
+ dashboard (no cracks but needs repainting)
+ dashboard upper padded section
+ instruments appear good (speedo drum, gauges)
+ most switches and knobs present*
+ brake pedal
+ emergency brake pedal

What's salvagable if you're desparate:

+/- both front door panels have small rips
+/- door lock knobs have chrome plating partially worn off plastic core
+/- steering column selector stalks are similarly worn

What's toast:

- green lenses over turn signal indicator blinkers are in pieces
- accelerator pedal missing
- steering wheel cracked in multiple places
- headlamp knob not original - its from another car's radio
- headliner looks just like the seats

* These parts were still there one week after I posted this web page, so I pulled them. I sold them all on eBay shortly afterwards, along with both front and both rear turn signal lenses.