3. Oldsmobile Toronado GT (1966-1969)
When Oldsmobile launched the Toronado in 1966, it rewrote performance car design by placing nearly 400 lb-ft of torque from a 425-cid (7.0-L) V-8 through a novel front-wheel-drive layout. The Toronado GT, introduced in ’67 as the sportier trim, added heavy-duty suspension, power-disc brakes, and a Hurst shifter—elements more common in muscle-car rear-drivers.
With 385 horsepower and a Sub-10-second 0-60 mph time, the Toronado GT was as quick as most mid-size competitors, but its FWD packaging delivered exceptional interior space and distinctive handling. By showcasing that high-torque V-8s could work with front-wheel drive, the Toronado GT broadened Oldsmobile’s “performance” definition and influenced future American front-drive performance sedans.