Tuesday, December 06, 2016

in 1967, Esso gave away four George Barris built Toronados (the 67 X) as prizes in a contest to celebrate the Canadian centenial


To celebrate Canada's centenary at Expo 67, Imperial Oil Canada (Esso) commissioned four custom-built 1967 Oldsmobile Toronados from George Barris of Hollywood.  2 are still known to exist.

Imperial Oil wanted a car that looked futuristic but retained an identity of the times. The Toronado body would reduce the mechanical fabrication due to it's longer front end. The added length provided a spacious interior that included swivel front seats that could face the rear wrap-around lounge seat.





This one was mislabeled as a 70 X. http://www.worldsfaircommunity.org/topic/10394-oldsmobile-toronado-x-70/


https://www.facebook.com/groups/1515669108717618/
via https://www.facebook.com/groups/321577158048111/
http://www.schmitt.com/inventory/ds-1967-oldsmobile-barris-70-x-toronado/

the other one has been neglected a very long time, and is being stored in hopes of winning the lotto if anyone ever wants to buy a Barris car, even one as forgotten and ugly as this




The first winner was a Mr. Hockett of Edmonton, who picked up his five winning tips on a journey from Vancouver to Edmonton during a family vacation. The second car was won by Vernon Scales of Okanagan Landing.
http://expo67.ncf.ca/remembering_expo67.html

5 comments:

  1. That has to be the coolest back seat ever.

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  2. I could never see where Barris got his rep!

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    Replies
    1. he earned it in the 50s, and then with a few perfect cars in the 60s. The Batmobile and the Munsters cars... but 80% of his stuff was this bad, and completely forgotten thankfully. I brought this car back to light for the reason of showing just how ugly things were, and seriously, can't you see a couple amateurs doing this just the same

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  3. I worked on one of those cars at Robertsons Auto Body in Weston Ontario back in 1971

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