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Funky and Rare Car Camper: 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado GT RV Motorhome


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This is a rare 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado GT RV Motorhome which I think is a pretty awesome/unique car camper.

It’s V-8 powered and inside you’ve got a:

  • bathroom with shower,
  • kitchen with big sink, stove and fridge,
  • cabinets for storage,
  • and a wardrobe closet.

It can sleep 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 kids.

1970 Oldsmobile Toronado GT RV Motorhome

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Learn more and take the complete tour (inside and out) below:

Funky and Rare Car Camper that’s V8 Powered

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Living Area and Sleeping Area Over the Cab

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Also notice the curtain below the bed in the photo above since that’s where you can access the driving area.

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Kitchen and Shower

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You can see the shower to the right in the photo above and below.

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One thing you can’t see in the photos is that this car camper has skylights so you’re able to look up at the stars at night or get natural light inside during the day when you’re inside.

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It’s said to get around 15 MPG while cruising since it has a V-8 so if you were going cross-country you would have no problem going uphill.

It was listed on eBay Motors a while back with a Buy It Now price of $15,000. It had 68,000 miles on it with an engine replacement 4,000 miles previous.

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 9 comments… add one }
  • Lannette
    January 26, 2014, 12:49 pm

    Those certainly aren’t tiny houses behind that beautiful rig!

  • Sammie
    January 26, 2014, 12:53 pm

    Very cool. Hard to believe it gets 15 miles to the gallon considering a 70 Toronado hardly got that by itself. I realize the outside appears to be fiberglass but still that’s a lot of weight to pull and I’m sure it isn’t very aerodynamic . My guess would be it gets 15 miles to the gallon going down a hill with your foot off the gas pedal! Lol! Probably the most unusual and creative RV I’ve ever seen!

  • jerryd
    January 26, 2014, 9:00 pm

    These conversions both self and factory made, and this one looks factory made, were popular back in the 80’s. Toronado’s were great for them as they were FWD so you could put near anything behind it without dealing with drive, etc issues.

    The big GM FG motorhomes and many others used the engine/trans because it was really big .

    My Idea is a Dymaxion Car, google it, like motorhome mostly electric and unlimited range generator could get 70mpg+ instead of the 7-10mpg this one gets. Though I’d love to have it, just not drive much.

  • Rick
    January 27, 2014, 2:44 pm

    This Toronado was custom built for a former GM exec who was retiring. It was on ebay a few months ago, selling for a good (high) price as it is so unique. Toronados have made an excellent platform for RVs and flatbed car haulers for many years now.

  • Ian Stone
    February 12, 2016, 10:28 am

    Please what was the name of the factory built Oldsmobile camper van that was based on the Toronado running gear and had dual rear axels???

  • Bruce
    January 12, 2018, 9:32 pm

    Ian, That was a GMC Motorhome built between 1973-78. It used a Tornado drivetrain and had tandem air-ride rear wheels. Of the almost 13,000 built, over half are still on the road. I own a 1977, check them out at gmcers.org

  • Kent Leininger
    May 3, 2020, 12:50 pm

    Greetings! Does anyone know where this fabulous machine is located today or who owns it? I was a teenager at the time this was built. I knew the visionary who created it and my father worked with him on the interior as it came into being. Both men were legendary in a company that still exists today. Some people call the existing products the Cadillac of travel trailers today. This was built from the ground up. ALL custom, no conversion. It has been all over the world in its travel. Much known history. One would be surprised as to who the creator of this was. I was fortunate to eat at the table in the unit with the original owner/creator. PLEASE if you know anything of its whereabouts, let me know.

  • Kent Leininger
    October 1, 2020, 10:02 am

    Since no reply on this post since May, I will add that the designer of this “Travel Car” as it was called, was designed by the first president and founder of Airstream in Jackson Center, OH Andrew Charles. He had worked for Wally Byam and came with Wally to start the plant in Ohio. As you may know, it is now the world headquarters for Airstream in the USA. My dad was the first furniture contractor for Airstream in 1952, working closely with Andy on this Travel Car after he left Airstream. Much was designed from scratch, including the refrigerator. It was taken in extensive travels across Europe. Again if anyone knows the whereabouts of this vehicle, please let me know.

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