A Toronado of Golddigger girls

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If you let loose a google search for ‘Dean Martin’ and ‘cars’ you’ll get tons of hits about the automotive cream of the crop of the 1960s. Cadillacs, Stutzes, Rolls-Royces, Ghias and Facel-Vegas were all part of his hall of fame. And it wasn’t all sheer luxury. Dean is even said to have owned a hardcore Ferrari 412P as well as a De Tomaso Mangusta racer with Fantuzzi coachwork. What that all has to do with this picture? Hang on. At the top of his career Martin was the host of his own talk show, and had some fun scouting twelve girls from all over the US to become ‘The Dean Martin Golddiggers’ (who, some 45 years later, still perform!).

Of course the girls needed appropriate transport when touring the country. Enter car customizer extraordinaire George Barris (including the original Batmobile), who’d previously done some odd jobs to fulfil Martin’s motoring desires. The timing wasn’t bad. In fact, Barris had just finished no less then four Oldsmobile Toronados for Imperial Oil to be used in a 1967 show in Montreal. The cars, dubbed ’67-X’, came with 15 inches stretched wheelbase and much altered bodywork with cartoonesque wings. The interior featured swivel buckets, wraparound L-shaped rear seat and a pop-up table to sit around comfortably. The paint came in gold, and I’m sure the Golddiggers girls loved it. Supposedly two of the cars survive, and one of them is currently offered for sale, warranty available!, but not so for the charming crowd above.

Originally published on April 4th, 2013

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