<VV> toronado powered ultraz

[Owen Strawn]

In November 1970 (five months after the Ultra Van factory closed), Dave Peterson (designer of the Ultra Van) mailed out a letter to Ultra Van owners offering a RWD Toronado conversion service. Originally planned as a kit, it ended up requiring too much structural work to make owner installation feasible. The upgrade replaced the 
drivetrain only, without changing out the existing rear suspension. A large 
radiator was installed in the RH side body, behind the wheel well.

Since GM workers were on strike at the time, Peterson didn't give a firm price - but he expected the full conversion to cost less than $3,600. Peterson installed seventeen Toronado and one Eldorado conversions in 1970 and 1971. This number probably includes Peterson's development prototype #302.

Later, other owners installed Toronado conversions on their own - some with and some without Peterson consulting. At least two used the entire Toronado subframe, suspension, brakes and all (#340 and #545). Many coaches now have Toronado drives using smaller alternate engines too (often Buick V6s).

In addition, two coaches were converted to FWD Toronado drive. The first one (#557, later TU-100 or just #100), is rumored to have been a rejected Ultra Factory development prototype, or it may have been one of Peterson's own mules. In any case, the arrangement made front seat access difficult, and travel noisy and unpleasantly hot. TU-100 was recently found in a farmer's field in Iowa with the entire drivetrain, and both front and rear suspension chopped out (the new owner is currently reconstructing it). The second FWD Toronado Ultra Van (#467) was owner-converted, and the engine has since been changed to a 1980 350cid GM diesel.

Peterson's original idea in 1960 was to motorize his Spartan trailer so that he could tow his boat. The Corvair drivetrain was perfect for what he wanted to do, but it just couldn't handle the weight of the Spartan trailer. So instead he ended up with a completely clean-sheet design. In later years, Peterson confessed that if the Toronado had been available in 1960, he probably never would have created the Ultra Van.

Safe travels,
Owen



>________________________________
> From: Trey Bosson <corvairbo at yahoo.com>
>Sent: Friday, March 23, 2012 4:23 PM
>
>
i see some of the ultra- coaches are olds toronado powered   any history notes and any pictures  trey bosson   wellsville ny   60 v8 toronado-vair
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