Columbia Station, Ohio—In the annals of American automotive history, few vehicles stand as tall—or as long—as the Oldsmobile Toronado-based Jetway 707, a 28-foot stretch limousine engineered not for Hollywood glamour but for airport shuttles. Built by the Arkansas-based American Quality Coach (AQC) Company between 1968 and 1970, this behemoth of a vehicle, with its nine doors, six wheels, and 455 cubic-inch V-8, has captured the imagination of car enthusiasts and historians alike. But what’s the story behind this rolling relic, and why is it making headlines again in 2025?
A Quirky Beginnings: From Toronado to Jetway
The Jetway 707’s origin traces back to the flashy, front-wheel-drive Oldsmobile Toronado, a car celebrated for its bold design in the late 1960s. According to Hagerty Media, AQC’s founders, Waldo J. Cotner and Robert Bevington, broke away from Divco-Wayne Corp. to create their own stretch limousine after their parent company rejected the idea of a Toronado-based coach. The result was the Jetway 707, dubbed “appropriately named, considering it is almost as large as a Boeing 707,” per Hagerty’s reporting.
Stretching the Toronado’s 119-inch wheelbase to a staggering 185 inches, AQC added dual rear beam axles, a custom-built roof, and eight doors to accommodate 12–15 passengers—perfect for ferrying travelers to and from airports in style. Only 52 Jetways were ever produced, making it one of the rarest custom vehicles in automotive history, as noted by Cleveland Power & Performance. But its grandeur came at a cost: AQC folded in the early 1970s, leaving the Jetway as a quirky footnote—until now.
Resurrection in Ohio: Cleveland Power & Performance Steps In
Fast forward to 2025, and the Jetway 707 is staging a comeback, thanks to Cleveland Power & Performance, a multifaceted speed shop in Columbia Station, Ohio. The shop, now owner #4 of a Jetway (the 12th of the 52 built), acquired the vehicle from an estate in 2023, where it had sat dormant and non-drivable since roughly 2004, per their blog. “It’s a magnificent, curious creature whose evolutionary traits were arrested in development,” Hagerty wrote in January 2024, describing the battleship-gray behemoth as a “forgotten time in American automotive history.”
Cleveland Power & Performance is undertaking what they call their “largest and perhaps most complex, involved restoration to date,” according to Hagerty. The process involves preserving the Jetway’s original features—its elongated chassis, custom roof, and dual axles—while addressing decades of decay. The shop’s blog hints at a passion for “all aspects of automotive past and present,” but the Jetway’s rarity and Detroit roots make it a labor of love. “We look forward to hearing and learning more about the other Jetways in existence and their history,” they wrote, signaling an intent to connect with collectors and historians.
Questions of Authenticity and Value
Yet, the Jetway’s resurrection raises questions. How many of the original 52 still exist, and in what condition? Hagerty’s 2023 report suggests the Jetway’s “jaw-dropping” design made it a standout, but its practical use as an airport shuttle—rather than a luxury limo—limited its appeal. Cleveland Power & Performance claims this is one of the last “truly custom-built automotive pieces of history,” but without a full registry of surviving Jetways, verifying its uniqueness is tricky.
FastestLaps.com offers sparse technical specs—1968 Oldsmobile Toronado base, 455 cubic-inch V-8, front-wheel drive—but lacks production numbers or restoration data. This reporter reached out to Cleveland Power & Performance for details on the restoration cost, timeline, and plans for the Jetway (e.g., museum display, private sale, or operational use), but received no response by press time. Industry experts like Dave Kinney of the Hagerty Price Guide told Hagerty in 2023, “They’re so outrageous—they really stood out,” but cautioned that restoring such a niche vehicle could be financially risky without a clear market.
Cultural and Historical Significance
The Jetway 707 isn’t just a car—it’s a cultural artifact. Built during an era when airport travel was a “momentous occasion”, it reflects 1960s American optimism, excess, and innovation. Its cartoonish proportions and custom features—nine doors, six wheels—evoke a time when Detroit pushed boundaries, even for utilitarian vehicles. But its obscurity, compared to iconic limos like the Cadillac Fleetwood, raises questions: Was it a commercial flop, a visionary misstep, or simply ahead of its time?
Hagerty’s 2024 report notes the Jetway’s appeal to collectors who “love these things” for their “outrageous” nature. Yet, with only 52 ever made and AQC’s collapse, its legacy hangs by a thread. Cleveland Power & Performance’s efforts could elevate it to cult status, but the lack of public documentation—production records, owner registries, or AQC archives—leaves gaps. This reporter is investigating whether the National Automotive History Collection or automotive historians have untapped data on AQC’s operations.
Potential Challenges and Future
Restoring a 28-foot, six-wheeled vehicle with a 455 V-8 isn’t cheap or easy. Cleveland Power & Performance faces challenges sourcing parts for a discontinued model, addressing rust and mechanical decay, and navigating the legalities of historic vehicle registration in Ohio. The shop’s blog mentions the Jetway’s non-drivable state since 2004, hinting at significant engine and structural work ahead. If successful, the restoration could fetch a high price—Hagerty estimates similar rare limos can command six figures among collectors—but the niche market for airport shuttles-turned-collector’s items is untested.
Moreover, the Jetway’s future use is unclear. Will it return to the road, join a museum, or become a private collector’s pride? Cleveland Power & Performance’s silence on these plans fuels speculation. This reporter will continue to monitor the restoration, seeking interviews with the shop, AQC historians, and Jetway owners to uncover the full story.
Conclusion
The Oldsmobile Jetway 707 is more than a curiosity—it’s a piece of Americana teetering on obscurity. Cleveland Power & Performance’s 2025 restoration effort could revive its legacy, but questions linger: How many survive? What’s its true value? And why did AQC’s bold vision fade so quickly? As this investigation unfolds, the Jetway remains a rolling mystery, its oversized frame carrying the weight of a forgotten era—and the promise of a quirky comeback.