![Driving the custom Oldsmobile Toronado from TV show Mannix Classic & Sports Car – Mannix Oldsmobile Toronado: the least undercover cop car ever?](/sites/default/files/styles/article/public/2020-05/Classic%20%26%20Sports%20Car%20%E2%80%93%20Mannix%20Oldsmobile%20Toronado%20%E2%80%93%2001.png?itok=gKgEBh7t)
A slice of TV cheese typical of its late-1960s origins, Mannix was eight seasons’ worth of crime-busting, tyre-squealing adventure following the proven car-chase/punch-up formula.
Deemed worthy only of insomniacs in the UK, this glossy action series always drew big primetime ratings in the USA, right through to when it was pulled in 1975, despite a general move towards grittier, more realistic ’70s heroes.
Korean War veteran and karate black belt Joe Mannix was an LA-based private eye played by Mike Connors (1925-2017), who by 1967 had appeared in more than 20 films and made hundreds of TV appearances.
With his lopsided smirk, the 42-year-old was a familiar face rather than a household name. It was television that made Connors famous, mainly thanks to Mannix.
![Behind the wheel of this US TV star Classic & Sports Car – Mannix Oldsmobile Toronado: the least undercover cop car ever?](/sites/default/files/2020-05/Classic%20%26%20Sports%20Car%20%E2%80%93%20Mannix%20Oldsmobile%20Toronado%20%E2%80%93%2008.png)
Featuring one of Lalo Schifrin’s less memorable theme tunes, the series was produced by Lucille Ball’s Desilu Productions and emanated from the same CBS/Bruce Geller stable as Mission Impossible.
In real life, Connors had a weakness for interesting cars and was squiring around Hollywood in a Derby Bentley at the time he was offered the lead in Mannix.