<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-10-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000098720</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TOREADOR RESOURCES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TRGL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000943980</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FALB PETER LAWRENCE ET AL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>15 BROAD STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 406</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2214</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.578</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>744250</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.458</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>743250</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Falb owns 228,400 shares of stock directly or indirectly, 445,850 shares of stock indirectly through Dane, Falb, Stone
 and Co., Inc. and 70,000 shares of stock indirectly through Firethorn I.L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Mr. Falb owns 227,400 shares of stock directly or indirectly, 445,850 shares of stock indirectly through Dane, Falb, Stone
 and Co., Inc. and 70,000 shares of stock indirectly through Firethorn I.L.P.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Nigel Lovett, Attorney-in-Fact for Peter L. Falb</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2008-10-02
0
0000098720
TOREADOR RESOURCES CORP
TRGL
0000943980
FALB PETER LAWRENCE ET AL
15 BROAD STREET
SUITE 406
BOSTON
MA
02109
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2008-10-02
4
S
0
2214
8.578
D
744250
D
Common Stock
2008-10-03
4
S
0
1000
8.458
D
743250
D
Mr. Falb owns 228,400 shares of stock directly or indirectly, 445,850 shares of stock indirectly through Dane, Falb, Stone
 and Co., Inc. and 70,000 shares of stock indirectly through Firethorn I.L.P.
Mr. Falb owns 227,400 shares of stock directly or indirectly, 445,850 shares of stock indirectly through Dane, Falb, Stone
 and Co., Inc. and 70,000 shares of stock indirectly through Firethorn I.L.P.
/s/Nigel Lovett, Attorney-in-Fact for Peter L. Falb
2008-10-06