<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-01-06</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000098720</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TOREADOR RESOURCES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>trgl</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191430</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FITZGERALD MICHAEL J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>12506 PLEASANT VALLEY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75243</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>Senior VP, Expl &amp; Prod</officerTitle>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-01-06</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1300</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>2.65</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>38803</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ G. T. Graves III, Attorney-in-Fact Michael J. FitzGerald</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-16</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-01-06
0
0000098720
TOREADOR RESOURCES CORP
trgl
0001191430
FITZGERALD MICHAEL J
12506 PLEASANT VALLEY DRIVE
DALLAS
TX
75243
0
1
0
0
Senior VP, Expl & Prod
Common Stock
2003-01-06
4
S
0
1300
2.65
D
38803
D
/s/ G. T. Graves III, Attorney-in-Fact Michael J. FitzGerald
2003-12-16