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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-15</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>2008-05-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7614</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>750964</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Not Applicable</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Mr. Falb owns 235,114 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>2008-05-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2008-05-15
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
2008-05-15
4
A
0
7614
A
750964
D
Not Applicable
Mr. Falb owns 235,114 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
2008-05-19