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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                       [HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP LETTERHEAD]

                                 July 24, 2001



Toreador Resources Corporation
4809 Cole Avenue, Suite 108
Dallas, TX 75205

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3

Dear Sirs:

         We have acted as counsel for Toreador Resources Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the filing of a registration
statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
("Registration Statement") with respect to up to 280,900 shares of its common
stock, par value $0.15625 per share (the "Shares"). 90,000 of the Shares are
currently issued and outstanding and were issued to the stockholders of Texona
Petroleum Corporation pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger ("Merger
Agreement") dated September 11, 2000 by and among the Company, Texona Petroleum
Corporation and Toreador Acquisition Corporation. 190,900 of the Shares are
currently issued and outstanding and were acquired by Lee Global Energy Fund,
L.P. from Peter R. Vig and his individual retirement rollover account.

         We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise
identified, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we
have deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of this opinion. As to matters
of fact, we have examined and relied upon a copy of the Merger Agreement and the
stock certificate representing the 190,900 shares owned by Lee Global Energy
Fund, L.P. and, where we have deemed appropriate, representations or
certificates of officers of the Company or public officials. We have assumed the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of
all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons and the conformity to the
originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to various questions of
fact material to this opinion, where such facts have not been independently
established, and as to the content and form of the Certificate of Incorporation,
the Bylaws, certain minutes, records, resolutions and other documents or
writings of the Company, we have relied, to the extent we have deemed reasonably
appropriate, upon representations or certificates of officers of the Company or
governmental officials and upon documents, records and instruments furnished to
us by the Company, without independent check or verification of their accuracy.
Finally, we have assumed that all formalities required by the Certificate of
Incorporation, Bylaws and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
were complied with when the 280,900 Shares were issued.

         Based on the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications,
exceptions and assumptions set forth herein and having due regard for such legal
considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

                  1. The 90,000 Shares issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement
         that are being registered pursuant to the Registration Statement have
         been duly authorized for issuance.

                  2. The 190,900 Shares acquired by Lee Global Energy Fund, L.P.
         from Peter R. Vig and his individual retirement rollover account have
         been duly authorized for issuance.

                  3. The 90,000 Shares issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement
         are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.


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Toreador Resources Corporation
July 24, 2001
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                  4. The 190,900 Shares acquired by Lee Global Energy Fund, L.P.
         from Peter R. Vig and his individual retirement rollover account are
         validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         The opinions expressed above are specifically limited to the General
Corporation Laws, as amended, of the State of Delaware, and the federal laws of
the United States of America

         This opinion (i) is rendered solely for your information and assistance
in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement, and may not be
relied upon by any other person, (ii) is rendered as of the date hereof, and we
undertake no, and hereby disclaim any kind of obligation to advise you of any
change or any new developments that might affect any matters or opinions set
forth herein, and (iii) is limited to the matters stated herein and no opinions
may be inferred or implied beyond the matters expressly stated herein.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the references to our Firm's name therein.

                                         Very truly yours,


                                         /s/ Haynes and Boone, LLP
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                             Haynes and Boone, LLP