I’ve seen these two classic Eugene-mobiles for years now, and they’ve both had their individual moments of fame here at CC. Not only are they still going in 2023 as daily drivers, but now I managed to catch them together. That’s worthy of a second look.
The ’81 Corolla is the last generation of wagons and RWD, and as such, they were the epitome of sturdy and reliable. I’ve got a real soft spot for these , and my xB is something of a spiritual successor to them.
Not surprisingly, the seat is showing the wear and tear of over a half century of use. I wish I knew its mileage.
It’s good to go for another couple of decades.
I’ve grudgingly had to acknowledge that these later 2.2 L powered Omnis and Horizons are in Toyota territory when it come to durability. There were several still running around town until a few years ago, and there may still be, but this is the one I keep running into.
The baby Torqueflite and the 2.2 made for a long-lasting relationship.
This is really the car that saved Chrysler, as the K-Car was heavily based on these.
And its clean Golf-inspired design has held up as well as its drive train.
Chrysler took a brilliant leap of faith when they decided to build a US version of the Simca Horizon; the first truly modern small American car. Please don’t go away! You’re such a refreshing sight on the streets these days.
More:
Curbside Classic: 1981 Toyota Corolla Wagon: It Could Have Been My Previous Car
Curbside Classics: Plymouth Horizon And Dodge Omni – Detroit Finally Builds A Proper Small Car
Very worthy cars, both!
I’d like to know how many miles the odometers show on both these cars.
The Omni/Horizon 2.2 auto is pretty durable, though I give the edge to the Toyota. I also think if and when something goes wrong, parts will be easier to find for the Corolla.
Looking at the shot of the Omni’s cockpit, I can just hear and feel the sounds and vibrations as that 2.2 putters to life. So many good memories and warm feelings around those little cars. The Torqueflite kills a lot of the fun, but I still love me some Omnirizon in any form. It’s a handsome design too.
My first brand-new car was a 1989 Omni, which I COAL’d. On paper, it significantly outclassed every other $7k-ish econobox you could buy in 1989. Especially in the powertrain department – 2.2 liters vs. the 1.6 or 1.8 of the competition, and 5 speeds instead of the 4 gears that were still common in the other bottom feeders of the era.
On the other hand, it was an 11-year-old design by then, and many of the design and engineering flaws that should have been corrected since the 1978 introduction simply weren’t. Build quality seems to have been very iffy as well – a good one like the one you found might have lasted 30+ years, but many died too young.
Absolutely the classic Mopar Quality Lottery – get a good one and it’s as good as anything, but ever since at least the ’57s they’ve had more than their fair share of lemons.
Both great cars, and I can see either one of them running well into the future, given the Pacific Northwest’s favorable climate. It was rust that killed their east coast kin.
Back in the mid-80s, I was temporary step-driver of a early 1980s version of this Omni. It’s fading into distant memory, but I believe the one I had for a few years was a Horizon. It lived in my driveway while its actual owner flew around the world as a flight attendant. It definitely had the VW-based engine…something I discovered the first time I went to the autoparts store to buy it an oil filter. I drove it often enough that I became responsible for things like oil changes. Fun, basic, little car.
Both cool cars. What I appreciate the most is how clean the interior has been kept in the Omni despite it’s age. So many let the interior degrade as the car gets older and you then get the Corolla interior.
Both of these were so unremarkable on the road when they were new. Yet, today, the size, styling, and overall user friendliness (in the basic sort of way, from the econocars of that day) stand out as something a little bit special.
A friend had the two door version of this gen Corolla from new and I always found far more fun to drive than the Corolla’s reputation from road tests suggested. She only kept it a few years before getting an ‘84 or ‘85 Civic tall wagon. Much later, good friends of ours were a two Corolla wagon family well into the 21st century. They finally replaced their RWD wagon of this gen with a similar vintage Volvo 245 which did not give as good service. And then they replaced their later Corolla All-Trac wagon with a first gen Sienna. That was a fine van but seemed to have niggling issues with A/C, power doors and seats, features their Corollas just didn’t have. I tried to convince them to keep both of the Corollas but it didn’t work. I even thought about buying the RWD wagon, long after we had sold our own ‘93 Corolla Wagon, but my wife thought I was nuts. By comparison, I’m pretty sure I never knew anyone who owned an Omnirizon.
These cars reminded me of something as I passed our small airport earlier today, and this time a newish Toyota Avalon was parked on the shoulder near the main entrance. This is a common occurrence, and I wonder if it’s because drivers are trying to figure out the controls on their rental cars. Back when these Corollas and Omnirizons were new, this was not a problem.
That or perhaps the traditionalist driver is busy unfolding the 3foot by 4foot map they brought with them and trying to figure out which squiggly line to follow while it’s laid out on the passenger seat in order to get to some random destination without averting their eyes from the road.
There was a “first generation , Avalon” roaming the streets in my neighborhood. Was still rolling in spring ((April)).
Reminds me I’ve not spotted it in a good while.
Some overpaid shithead thought that a computer screen in the middle of the dashboard was a good idea. It wasn’t.
This was in response to 210deray’s comment about cars pulled over at the airport.
Love these vintage Thames TV car reviews. Charming Pam Rhodes, and the late great Tony Bastable, in 1981.
My brother owned one of these Chrysler’s, bought new in 1988, and always spoke highly of it.
Although I never bought one, I had interest in the Omni/Horizon. At one point in the early 1980’s I considered it for a purchase. The VW block powered 1.7 models had a bit of less than stellar rep. It may have been carburetion or intake problems? There were some 1.6 Peugeot equipped models around, but I passed on them. I don’t think the 2.2 was available yet at that time. When the 2.2 became available in the Omnirizon and also the K cars, a cottage industry soon developed around head gasket failures. I can actually recall a couple of shops opening that focused on doing that, complete with the flat rate charge on a sign. At some point, there was an improved gasket available. It became a once and done item, if it did fail. I enjoyed many jaunts in friend’s models, including long runs to Phila. Philles games with 5 people jammed in. So glad to see at least one still intact.
The featured 1981 Corolla wagon is identical in year, model and color, to one a friend had for many years in the 1980’s and 90’s. His mother had purchased it new then sold it cheaply to him a few years later when she tired of it. Quite reliable on little love from my friend. Although pretty cramped inside, those RWD Corolla’s were worthy of respect. I envy those in the PNW and some other places where these types of vehicles are still seen occasionally.
It could be suggested that stylist Roy Axe was a bit of a cribber, what with the Horizon and the Alpine both looking fairly much like the Golf and Passat respectively, but I’ve always preferred the Horizon to the original (if it’s indeed copied). Lower waistline, steeper rake on the front and rear screens, closer to what was to come (from, for eg, Opel Kadett D) than the Golf, which always had a little too much utilitarian uprightness for me. Pity the Simca 1100-based car itself was a bit of an also-ran from the start.
As for these two CC survivors, I hope you’re still photographing these regulars until you don’t even quite remember why you’re doing it any more.
Btw, did anyone know there were Horizons made by SAAB? If not, you do now (as do I!)
Seats look familiar…
And may I add that even something as mundane as a car ad is more entertaining in Finnish. What a great language.
I had a 1983 Dodge Charger – built on the same platform. I bought it in 1988. It had the VW 1.7 liter engine – absolutely no issues. I went through a clutch and other than that got seven good years out of it!