Probably some of you are glad to see the last of Toyota Week. You can blame me (who else?); when I started writing the 1969 Corona CC, it really came home to me just how significant that car was. And GN’s splendid collection of vintage reviews, which is the best thing that’s happened to CC in a while, pushed me over the edge.
Eugene is Toyota City, Oregon. It’s by far the most prominent brand, although Subaru is undoubtedly giving it a run for the money. And the town is full of old ones, so my files are brimming with them. I’ve written up many of them over the years, but there’s still dozens that have never been posted. So here’s just a random sample of the Toyotas that you didn’t see this week.
I’ve done a CC for the gen1 Tercel Liftback, but here’s a two door sedan. I spotted a bright red one the other day, but didn’t even stop, as I have a few others too.
This 4A-C E86 Corolla coupe lives down a cross street from us, and has for many years. And it still gets used.
There were two of these Cressida woodys around town for a long time. Now one had been turned into a bosozuko-style custom.
Here’s a sweet circa 1975 Corolla wagon.
This is the successor to the one above. We’ve been walking by this one for many years, and it’s still in regular use.
These folks like old Toyota vans. The one in front is a 4×4 version.
This one is a rather unusual Westfalia-like pop-up camper.
This Hilux has a heavy load.
One of Toyota’s most brilliant cars.
One of the later Cressida wagons, serving as someone’s home on wheels.
Are there lots of Prii in Eugene? Did you have to ask. Even two green gen1 versions randomly found together.
This is one of my favorite pictures ever. I was shooting these three parked Prii with a Continental Mark V in the back, when another one photo bombs the shot. Yes; there are a lot of these here.
I saw this one around town on the streets for ages before I finally caught up with it. It’s a plum.
This Corolla Liftback and ’72 Cadillac hung around in this spot for many years. I’ve written up the Caddy; it was my very first CC. The last time we walked by recently, the Caddy was gone. The Toyota outlasted it….symbolic.
During the Great Hatchback Era, even the staid Corona got one.
This one’s for long-time CC reader MikePDX, who used to have one.
An older Land Cruiser sporting a nice shade of green.
Another classic Corolla wagon.
And the Land Cruiser behind it.
A Camry wagon with twin wipers on the back window. These were/are rather highly coveted, as there were no more Camry wagons after it.
I probably showed you this before, but a foam-covered Toyota Chinook is something that deserves a second look.
A Eugene “ricer”.
I shot this late Corona wagon just the other day. And there’s a Corolla wagon in the parking lot. There’s not as many really old Toyotas around anymore, but we haven’t seen the last of them yet. Which means there’s plenty of material for another Toyota Week. Or two.
Toyota week has been great, they do or did make really good cars mostly, Ive owned many and even the Corona diesel wagon I bought at auction that was on its last legs responded to a couple of new parts and some bodging and ran well for a couple more years it brought home stuff ranging from another Hillman for spares to tonnes of firewood with the rear springs on the stoppers and never let me down one of the best $300 I ever spent, no pics of it, though another in manual lives two doors away.
I loved Toyota week! It was different and refreshing!
We had a ’94 Camry LE Wagon with 3rd seat & 4-cyl/automatic, which was a bit weak when loaded. In hindsight we should’ve either got the V6 or manual. On a couple occasions it elicited remarks from passerby, so it is indeed a rare bird. They were built in Indiana, & also exported to Europe.
The power antenna mechanism eventually failed but we never bothered to fix it, not worth the trouble.
Re the Prius, it surprised me to find that the Prius V’s front is slightly different from the liftback.
I’d say that foam covered jobby is owned by a guy who does flat roof repair.
That Celica GT liftback is the bomb!!
Actually, a woman who lives in it quite a bit. It takes very little to keep it warm!
I thoroughly enjoyed Toyota week; great posts from all the authors.
Even though I live in the SF Bay Area, I don’t notice the same number and variety of elderly Toyotas that have been captured in Eugene. The orange Celica liftback and the MR2 really call out to me.
Some year soon I’d like to get down to Long Beach to attend the Japanese Classic Car Show to see the vintage cars there, and ideally then go to see the Toyota museum before it moves, too.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to Toyota week. A great week’s worth of evening reading.
BTW, the orange Celica coupe pic appears to have been photobombed by a man in a matching jacket and a large “C” for Celica shaped Bush. Nice.
Hate to see Toyota week end, but it is called week. The green Land “Crusher” calls to me.
I know Toyota is officially leaving town, but I still see the parking lots full on Western avenue. I also hope that Toyota’s presence just down the 405 in Long Beach will remain, Airflite FBO at the airport and the name sponsorship of the Long Beach Grand Prix every April.
That SR5 coupe IS still an AE86… Doesn’t matter if it’s GTS fuel injected 4age or SR5 carbureted version 4ac.
Some JDM and Euro versions carried different engines.
AE85/AE86, is the chassis number of the 2dr RWD model, regardless of engine.
* We call em, AE86, bodywise, anyways.
But, without the twin cam FI, original or swapped, it’s really not as fun. That’s where the true beauty of the AE86 is. 😛
It’s a 30 year old car, condition is tops and you have to ask at what point an engine swap becomes easier than rust repair.
I also like that the one Paul spotted has correct original wheels and US bumpers!
Not following you, but, I like that original SR5 coupe, that Paul posted, just the way it is.
I had the same AE85/86 Corolla, an 84 SR5, one female owner from California, back in 1999-2000.
I miss that car, although I like the 4age… I didn’t mind the 4ac, it wasn’t very quick, but it was economical and reliable.
I never had a problem getting it sideways… Wish I never sold it, but I found another AE86, a few towns away.
The cool part is it’s owned by a friend of mine, who is a true Toyota guy… He also owns an original 78 Celica GT coupe and a 2002 Avalon.
My favourite Toyotas shown here are the first gen Cressida, the FJ55 Land Cruser, the FJ60 Land Cruiser, the 1st generation Celica and Celica Supra. I like the final generation Corolla and AE86 Corolla GT-S. I like the first generation Prius.
I too like the first gen Prius. We sold our 2001 just last year and I still miss it. What a perfect hamstermobile to scoot around town with. Totally changed my view on what is modern and practical. That and tesla. Although I wouldn’t ever spend so much as a tesla is worth for a car, there are too many fruit bats looking to nick it up at wal mart, but the tech, like the Prius is damn cool and livable. Still like the weirdness of the original Prius and was hoping for its appearance in Toyota week, but maybe Paul is holding out due to the mere mention of the model seems to stir up the haters. Too bad! But still hoping !
I did a CC on the Prius a couple years back: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-asian/curbside-classic-2001-toyota-prius-toyotas-big-hybrid-gamble-pays-off/ I thought a bout re-running it, but we’ve had a lot of fresh content.
There’s a lot of other Toyotas we’ve done before in the archives. It’s impossible to be comprehensive in one week.
Here is the definitive parting shot to Toyota Week…
Yes, Toyota week has been great, especially learning about Toyota’s early history and the details of their rise to the top. A great job by all!
My two old Camrys (91 and 92) are still going strong at about almost 180,000 miles each and they are a joy to drive! From what I hear they have relatively low mileage for their age and I’m sure they’ll live up to their reputation and reach another 100,000 miles easy!
That Corona wagon has to be a real rarity, did they even sell all that many when they were new?
Of the cars pictured above, I’d take a Corolla wagon….if it has a manual transmission. After that? That grey Corolla liftback, even though it’s not the (much) more desirable SR5 model.
The Corona really played second fiddle to the Corolla as soon as that came out, and Corona sales were not all that strong in latter years. It was overly conservative in design and other qualities, and it appealed mainly to hard-cor Toyota buyers who valued its reliability.
It wasn’t until the Camry that Toyota started a serious assault on the heart of the mid-sized market, and that took a while.
I really dig that plum of a Celica. It’s my favorite color for a sporty car. Even the guy on the sidewalk wears a color coordinated coat.
I dig the Celica and that crazy Land Cruiser…that one is a first for me.
Nice array of Toyotas Paul; are there many Land Cruiser 40-series in Eugene?
I can offer a slightly later Corona wagon, that was sold alongside the early Camry.
A 1978 Toyota Hiace converted into a camper van
Not so much anymore as there used to be. That goes for all of the older cars… 🙁
Fair enough, although I don’t think the 40-series numbers are declining much here, those that survived are being looked after
And a Land Cruiser 80-series converted into a pickup. It has a shorter wheelbase than the HJ75 or HJ79 pickup (5″ or 13″) and has a slightly extended cab and coil springs instead of leafs.
So much goodness to choose from! I think my Fav’s are the ’85 Cressida Wagon, then probably the Corolla with the twin round lights and then the plum of a Celica…But then the MR2 calls out to me as well, as do the Corolla Liftback as well as the ’75 wagon…Can’t choose just one. Or even half-dozen, they are all interesting.
I loved Toyota week ! .
So much info I’d never heard before .
Cool pix too , thanx Paul .
-Nate
This week has been Toyo-Ace. Woody Cressida for me please.
My two entrants for Toyota Week… My 81 TE70 and my 83 AE70 Corollas.
Would’ve liked to do a COAL article on em.
Loved Toyota Week! Refreshing and informative ;D
Thanks to everyone who contributed to Toyota Week! I especially liked Paul’s finale outtakes. A partial list of my COALs includes: ’88 Toyota Truck, ’91 Camry, ’11 Lexus RX hybrid.
Very cool! I’ve never seen a Toyota product older than ’88 or ’89 until these articles. The rust monster is strong in these parts.
I’m seeing a pretty strong family resemblance between the Camry Artcar and my own 92 Prizm. The same basic lines are there, but the Camry is admittedly a bit more sleek than my Geo. BTW, Toyota week was great, from beginning to end. My own experience as the owner of a bowtie-wearing Toyota owner has been very positive. The only time in 24 years that Betsy has “failed to proceed” was when a would-be thief left the door ajar and ran down the battery! I will take that kind of automotive boredom any day of the week. My dull boring appliance really takes care of me.
I really enjoyed Toyota week Paul. Some really great stories, thanks.
Toyota Week was awesome. Brought back a lot of memories, with me, I owned a ’70 Mark II hardtop, and my brother owned a ’70 Corolla Sprinter. Would love to see another, pre 1985 only, with an emphasis on pickup’s, Land Cruisers, and Hino. Just my 2 cents worth. Nice job this past week guys. 🙂
Wow, Paul, you found a fastback gen4 Celica like my ’87! All I ever see in Portland are notchbacks, which were much less common than fastbacks at the time.
Very nice to see it again. Mine was dark blue with custom alloys. Bought it new, drove it hard 11 years until I needed a car with a real back seat. (I got an HP motor pool Taurus to hold me over until the Prius came out.). Great mix of style, performance and practicality. Thanks!
Mike ;
How did you like the Prius ? .
-Nate
Very much, thanks! I drove the 2001 1st-gen Prius from 2000 to 2010, about 150K miles, traded it for a 2010 3rd-gen Prius I’m driving now, 70K miles so far. License plate “LOW CO2”.
I like the combination of high technology, extreme economy, medium size, styling and reliability. Two anecdotes about the 2010: 1) Portland to Salt Lake City 800 mi. in one day at 65-75 mph, comfortable and 48 mpg. 2) Got two Christmas trees, 8-foot and 6-foot, inside the car with both of us in the front seats.
Thanx Mike ;
We’re still running a few , I don’t like them but quiet and plenty of room front and rear for this 6′ er .
I always ask for a truck , just wondering as they don’t seem to give any troubles .
-Nate
Prius:
For: 50+ mpg achievable if kept in Eco Mode & below the Power band in the display. Rear legroom comparable to other C-class sedans.
Against: Less useful space than conventional cars, esp. shallow hatch floor & not as many places for small items. Rear headroom barely enough for 6′ person (Prius V much better). Electric steering not very communicative, probably the main reason they’re labeled Boring. Nav system map nice, but inferior to Smart Phone apps for optimal route. Can’t use magnetic sign on aluminum hatch!
Owner’s Manual exceeds 600 pages, not counting the generic Nav/entertainment manual. Good bedtime reading.☺ BTW, just what mode is it in if neither in Eco, EV, or Power? Manual doesn’t say.
I looked at buying one of those years ago. A silver ’86 liftback, looked just like that one posted except it had factory alloys (or perhaps styled steel wheels).
Didn’t end up buying it as it needed some suspension work, but it was such a nice car. i was disheartened.
Toyota week ? This is so blah I’m thinking…but wait a minute- our DD is an 01 Rav4- the single best [read “reliable”] vehicle ever..and yes it is an appliance but so what? And we came thisclose about 5 times to buying a JDM Toyota “Cabin Cruiser”-Japan’s superb one-up on the Westy… And by the way, thank you Paul for this amazing space that you have created!
Nice series of outtakes–I particularly like the orange Celica, green FJ55, Corona hatchback and the late Cressida wagon. Those alloys are a treat.
Speaking of alloys, aren’t the ones on that orange Corona wagon actually Datsun pieces? If not, they’re nearly identical to a style offered on the 810 Maxima.
Was the twin rear wiper a Toyota thing specifically? I’ve never seen that before on any rear glass, but there it is on both the late Cressida and late Camry wagons.