By Jim Brennan
Well, as the Hooniverse Classic Toyota Weekend winds down, I thought I would show you the classic Toyota everyday working vehicle that is only now achieving some of the notoriety its due, the Toyota Corona. This happens to be a 1969 model, and it was in a collection of a Toyota connoisseur.
According to the eBay listing:
Up for auction a really special and almost impossible to find 1969 Toyota Corona 1900 Deluxe sedan with on 27,480 “documented” original miles! This amazing survivor was purchased from it’s original owner by a local collector who brought it to us. The original owner decided not to spend the additional $70.00 for a radio and clock! Those deleted options kept the original price under the $2,000.00 in 1969.
The exterior is in all-around excellent original condition. The paint shines like new. There is no rust, damage or blemishes anywhere. The same is to be said about the chrome, wheel covers and glass. The interior is equally as amazing. Like the outside, the inside is also completely original and in superior condition. The seats, door panels, headliner, carpeting, dash and instrument package are all near perfect. The original numbers matching 4 cyl. engine and 4 speed transmission preform like they did in 1969. The car runs strong, straight, quiet, and stops on a dime.
Early Japanese cars have become very collector worthy. And unlike the muscle cars that are declining in value, these rare cars are steadily rising in the collector market. There are none nicer and more original then this one! Unlike other classic car dealers who photograph their vehicles in professionally lighted studios, or on Hollywood drive ways, we at Fuzzy Dice shoot our pictures on our lot using only natural lighting and a “point and shoot” camera. So what you see is what you get.
The current bid is at $5,500 with an unmet reserve. the Buy-it-Now price is $8,500, which may be on the high side, but then again, maybe not. See the listing here.
Jeff Glucker
I had a best friend who owned a '69 Corona identical to this car except for the fact that it was never clean. The only washing it received was from Florida rain showers and the back seat area was filled with fast food wrappers, soda and beer cans, and other assorted trash. These Coronas were the first real success that Toyota had in the US and they help establish their cars as being bulletproof.
I can remember reading that the Corona was the first Japanese car designed specifically for American tastes. Earlier Japanese cars were too small to make much market penetration here but the Corona was "just right". It was bland, softly sprung and not really enthusiast centered but it did sell well.
Toyota also imported a Corona coupe in the late '60s. Thought not really sporty at all, it was pleasant looking and a true pillarless hardtop. It's been a really long time – like decades – since I've seen one on the road.
<img src="http://assets.hemmings.com/uimage/5318230-576-0.jpg?rev=1" width=500>
The Imperial Palace has a coupe for sale (actually, it's the one in the picture you posted) for $25,500.
http://karakullake.blogspot.com/2010/08/las-vegas…
If I'm not mistaken, it was a coupe like that one that Mythbusters defiled/killed. First with an ejection seat, then in a later episode burnt up with hundreds of cigarette lighters and a heat lamp.
I would have gladly given them a 1995 Honda Civic to spare the little Corona's life.
I just watched that this weekend. Someone on their staff must really enjoy pissing off enthusiasts as they do this to lots of older niche-popular cars. I'd be more impressed if they did it to modern cars as that's more likely to see happen.
I have one in my barn in Marietta Ga
Pix or GTFO, as the kids say.
Perfect. I can almost feel myself driving this.
My neighbor had a early-70s Corona coupe a long time ago. I loved the shape of it and the fact that it was the only one you would ever see on the road.
At first I was thinking how sober and functional an interior this was for 69, but then I saw that it's actually not so far off from that of a 69 Nova, just in a car that was over two feet shorter.
<img src="http://image.carcraft.com/f/25348154+w750+st0/ccrp_0908_07_z+1969_chevrolet_nova+interior.jpg" width="500">
Love that weird Japanese styling. It was odd looking in the states when it was introduced, and it's still odd looking.
I think Toyota should style more of their North American offerings in Japan, to Japanese tastes. If nothing else, it would help stave off the "beige" that has been plaguing the brand.
That is really quite clean, and its nice enough, but the buy-it-now price is too high. Sure, it might increase in value of the next few years, but would it really be worth it. Buying this would be like buying a super low yield savings bond.
Is this the best they can do? a '69??? They've been making cars since 1937. Where did all those good old Toyotas go? I only old ones I ever see on the road are about 20 years old. That doesn't show well for the reputation of the beige.
I bought a 1970 Toyota Corona, new with 15 miles on it, , in Atlanta, GA., at the new Toyota dealer
on Peachtree for $1,900, $66.33 a month for 30 months. Drove in Atlanta, moved to Miami and
Mayflower put it inside the moving van and on to Miami, then to Memphis and on to SC.
Hurricane Hugo dropped some pine trees on it and damaged the rear window in 9/89
and could not replace the window as it was mfg. on a curve and could never find the part.
My son learned to drive in it and is now 45 years old. It was their top model, white leatherette
roof, AC and auto drive. At the end, the AC was not working and the transmission…no reverse.
I told my son" go forward Son, don't get in a situation to have to back-up"
He even drove it to college for a couple of years…….what a vehicle…rp****@***oo.com
it seems the reverse gear on the 2 speed automatic was real weak always failing, is there a sure fix for that problem? anyone"
i had this exact car and color.. cept mine was the infamous ..2 speed automatic.. my first car. bought it in 1979 for $800.00 prices today for this car are just plain stupid. aug25 2015