Toyota Corona (1964 – 1969) Review

Toyota Corona (1964 – 1969) At A Glance

4/5

+Reliable, solid and engineered to last, plenty of classic Japanese appeal

-Body was susceptible to corrosion, not really large enough for 21st century Europeans

The Toyota Corona was a mainstay of the Japanese company's range since 1957. It was was typically Japanese in the way that it constantly evolved to meet the demands of its customers. Radically revised during the following three decades, there was always a Corona model in Toyota's line-up well into the 1980s. Always intended to be a staid family saloon, by the mid-1960s, it had become Toyota's most successful car, earning it valuable income to develop other models. When the third-generation Corona went on sale in 1964 it represented a big leap forward in terms of engineering, with monocoque construction and a new 92bhp 1591cc four-cylinder engine.

A big seller in its home market and considerably more export-friendly than the company’s previous efforts, the Corona made many friends in the USA, where it was voted Imported Car of the Year in 1969 – and in 1971, the next generation version was given the Car of the Year accolade. The fourth generation car had been launched in 1970, with a new 1707cc engine rated at 95bhp or 105bhp depending on compression ratio. To maximise sales, a whole range of bodystyles were offered, ranging from a saloon, a coupé, a hatchback and an estate.