A Cortina of similar vintage and condition would have been £££s more.

Whilst the styling may not be to everyone's taste, I think it would get more conversations started than a 20 year old RAV4.

Edited by Chris M on 09/03/2024 at 17:03

I don't know what vintage that one is ORB, but the one sold was earlier (and less easy on the eye).

It's the previous model BBD and in much better nick.

www.mathewsons.co.uk/auction/lot/104-1974-toyota-c...1

If i had the funds and a warehouse i'd have a whole range of older Japanese cars, not just Toyotas.

Every experience with Toyotas however, from looking after a few for people during the 80's mainly, to those i've owned over the years, to delivering many hundreds of new ones out of the Burnaston factory and Portbury import centre, seeing first hand the difference in attitude to QC compared to other mass manufacturers, plus my experiences of the main dealers both as a customer and when delivering new cars to them, its difficult to find fault and difficult to find a bad attitude anywhere.

Even my most recent visit to the parts desk, last year, for gaskets etc for cleaning out the EGR valve on my Landcruiser, the chap could not have been more helpful, bearing in mind the vehicle is now 19 years old all the gaskets reqd were there the following day and he gave me the trade 10% discount...they actually seem enthusiastic to help do their bit to keep those older motors on the road, maybe its simple good business sense helping keep older versions going which can only encourage new buyer's confidence in the product.

I have a great deal of respect for Toyota, but were they reliable in the 70s? Genuine question not rhetorical.

They've always been reliable on the whole, that's why there are so many old ones (like the Corona in question) still happily chugging along in countries with dry climates.

Though obviously back then cars were so much simpler, so less to go wrong!

I have a great deal of respect for Toyota, but were they reliable in the 70s? Genuine question not rhetorical.

SWMBo's Corona in Baghdad has NEVER broken down. It is still serviced regularly with oil changes as recommended at 5000 miles and is checked over yearly. It has been through a few batteries since her father bought it as an 18th birthday present.

The one problem was a flat tyre and two elderly gentlemen stopped and changed the wheel for her. Not as new, but not far off it.

Edited by Orb>> on 10/03/2024 at 13:46

I have a great deal of respect for Toyota, but were they reliable in the 70s? Genuine question not rhetorical.

The ones i looked after, including Corrolla Liftback, Carina, Supra 3 litre and a few Datsun Bluebirds were an eye opener for me, where i was on first name terms at the Ford parts desk and was always under British motors fettling the things, the Japanese cars only ever needed routine servicing (itself a joy because designed to be worked on) and the usual friction materials.

My home town saw an influx of mainly Indian immigrants in the 70's they almost all ran Japanese cars, often riddled with rust but every day they started first time and everything still worked, many British cars you were praying they would start on a cold morning, i learned much from those people and not just about cars, ie how well they respected and looked after their elderly folk compared to too many Brits.

My first Japanese car was a Bluebird estate the 1.8 RWD square shaped model think it was on a Y suffix reg BEL725Y rings a bell, paid £1750 for it from the auction @ 18 months old, ex company car 75k miles, my dad had the previous more curvy shaped Bluebird estate, they proved completely reliable.

Yes they could rot but so could everything else.