SOTW: Toyota Crown
Shed finds living proof that the Japanese do have a history of luxury cars
The Japanese luxury car, in short, has very little in the way of heritage behind it. And that's always been a problem for the emergent far-eastern luxury brands, because it's history, provenance and breeding that has traditionally sold luxury cars. Which is something, say the Europeans, that these Japanese Johnny-come-latelys don't have.
It might look like an early 80s American cop car (not necessarily a bad thing) crossed with, well, a Datsun Bluebird saloon (not really a good thing), but this is actually a Toyota Crown - part of a model lineage that stretches all the way back to 1955.
The Crown initially appeared as a taxi, but became larger and more luxurious throughout the course of its various incarnations until it was considered to be a pukka full-size luxury saloon.
Beneath the bonnet of this particular car lurks a perfectly respectable 2.8-litre straight six (a version of the 5M-GE motor that is most familiar from the Celica Supra Mk2), that, back in 1981, would have but out a reasonable if not electrifying 145bhp.
The car's luxury credentials are further cemented by such impressively unusual creature comforts as rear-seat air-con controls, separate rear-seat radio controls, an auto-reverse cassette player, central locking and even a remote boot opener.
Nevertheless, this wafty Toyota looks like it could be a little gem. It's allegedly undergone a fairly recent restoration and there are bills, MOT certificates and main dealer stamps stacked up all the way back to day one. It doesn't say whether it has a current tax and ticket, but we like it sufficiently that we'll choose to believe it has.
And even if it hasn't, with a price tag of £595, you could certainly tax it - and probably put it through its MOT - and stay well within Shed's £1k budget.
Advert is reproduced below
TOYOTA CROWN MS112 £595
TOYOTA CROWN BEST IN UK YOU WILL NOT FIND BETTER For Sale (1981)
THIS HAS HAD 1 OWNER FROM NEW WITH JUST 91000 MILES
WITH FULL UP TO DATE MAIN DEALER TOYOTA SERVIVE HISTORY
ALL THE PREVIOUS MOTS FROM NEW SINCE DAY 1
U WILL NOY FIND A CLEANER AND MOST ORIGINAL EXAMPLE ANYWHERE
PROBABLY THE BEST EXAMPLE IN THE WHOLE OF UK
THE MS112 CROWN IS ONE OF THE LAST MODELS TO BE LAUNCHED IN UK SINCE THE 1960'S
AS YOU ARE ALL AWARE HOW LUXURY THESE CROWNS WHERE SINCE THE 60'S, EVERY MODEL GOT BETTER WITH MORE TO OFFER FOR VERY LITTLE MONEY.
THE MS112 WAS INDEED A TRUE STYLISH 80'S CAR WHICH HAD ALOT TO OFFER IN ITS DAY
THE 2.8 LITRE ENGINE WAS A SIX CYLINDER SINGLE OHC,WATER- COOLED,SEVEN BEARING CRANKSHAFT WHICH WAS FUEL INJECTED AND HAD A ELECTRONIC IGNITION PRODUCING 145BHP :-)
IT HAS BEEN RESTORED A FEW YEARS AGO BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER WHOS HAD THE CAR SINCE 2000, I HAVE SOME PICTURES FROM WHEN IT WAS GETTING RESTORED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER, COMES WITH ALOT OF HISTORY INCLUDING THE MAIN DEALER SERVICE BOOK, PREVIOUS BILLS AND INVOICES FROM TOYOTA, THREE TOYOTA REPAIR MANUALS ENGINE 5M MANUAL, CHASSIS MANUAL AND A BODY MANUAL
THE CROWN IS FULL OF GADGETS INSIDE COMES WITH POWER STEERING,LUXURY SOFT VELOUR SEATS THE DRIVERS SEAT CAN BE TILTED FOR MORE OR LESS THIGH SUPPORT, FOUR HEADREST WHICH CAN BE ADJUSTED FOR HEIGHT THE FRONT TWO CAN BE MOVED FORWARD AND BACKWARD GIVING YOU ALL THE COMFORT YOU NEED.
YOU HAVE YOUR OWN LIGHTING IN THE REAR SEATS OWN A/C CONTROL, DOCUMENT POUCHES IN THE BACK OF FRONT SEATS YOUR OWN RADIO CONTROL KNOB AND A CIGAR LIGHTER, TINTED WINDOWS FROM MANUFACTURER, MW/LW/FM SELF SEEKING RADIO, AUTO REVERSE CASSETTE PLAYER, ELECTRIC WINDOWS, CENTRAL DOOR LOCKING, REMOTE BOOT OPENER, HALOGEN HEADLAMPS THE LIST GOES ON TOO MUCH TO LIST THE MS112 IS A PROPER 80'S LUXURY MOTER, NOT MANY LEFT IN THIS CONDITION
CAR STARTS FIRST TIME EVERY TIME, DRIVES LIKE IT SHOULD, STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL WHEEL TRIMS AND NUMBER PLATES . THERE IS A LEAK IN THE BACK BOX EXHAUST APART FROM THAT I CANT FAULT IT SO IF YOU ARE AFTER A GOOD SOLID CROWN HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO OWN ONE, ALL INNER AND BOOT DOORS HAVE BEEN TREATED SEE PICS.
REDUCED FOR QUICK SALE AS NEED MONEY URGENTLY
it was a great car to be in - my father had a chrysler 180 which i thought was the dogs until i went in this.
I think it was a previous generation to this one though....
my advice if you want retro jap, go for something from the 1970's.. most looked s
t back then but now they really do have a certain something.. and some (like the MK1 Toyota Celica) are beautiful.. worth a look IMO
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