While loved for its rear wheel drive configuration by the tuner crowd, Toyota’s Cressida sedan also provides a lens into the pre-Lexus era when Toyota made compelling luxury cars with big bodies and six cylinders. This 1983 example is a decent survivor car, with good sheetmetal, some attractive period alloys and none of the wretched mods that have befallen many of these Japanese Cadillacs. Find it here on eBay with no action on a $2,250 opening bid.
The Cressida, particularly in the 1983 model year, became a dumping ground for Supra components. Even the factory’s five-speed manual was an option, but those cars are exceedingly rare. Think about it: what European manufacturer was renown for dropping in I-6 motors with manual transmissions in even its flagship models? At one time, BMW – but both companies have fought to make the inline six cylinders a distant memory in the move towards all-out efficiency.
1983 was a good year to buy a Cressida, as the engine was upgraded with dual overhead cams, Toyota’s new TCCS electronic ignition, and revised intake runners. The changes yielded respectable power output of 143 b.h.p. in 1983 and increased again to 156 b.h.p. in 1984. The seller notes that this example “drives like a dream” and that the motor makes good power with the potential to tweak it for more. This is true – you’ll find numerous webpages telling you how to boost your Cressida’s power output.
Automatic seatbelts – yes, it is good these are gone. I have to say, I found them endearing at first on my 1988 Subaru XT6 project, but the charm wore off quickly. This Cressida looks like a respectable survivor with no rust or modifications. The A/C still works, and the seller is seemingly presenting this as a car with few, if any, issues. If that’s the case, then the opening bid is more than reasonable to take this one home – but even then, a few grand more would still represent a fair sale price for the next owner.
Those bumpers…Yikes ! Reminds me of waiting in line at the amusement park to ride the bumper cars with the hopes of creaming my brothers :) BTW, Japanese, and Cadillac are terms that should NEVER be used in comparison within the same sentence.
There are a number of merits to cars like these as a “fair weather” daily driver. The Cressida, recent early 70’s LTD and early 80’s Crown Victoria are inexpensive, good shape, easy to service and different. Drive and enjoy for 2 or 3 years…get at least half your money back and move on to something else.
I regret not buying a last gen, burgandy sub 100k, Trofeo for $2500 a couple years ago…good paint, leather and. 3.8.
Be thankful that You passed on the Trofeo.
My old boss had one of these that he had me work on for him since I was cheap. I realized soon in to this Cressida that it was so much more than what I thought was just a fancy Camry or corolla . I did a tune up on it first and was surprised it had a dbl o/h cam 6 cyl. And it did have a 5spd. Was pretty fast.
He gave it to his son who crashed it within a month. Wished he would have offered it to me. But I have been blessed to have MANY cars through the years. This is just one that I got to play with and make a few bucks.
I worked on many of these during my years of doing state inspections for a local Toyota dealer. I don’t remember ever seeing one with major problems. They were smooth, powerful, and comfortable. This looks like a good value as a daily driver, and I expect we’ll see bids coming in as the auction nears an end.
Same steering wheel as the ’86 Camry. Now that was a great car.
I worked as a lot attendant at a Toyota dealership in 1981. The president and general manager both drove these cars. I had my share testing them out too. Really nice drivers.
I as a kid detailed a ton of these, those bumpers would drink a quart of armor-all !
I bought one of these in 1984. It was charcoal gray with a dark brown leather interior. We drove it for ten years and then gave it to our daughter who promptly totaled it. The only problem we ever had was a bad A/C compressor and it was under warranty. By far the best overall vehicle we ever owned before and since. Hated those automatic seat belts.
Sweet looking Cressida. I’ve always liked this generation Cressida. It’s a shame it was discontinued in favour of the front-wheel drive Avalon.
My parents bought one new in ’84, I spent many miles in the driver seat, and it was indeed quick for the period, had a sport option for the trans I think, but after a year or two it had lost some of it’s quickness…never knew why…comfortable, but not terribly pretty. As a previous post mentioned…the Camry was the hot ticket at the time, and survived it with it’s durable simplicity and bulletproof 4 cylinder package.
When these came out I knew the Japanese would eventually rule more than the econobox segment. Very impressive then and now, if not the car for me personally. You could buy this today and drive it for years.
Yes…they were great against what the American cars were of the same years…drove them when they were new…both my sis and girl at the time. How about that auto seat belt ? The foreign make’s were still taking away as they had in the 70’s and would do for years into the century….and still do.
Yes, that auto seat belt was a PITA! I remember being disappointed the car didn’t talk to you like the Nissan (datsun) Maxima did…hard to call a winner between those two.
We had a new ’84 Cressida wagon in the extended family. Now that wagon with the DOHC Supra engine would haul. Contemporary Volvo wagons were trucks in comparison. The Cressida was even competitive with contemporary BMW 3-Series. Yes, the automatic seat belts were annoying.
Odd that it has the auto seatbelt in ’83. Those didn’t come along in most cars until the late 80s.
I have a friend with one of these for sale at the moment, the old guy who owned it passed away and his son being a mechanic has put about 6,000 bucks into the mechanicals, virtually genuine new everything, etc. and the car is perfect, he can’t even get $2500 for it, perhaps I should check it out but the old problem is, do I need it and where do I put it. Anyone interested, it’s in Australia though, I’d say 2 grand and it’s yours, plus shipping.
No it doesn’t have the auto seatbelts, silver grey with burgundy velour trim.
Re the Cressida, it’s also RHD and the bumpers don’t stick out as far as the US version.
Sold for $22,500. I bet this was an awesome car, and I would have been interested in it had I seen it before it had sold. This reminds me of a Toyota Corona that I owned. I bought it my first semester of college it was a 1981 four-door Corona sedan. That car had the 20R engine in it, and was great to drive . It was carbureted and would always start off even the dead of winter and never had to turn it over more than once or twice maybe on rare occasions. Unfortunately living in New York the rust got to the body and gas tank before any Mechanicals failed. It was a great car in retrospect I wish I had hold on to it till I learned more about repairing body working right like I do now. My Corona was a feisty with a 4 cylinder engine and damn quick and had a lot of power I thought. I’m sure this car was a beast.
I had a new 84 and it was one of the best, most reliable cars I’ve ever had! Drove it daily for > 20 years and > 225k miles. Only had to redo the auto transmission at 200k!