While the 1st Generation of the Toyota Corona Mark II remained in production from 1968 until 1972, the Mark II Pickup carried over through until 1974. Today they are not a common sight, so finding one in reasonable condition can be quite an accomplishment. Given the fact that this one is right-hand drive, I would assume that it has been privately imported from Japan. I really have to thank Barn Finder misterlou for spotting this beauty for us. Located in Seattle, Washington, you will find the Corona listed for sale here on Craigslist. The asking price for this unusual little Japanese classic has been set at $6,885.
The external appearance of the Toyota is quite good, and while it could quite happily be driven as it currently sits, there are some rust spots that should be attended to sooner rather than later. There is some rust present in the frame rail under the driver’s seat, along with some showing on the inner rocker on the same side. The front of the hood also has some spots, but the rest of the vehicle looks quite good. The Watanabe wheels suit the Toyota quite well, but whether they would stay or go would be very much a matter of personal taste.
The interior of the Corona has held up quite well over the years. The driver’s seat has a split in it, but otherwise, the interior looks quite good. The door trims and headliner seem to be in good condition, while the dash is almost impossible to fault. There is some quite noticeable wear on the wheel, but this could either be restored, replaced, or a wrap could be fitted to hide the problem.
We don’t get any engine photos, but we do know that the car is fitted with the 1,587cc Toyota 12R engine, which is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. The owner says that the Toyota runs, drives, and stops well, but that the steering is a bit vague. This should not present a lot of drama to fix, as the Pickup utilizes all of the standard Corona Mark II steering components, which are quite easy to source. The Toyota also comes with a nice little cache of used and NOS parts, including a couple of clutches, some steering and brake components, along with some lights, lenses, and brake components.
There is no doubt that this Corona Mark II Pickup is something just a little bit different to your average Japanese classic. There’s some work to be performed to return it to its best, but it is the sort of vehicle that is guaranteed to start conversations wherever it goes. If you are like me and have a real soft spot for Japanese vehicles, then this could represent a great little classic to park in your driveway.
You have featured this before.
Why oh why can’t the rest of the world start driving on the right side of the road?
What makes you think that because America drives on the right side that every other country should follow suit? We here in UK think that you guys drive on the WRONG side of the road. As for this pickup, in South Africa they were known as “rust buckets”.
Hey, I’ve driven in some Central American countries where one drove on the right side, left side or even the center depending, I guess, on your mood and circumstances!
Had a close relative of this back in the day, a MK II wagon. Had no idea there was ever a pickup. The things you see on Barn Finds.
It sold last November on Bring a Trailer for $5,600. Looks like the sale fell through, apparently.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-toyota-corona-2/
Brakeservo, as you are most likely aware not only is that style of driving is typical of many Asian countries, but is all too frequently seen in all the larger California metropolitan areas as well.
Lucky youse guys….here in Texas people drive where they darn well please ! Nice truck….those sure would have been a Luv-courier beater !
As Fred W says I had absolutlely no idea that such a vehicle existed. I wonder what production numbers were for the US market.
US production numbers?? Easy – ZERO. Thank you chicken tax.
If you’ve never driven a rhd vehicle with a stick you’re missing out on one of life’s greatest adventures for a car guy/girl. You have to actually think about what you’re doing when you’re behind the wheel while making carnival music sounds, ex and I drove England with a Vauxhall with a stick, and I put our rental car in the kitty litter at Creg ny Baa on the IOM when driving/throttling the course, all good fun. As I’m a lifelong motorcycle racer you guys will get my IOM mention, but all in all rhd is a blast, and this little truck (after some serious welding) would be a great little driver.
For decades I have driven RHD nearly exclusively in USA. If you can scratch your, uh, nose with your left hhand, you can shift gears.
I have a RHD Japanese sports car with a manual transmission (my third) and in a very short time am more comfortable driving it then LHD. It seems more natural on the right side. Those that haven’t actually tried it shouldn’t knock it.
DUDE, sign me up. I will scare all the Amish with this thing.
I recently sold my Morris Minor RHD Traveller. It was easy and comfortable to drive, the shifting fell right to hand.
My favorite story about it. I was driving in downtown Milwaukee during the Harley 105th party. I was stopped at a light, center lane. A large Harley pulled up on my right, the driver looked over a couple of times and said “What are you doing on this side?”
I looked at him and said “It’s too windy on the other side”.
He said “OK’, and pulled away.
I also used to drive with my Bulldog “Flash” in the left seat and made sure I pulled up on the right of people at intersections just to see their reactions.
Sometimes the fun of driving is not the car, but the experience.
People’s reactions are certainly funny, once on an extended highway trip my wife on the left side was obviously sleeping. Driver in the car next to us didn’t notice I was driving in the right side. His panic was palpable but once I waved to him it was all over. Another time someone asked me why the car was RHD. I told him it happened after my wife took a night class on “Car Care for Women” and she drove it to the class to change the oil . . .
I’ve been at the seller’s shop in Seattle and this is an interesting little truck. I’m 6’2″ and it was fairly comfortable to sit in it. The shop sells all sorts of weird/interesting stuff from Japan.
I used to belong to a hearse owners club out of the Chicago area. A member of that club owned a 1948 Rolls Royce hearse, right hand drive. He used to prop a fake skeleton in the left hand passenger seat & drive around like that, freaking people out. He once told me toll booths are great fun for him lol.
As for this Toyota, I love it! Anyone who knows me knows I am drawn to anything unusual or quirky. This absolutely fits that description!
That Rolls hearse arrangement would be fun in the HOV Lanes!! Would they check to be sure how many OCCUPANTS were actually inside it!!??!?! 😳