In the world of heavy-duty utility vehicles, one might think of a Toyota Landcruiser or Land Rover Defender. A Jeep Rubicon, perhaps even an H1 Hummer. But a Corolla wagon? Surely you jest. I jest not, as this is a JDM Corolla that is otherwise known as a heavy-duty delivery vehicle. They could carry a crap-ton of weight and even came with a solid rear axle and HD leaf springs! Throw in the diesel engine and you have a vehicle that seems like the ultimate in durability and reliability. Find it here on PostalCars.com in Blue Ridge, Georgia for $8,900.
While there’s an influx of JDM vehicles coming into the U.S. at any given moment, most of them focus on the flash in the pan vehicles: sports cars, SUVs, and the like. Rarely do we see something so unusual as a Corolla wagon with a 900 lb. carrying capacity. The seller notes it has just 53,000 miles, which is pretty typical for many mundane Japanese-market vehicles. Between the Shranken law (stringent vehicle inspections), traffic congestion, and the country’s excellent public transportation network, vehicle owners can have a difficult time justifying the expense of owning an older car.
So that means here in the U.S., buyers can effectively order a nearly-new Japanese car that meets the 25 year rule requirements for importing a non-U.S. market car and driving it legally on local roads. You have to adjust to right-hand drive steering (it’s not that hard) but aside from that, there’s no real penalty to deal with. This unusual Corolla is just $8,900 and comes with the legendary 2C diesel engine and an interior that looks like it’s seen barely any use. Despite being built for hauling big loads (relative to its size), the Corolla has been kept in good shape overall.
The fact that this compact wagon has the suspension lifted from the Toyota Hilux pickup out back is remarkable when you look at it and barely give it a second glance. The seller notes it comes with upgraded factory brakes and cooling capacity, another sign the factory was counting on owners doing more than their share of heavy lifting with this humble wagon. If it were mine, I’d find some kayak racks and auxiliary lighting for the front end and call it a day. Have you ever seen a commuter wagon with a beefy suspension like this?
Lots of Commuter wagons have beefed up suspensions. Especially Taxi ones for the Handicapped
For some weird reason, I like this! I’ve always been a little partial to wagons, but you don’t see ones like this every day. Usually it’s a Mercedes of VW. I’d own it!
I’ve bought 2 vehicles from this seller – he picks some good stuff. If I didn’t just buy a truck from him, I’d have already bought this wagon.
Nice parts delivery vehicle. I like this, seems like a lot of money, though I think that about most cars.
Not mentioned in the write up but in addition to the HD suspension, the Diesel engine and a 5 speed, ITS ALSO ALL WHEEL DRIVE
Yea a real special tig , toyota diesel 4wd, we dont have the ee20 soob here yet do we or these rigs, i googled them about 6 months ago.why? Govt? Oh wait greenhouse gas,
I ran one of these, back when they were a current model, as a courier vehicle in Auckland, NZ. I ran it past 1 million km with nothing going wrong apart from an A/C compressor failing and the seat covering and foam wearing out, easily fixed by swapping in another seat. I would probably still have it, if it hadn’t been written off by being rear-ended in traffic. But with 1.3 million km (900,000miles it was beyond economic repair. It still had the original clutch.
the expensive diesel fuel, this sz package, all time AWD, the RHD urban…no thanks, at least 4 strikes.
Thats Y they got’em the other ways for us (in USA). Too small a market 4 it here.
I been lookin 4 the other one (“our” final ’90s jap station wagons).
Steering wheel on the right. No thanks.
Gotta have your McDonalds.
i like it!
The strict Japanese inspection is called Shaken.
4wd, Diesel, RHD…….perfect.
Manual transmission, no Thank you. If it were an automatic I could get very excited.
As an owner of 5 RHD JDMs in California and speaking from experience, it takes less than a day to get used to RHD.
Some rural mailman is salivating at the prospect of this one!
i have a1994 toyota corolla wagon where do you buy parts for this corolla?
The internet, available through the computer you are using.
Wooops! Diesel. Um… Nope. Remember the problems VW had with theirs!?!? Never could pass Vehicle Emissions Test!?!?…no matter what they did?!?! Not sorry, but, I’m out. If it were LHD and regular gasoline, then I might consider this.
The whole point of diesel is efficiency. Also, depending on your locality, a 1993 diesel vehicle is going to have to meet such low standards there will not be an issue. The VW problem was how expensive it was going to be to meet NEW standards so they cheated.
The 1C, (1800cc), and 2C, (2000cc), diesels fitted to these cars are ‘old school’ diesels without any electronic controls, turbocharger(s), multivalve heads or direct injection or ultra-high pressure injection, or any emissions controls such as particulate filters or exhaust catalysts.
They are 1970s technology, not that powerful, but super, super reliable. 73 hp (54 kW) at 4700 rpm, and torque 97 lb·ft (132 N·m) at 3000 rpm. In my use over million plus km I got 52mpg.
These things are still being used as taxis in Peru to this day.