By the end of the 1970s, lots of American families were making a switch to sensibly sized, well-built, economical, and affordable Japanese imports like this Toyota Corona, seen here in its new-for-1979 five-door Liftback guise. While there were undeniably benefits, this change often meant giving up some of the features that had been expected on large domestic models in the past—but this Corona has a surprise up its sleeve that might have helped ease the transition. Easing your transition into vintage Toyota ownership, should you be so inclined, is a modest $1,900 asking price; find it here on craigslist somewhere along the beautiful Sonoma County, California coast.

That’s right: a bench seat and column shifted automatic! How American is that. For reasons that have never been entirely clear to me, I have a 1979 Corona sales brochure in my collection, and I couldn’t remember ever having seen reference to a bench seat in it. I pulled it out and scoured it, and finally found confirmation that this is indeed original in a footnote to the table of standard and optional features on the inside back cover. Turns out, automatic versions of the base “Deluxe” Corona sedan, wagon, and Liftback came with a standard bench, while all other versions got buckets.

That bench is showing this car’s 206,000 miles (the seller notes that a seat cover is included in the sale), but otherwise this original California blue plate Corona—complete with dealer license plate frames showing it to be a lifelong Bay Area car—appears very clean and complete. It’s powered by the same famously durable 20R 2.2-liter SOHC inline four as contemporary Celicas and Hilux pickups, so needed repairs should be few and parts should be inexpensive and easy to find. The seller says, “This has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned,” and I believe it.

The Liftback bodystyle is certainly very practical—and, in my opinion, the best looking of the Corona family—and the seller notes that the fold-down rear seat has enabled them to camp in the car comfortably. That, uh, vivid burgundy carpet does look like a plush base for a sleeping bag, if a bit bordello. The only drawbacks to your comfort are that neither the A/C nor the blower work (although the heat does), but that just means you’ll get a nice workout cranking the windows up and down.

I’ll cop to a soft spot for these boxy little Toyotas—I mean, that brochure didn’t just materialize into my possession one day—particularly the handsome and handy Liftback. The bench seat adds a fun bit of novelty and American flavor to this imported sedan, although whether that’s enough to offset the automatic is another question. What’s not in question is that at less than $2,000, this reliable, economical Corona is a great bargain as an entry-level classic Toyota!