The Tercel was an entry-level subcompact sold by Toyota in the U.S. beginning in 1980. It had debuted two years earlier in Japan as the Corsa. Unlike the Corolla, which Toyota had been selling for years, the Tercel was based on a front-wheel-drive platform, a first for the automaker. This 1980 edition with the sporty SR5 package is a survivor-quality car with just 41,000 miles on the odometer. Though a little tired in appearance, we’re told the car runs well and can pass by many a gas station. Located in Yucaipa, California, and offered by a dealer, this small hatchback is available here on eBay where bidders have raised the ante to $2,650.
Toyota’s Tercel would become a popular product for the car builder, and it would go through five generations until 1999. The design of the Tercel would be a departure for Toyota as the engine was mounted longitudinally. The engine, transmission, and differential were all located a little off the center line of the ca with half-shafts that extended from the transmission to the front wheels. As a result, the Tercel was taller than the more conventional Corolla. The Tercel had rack and pinion steering which was being used by the manufacturer for the first time since the 2000GT sports car.
The seller’s car comes with the SR5 package, which added a 5-speed manual transmission to the 1.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine. We’re told the vehicle runs quietly and smoothly and things work as they should. Fitted with factory alloy wheels, the radial tires are fairly new additions. The blue paint is not original and has lost some of its luster over the years. There is a little bubbling on the cowl panel, but other than that the sheet metal and chassis are said to be solid.
Tercels were not noted for fancy trim, so the interior is rather sparse, but in good condition. The exception is some tearing/rot of the upholstery on the top of the back seat. It appears to be a complete car except for the factory AM/FM radio which has taken flight. A Southern California auto all its life, this Toyota will come with its original “blue” license plates and service documentation. If you were looking to beat the current crunch at the gas pump with a vintage automobile, why not a 42-year-old Toyota? Always solid little cars.
Just because a car is 41 years old is no reason to include it here.
Hmm, maybe because there have been 20 comments and still going?
Just because something doesn’t appeal to you doesn’t mean it won’t appeal to others.
Just skip the ones you don’t like and save yourself some time.
My thoughts exactly. Every car has a story, and it may have some meaning to someone’s past no matter how easily overlooked by others.
When I was looking for my first new car back in 1982, this was the car I wanted. However, the SR5 with stick shift was relatively rare, and the local dealers didn’t really want to deal. So I ended up with a Dodge Colt with the cool twin-stick shifter. Loved that car.
Why are we “assuming” it only has 41,000 when it doesn’t have a sixth digit on the odometer? I’m open to the possibility it has turn over at least once.
Probably from things like condition of the carpets and steering wheel rim.
Clean.
How nice to see an open floor with all that room in the front compartment rather than obscene plastic tumor taking up space like in modern cars.
& an all blue interior. & no nonsense dash. & great visibility all around. & a properly mounted door mirror.
My first Japanese car was a 1979 Subaru, very fun car, and I’ve had a few Toyotas as well. Just got my first Tercel, 1985 4WD with 79k miles! I want the wheels off this car for my wagon.
sell me your wagon! I had one just like it in the mid 1990s.
Great find Chuck !!!
I’ve been looking for one of these in decent condition for years . . . if you happen to stumble upon another one, and you don’t need a second one, I’d greatly appreciate the pertinent location and sales info.
connbackroads,
Do you have a want ad here on Barnfinds? Members get free want ads. https://barnfinds.com/want-ads/
If I decide to sell it I think it may do well on BaT, interior is very clean. Only drawback is the automatic.
chevy55_geo@yahoo.com
Back in the mid eighties, I bought a silver 80 Tercel, a beige metallic 81 Tercel, and a white 82 Tercel SR5 as rebuilders. They were so easy to work on and simple! Great gas mileage and kinda fun to drive with the 5 speed manual. The midwest winter salted roads claimed all of them from around here many years ago. Neat to actually see one still on the road!
Cannot imagine that there are many of these left. Toyota sold scads of them and they were as reliable as a rock bit they weren’t as solid as one. Also, I doubt anybody bought this PR amy 70-80s economy car with the idea of keeping it on the road for 40+ years.
Still makes me smile as I associate 80s cars with a lot of good memories. Good thing I am on the others coast.
Well guys a couple of years ago my 101 year old aunt passed away, in 1991 she went and bought a brand new 1991Nissan Sentra. When she passed away no one wanted the car so when they asked me I was more than happy to get it. We had it painted in the original color ( red) cleaned it up, it also has only 78,000 miles no smoke no leaks and that’s pretty much all we drive. My wife laughs at me because I have my C-7 Corvette but instead I drive little Ruby.//// I’m a car guy so any car puts a smile on my face well maybe not all cars ie.the Trabant
When we married my wife’s car was a yellow non SR5 1980 Tercel w/5 speed. Prior to that, I owned a 1980 4×4 SR5 pickup. Both were mechanically ‘bullet proof’ as the Toyota brand is well known for. I later owned a new ’84 ExtraCab 4×2 and much later ’85 and ’86 Toyota window vans. If maintained in a timely manner, they truly are bulletproof. Same with my ’74 Datsun pickup…body rusted to death but mechanically excellent. Hmm, as I recall, none of the Toyota’s had any rust.
Great to see one of these surviving! With the high gas prices, I predict that many economy cars like this from the 80s and 90s will come out of hiding and even into classic car shows. Haters will hate, but I love the toyotas from this era, plaid seats and all!!!
The firstgen Tercel, with its’ longitudinal engine and Fiat 128-looking sedan plus all-glass, Volvo 1800ES-like hatchback stood out from the crop of VW Golf-clones that were multiplying like rabbits (drumroll) at the time. Someone on another site opined they look like a then 10-year-old design that had been sat on by conservative Toyota management and fluffed up a bit before finally reaching production.
A contemporary Honda Civic or the aforementioned Fiat and VW might be more fun to drive and have more enthusiast support, but this is still the kind of car I’d walk past a dozen of the usual ’55-72 V8 2-door hardtops without a second glance to get a good look at and talk to the owner of at a show.
When I was a kid my mom gave me her very nice 1980 Tercel. I loved that car. Manual trans, super simple and great in snow. It rusted away and got scrapped.
This one looks like it’s going to need a repaint and those rubber bumpers don’t age well. I’d call it a survivor on the edge of being a beater. I’d be all over it with current gas prices.
The Tercel was an okay car, it was the “give the knife in the gut a turn” to American manufacturers, who were still struggling with outdated mechanicals, to achieve maybe high 20s mpg, when the Tercel could double that. BUT,,,thats about it. Gas mileage its only selling point, they were cheap, uncomfortable cars, and the reason few survived. Stands to reason, the only place you’ll find one, is warm climates. Like all Asian vehicles, they rusted quickly, and thrown away.
This is a great find, you know, we talk about how high gas prices possibly bringing these types of cars out, I say, I highly doubt it. $5/gallon today is the norm, along with 6 figure salaries, and on a recent cross-country trip, I don’t see America backing down one bit. When this car came out, we were in a similar situation. Gas went from like .30/gallon( ish) to well over a buck. About the same as today, “adjusted”, that is. The difference is, back then, credit wasn’t what it is today, and higher gas prices meant the actual ” more money” had to come from somewhere else. Cars simply needed to get better mileage. Today, it’s all on credit ( I’m one of the few people that still pays cash) and the heck with tomorrow, let’s go camping anyway mindset prevails,,,,and out comes “the card”. Americans love their diesel duallys too much, to EVER go back to these “puddle jumpers”, and proof, in a society that is paying standard wordwide gas prices, we are still producing new vehicles that get 19 mpg. Clearly, most Americans will pay whatever the cost of fuel is until it’s gone, and wouldn’t be caught being seen in a Toyota Tercel today.
Some of us don’t believe the world is ending, and still believe in a thing we call freedom. Thus, we drive what we drive. Just my two cents.
Yes , rust killed most Asian imports before their engines crapped out. I remember working for Toyota in the early eighties. The Tercels had a recall on the rear control arms. They were hollow ; water would collect in there and quickly rusted them out causing the springs to punch through the cheesy metal they used . These were just disposable cars back then, very few were well maintained and I doubt any were “cherished” . Its cool to see one still around, but I wouldn’t want one today
HI, I have been looking for this car! I am new to the site, how to I contact the seller? Is this still for sale?
Thanks for the info everyone
Eric,
It looks like the eBay auction has ended, it sold for $6600.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/265764910750?hash=item3de0d2b69e:g:d2MAAOSwRZJiwd-0&vxp=mtr
I’m selling my 85 wagon soon. chevy55_geo at yahoo dot com