The Tercel sedan, launched in 1980, was born tall. Its high hood hid a longitudinally mounted engine stacked upon a transaxle driving the front wheels. This geometry made reformation into a 4×4 simple. Toyota made that move in 1983, when the wagon was introduced, bestowed with four-wheel drive. The wagon was styled with a tall greenhouse to match its tip-toe stance, and it sold like hotcakes. Here on craigslist is a 1986 Toyota Tercel 4×4 wagon with 234,000 miles on the clock. It’s priced at $3500 in consideration of its needs, which include rear suspension work. Pick it up in Walton, New York. Thanks once again to Barney for the great tip!
Toyota’s 3AC four-cylinder sits underhood, good for about 70 hp. This technologically conventional engine is as reliable as a rock and apparently capable of racking up over a million kilometers, but it’s propelling about 2200 lbs of curb weight, so performance is sluggish. A top-of-the-line six-speed manual handles gearchanges. Toyota manufactured its own single-range transfer case, actuated via the gear lever. Drivers were warned that 4WD should only be used when the car was in slippery conditions – mud, snow, gravel. Rain was not a good excuse for 4WD. This car is off the road, ostensibly due to the suspension issue – but we don’t even know if the engine runs. Spare parts include rear suspension pieces, engine belts, and an ignition coil.
The interior is clean and tidy – no cracked dash, torn upholstery, or stained carpets here! The rear seats have the usual “never used” appearance. Power steering, power brakes, and a tilt steering wheel are all on the roster. It even has air conditioning – though whether it works or not is not mentioned. One fun option was an inclinometer; there’s no clear photo of the instruments to let us know if the original owner of this wagon ticked that box – or not.
The “tall wagon” category includes the AMC Eagle, Nissan Stanza, maybe the Olds Vista Cruiser …. but nothing quite as appealing as this atrium of a rear end. Who thought of extending the rear side window below the belt line? If a vintage Tercel 4WD wagon is on your bucket list, you might be looking for a while; I found sales data on only a scattering of examples across several years. Today, a nice example can cost $10k, but more than likely you’ll be paying around $5k for a wagon with a lot of miles. Have you ever had a Tercel wagon? Let us know in the comments section.
You’d have to be in Saskatchewan to ever use the 6th gear ⚙️ 😉 🐢
It’s missing the crazy plaid interior option and the tilt-o-meter :(
I’ve heard the rear hatch described as having an ATM design.
I think this one’s a year or two too late for the plaid.
Fantastic cars, I’ve seen them under major repairs on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere
The back of it looks like there’s a TV there.
They called them ATMs.
I recall: the Tercel with a VersaTell
This one is missing the clinometer. It was on the top of the dash in the center. Mine was white with the brown plaid interior, they were unbeatable in the snow, hence most have returned into the earth.
I know the CR-V and RAV-4 usually get the credit for it, but I think this is really the first crossover as we define that segment today. Some will argue for the AMC Eagle, but that was a body on frame RWD platform, whereas modern crossovers are based on front wheel drive designs like this.
Sub-compact AWD hatch/wagon. Almost a perfect daily driver, just needs WAY more horsepower LOL. I’ve often thought if I was buying a new car, it’d be the Toyota Cross, which kinda feels like a successor to these.
Danno…drove a brand new Cross about a month ago from the dealer to our offices…new company car. Rode really nice, comfy inside, sensible layout.👍
I worked at a Toyota store when these came out. We viewed them as fragile. (We were one of the top FJ40 Landcruiser dealerships.) And didn’t really expect this car to sell well. BOY WERE WE WRONG! We couldn’t keep them in stock. And the only issues we ever had were bad ignition exciters on the early cars. These were rugged daily drivers when Toyota was then building extremely reliable vehicles. (In my experienced opinion now they are merely good. As all the other manufacturers have caught up or surpassed Toyota (with a,few exceptions) who has slipped a little over the past 10 years or so.) These were great sellers and did nothing to help the service department.
Michelle – regarding the “tilt-o-meters”, they were in a separate, three-gauge cluster centered on top of the dash above the A/C vents. This one, therefore, does not have it. I bought one of these when they first came out – a 1983 model. One of only two new car purchases I ever made … out of almost 70 cars.
Absolutely tremendous in snow (especially deep snow). Had one years ago and the only issue ever was the ignition exciter mentioned by Wayne – easy fix. Haven’t seen one this nice in ages.
Honda also made a Civic wagon 4WD. My son has one- i call it The Fishbowl, because it’s seemingly all glass. Much fun to drive!
I’ve actually looked at this particular car in person the images are deceptive. They’re from when the car was in Virginia 7-8 years ago it is far more rusted than it seems. As for the “suspension issues” one of the suspension arms punched through the rocker panel. It’s better off as a parts car, it’s not roadworthy at all
had’em by the kajillions round here. All the ‘yuppies’ (popular car models go in wavesa round here) drove 1. Even late (read: NE salty rds) into their lifespan. Were mini vans B4 or after them? I’m getting ol, now. Into my dotage, more than just my memory ‘shot’. Wolwo waggys seemed B4 the tercell 4WD with EL. The civic Real Time might have had 4WD only in that super low 1st gear? C? whadid I just say… slippin in my final 2, 3 decades~