Toyota launched the Corolla subcompact in 1966 and it’s still going strong today. I had a stripped-down ’77 Corolla for a couple of years back then and it was a solid, but unspectacular little car. Its third generation debuted in Japan in 1974 and in the U.S. a short time later. That would include a new sporty 3-door called the Liftback and/or SR5. It would share little if any sheet metal from the work-a-day Corolla coupes and sedans. Located in Houston, Texas, this one looks like a solid survivor that may have as little as 11,000 miles. As an escapee from a time capsule, it’s available here on eBay where bidders have raised the ante to $5,600 but a reserve is still lurking. Larry D comes through once again!
The E30 run of Corollas (as they were technically known as) would stay in business through 1981. They contributed substantially to the growth of the Toyota brand in the U.S., especially during the oil embargo in the mid-1970s. In the U.S., the sporty SR5 (added in 1976) used Toyota’s 2T-C carbureted engine, with a displacement of 1.6 liters and an output of 75 hp. With a 5-speed manual transmission, the little cars were reasonably perky.
Little information is provided by the seller to go along with ample photos of this Liftback, which would be considered a “shooting break” in Europe. We’re told this is an original car in beautiful condition and that would be hard to dispute. The body and paint look great, and the interior has a barely used appearance. Could that mean the 11,052 miles on the odometer are real? The car is simply too nice for 111,000.
Back in 1976, a car like this would not have been thought of as a future collectible (not many were in those days). But if this Toyota was tucked away and driven only minimally in 46 years, that would be a rarity indeed. Simply nothing looks out of place on this automobile, making you wonder how high the bidding will need to go to break the bank. If any of the 1970s Toyotas are sought after, it may be the Celica.
Toyota “put it in overdrive” with these cars, and never looked back. If the original Corolla didn’t do it, these cars did. To be clear, I read, a “shooting brake” has to have a back window 90 degrees, and most commonly called a station wagon. A Studebaker Wagonaire( with sliding roof) is about the best example of one. A liftback is not a shooting brake, apparently.
The mileage of 118K is correct, and why speedos went to 6 figures, just not clean enough for 18K, however, I’m simply flabbergasted, this isn’t gone. Just shows, people today, generally, when it comes to a great deal on a classic car, don’t know their rear from a hole in the ground. It’s why they get taken so often. Not here, folks. Amazing find, as they were rusting on the boat on the way over,,
Thanks for pointing out the correct “shooting brake” terminology Howard.
It’s still up as it’s an auction – no “BUY IT NOW” option.
When I took my ’77 Toyota SR5 truck in for it’s free checkup,
they gave me a Corolla Liftback (auto) as a loner.
We took it for a long drive up to Crater Lake.I was impressed
that it got over 30 mpg,& seriously thought about buying one,
after I got married,for my Wife,to replace our ’73 Capri.
Some one w ith WAY too much money w ill probably buy this,
& add to their collection of umpteen cars.
Nice one, Russ and Larry D! This exact car was on another website-not-to-be-named, where a person may or may not need a hauling device, in April of 2021 where it sold for $8,800 – but it had different wheels.
2 Dr hatch not a wagon Imo.
It was on Facebook Marketplace this morning for over $17,000.
So no where near the reserve yet…
Beautiful car, forgot about them, from that right side photo, almost looks like a Jenson Interceptor.
Yeah, it’s got a Hemi.
Bought a new 1978 sr5. $5100 . This was my poor mans
Volvo 1800es
My first new car, I was so excited. I really wanted the SR5 liftback,but couldn’t afford it. So I bought a couple. Never regretted it. It was good on gas for an automatic,and I enjoyed driving a slow car fast. I liked my 1976 Corolla.
Lovely looking car. My older brother had one just like this back in the day. His was a blue Toyota Corolla Liftback SR5. I don’t recall if his had a 5spd manual or an auto. Like most Toyotas, I’m sure it was a reliable car.
In 1983 my neighbor bought a new car and sold me his 1976 mustard yellow corolla 2dr, manual shift, tin can. I think it weighed less than 2000lbs. My wife called it the puppyshirt(sp) yellow toyota because it looked like something that came from a sick puppy. I enjoyed the heck out of that car. AM/FM radio and a heater was about the only upgrades this car had. No a/c and barely any brakes. The engine was a willing 1.2 liter 4cyl. Lift the hood and you could see most of the ground under the engine compartment. The trans was a little notchy and TBH, I can’t even remember if it was a 4 or 5 spd. But it was fun!
my dad bought a new 1977 coupe sr5 it was a tank with out the gun!!! it was 1 of the best cars we ever had,,,,the coupe was cool looking n had the 3 stripe kit it was yellow w/ 3 fade color stripe it was wrecked fixed wrecked fixed,,,,, i raced it on the track in gansville fl YOU COULD NOT KILL THIS CAR if i saw a coupe like this cond it would be my every day car i loved it
Toyota makes one of the best cars on the road. I’ve had 6 including my current Lexus. The first was a Crown back in the early 70s, then a white ’77 Liftback that I bought brand new for my wife and I when we were first married. After that came a new ’80 4×4 pickup, followed by a new ’89 4×4. I had a lot of fun off roadies in the AZ mountains and desert in that one. After that I bought a Rav 4 (I didn’t like it all that much tho) and number 6 is a Lexus RX350, which a lot of people don’t know is just an upscale Toyota.
I had a red ‘76. Great little car, beautifully put together. There wasn’t an American car that could compare in build quality and reliability. And it had a Hemi! I still have dreams about visiting my parents and it’s still in their backyard. I get in it, start it up and go for a drive.
Build quality ?? These things ran like clockwork, but the bodies dissolved faster than an Alka Seltzer tablet when they hit water
They were well assembled, and well engineered, however material quality was awful. I own many many cars including toyotas and hondas, and the actual quality of the steel, plastics, vinyls, etc is horrible. What they had was well put together, but of very cheap components.
My 74 Mustang II was sloppily assembled, but the actual steel, fabrics, plastics etc were much much better. I recently restored a 79 Toyota pickup that I own and for examples, the bumper steel was so soft I could straighten it with my bare hands. By contract I have an 84 Ford ranger that doesn’t run as good, but structurally and in component quality is far, far superior.
If we could have taken American materials along with Toyota assembly, we would have had the ultimate winner. My last new Toyota was on 07 Corolla. Good transportation, but what passed for fabric and carpet was a joke. Still was mechanically excellent though. I bring this up because I keep hearing how superior the Japanese cars are/were. In some ways, yes, but in other, less visible ways no
man, it’s too nice to drive almost….that interior is EXCELLENT !!!
Holy crap – hen’s teeth!
An older economy not-really-collectible car in pristine condition that is NOT an automatic.
GLWTS. I hope it goes for a ton. Miss seeing these around; they were a beautiful design and very well-built.
But you ain’t kidding about the rust, especially in the Northeast.
Back in ’86 I bought a ’76 Corolla SR5 Sport with a blown motor for $175 from a salvage yard. Orange with a factory stripe kit, black interior with A/C. Body was nearly perfect.
My neighbor down the street had one of these liftbacks, a ’77, tucked away in the garage because it rusted out. Bought it for $100 and swapped in the motor.
Could barely drag it up the street to my house, the rust in the strut towers was so bad. But that 2TC was fine. One I wish hadn’t got away.
I had a ’76 Corolla E/5. Red with white interior. This was the hardtop though, nice to have all 4 windows rolled down and the 5 speed was awesome.
I feel a price under $8,000.00 would be a decent price. Drive it daily to work in nice weather at 30 mpg. Nice car