All-original California cars, those are magic words for a lot of us who live (linger, suffer) in the Midwest and see so many thousands of rusted-out vehicles every day; or worse yet, drive them. This 1970 Toyota Corona MK II is listed on eBay with a bid price of just over $3,000 but the reserve isn’t met. It’s located in Lincoln, California, north of Sacramento.
I have given up predicting car values, having lost my shirt, pants, and several other things on some recent sales that I never though would have sold for as cheaply as they did. Normally I would say that cars like this ’70 Corona, especially being a two-door model, would be collectible and on the rise. I still think that but I won’t say it here.. or did I just do that? The finish on this car looks unusual to say the least. Supposedly, the “floors, rockers, doors, roof, and almost everything is almost rust free. The only thing close to rust that I can see is a tiny bubbling on the right front fender.” And, it “has been sitting in the California sun for years and it shows.”
I prefer the third-generation T40 & T50 cars over the Mark II cars but that’s just me. A 1965 Corona was the first car designed specifically for the US market, sort of like the Avalon and Camry of today. It’s hard to argue with this fastback style. The Mark II was slightly larger and more luxurious, relatively, than the standard Corona.
And, there it is, the automatic transmission. I would be remiss in my position as one of the world’s foremost automotive journalists and historians (zzzzzz.. don’t wake me, I’m dreaming) if I didn’t say that it’s disappointing to see an automatic transmission in a car like this. The seller has this one listed as having 19,386 miles, but the brake pedal looks a little rounded-off to me and those seats have been redone – the interior needs to be restored for sure. I’m assuming that the odometer has rolled over once?
This is Toyota’s 1.9L inline-four which “engine runs but needs rebuilt. It has a knock.” I rebuilt my 1971 Corolla engine in an unheated single-car garage in the early-1980s so I’m sure that most Barn Finds readers could tackle this one. If enough parts can be located this could be a nice little project. Would you restore this one or turn it into a crazy-cambered, fender-flared, hot-engined restomod?
repaint, rebuild, enjoy!
Recycle. How much is scrap per pound?
Some people just have to be hateful!
Resto-mod a 1970 Corona? I don’t know what part of that to correct first. I highly doubt you Asian purists will have to worry about that. With limited appeal, these have to be nice to begin with, and not with a puked motor. Practically worthless like this. Shame, they were good cars.
Hey, Rube! Oh yeah, restomod isn’t just for American cars. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/97/ca/1b/97ca1b6a653d1eaae24972be71fddcd1.jpg That’s what I was talking about, the tuner crowd loves to modify these cars.
The bid is around $3,000 so there are a few folks who want it.
Scotty, that restomod is sweet. Amazing what tuners can do with 4 cylinders. I generally, just like cars. Doesn’t matter if it’s American, Japanese, German, etc.
Agreed, just when it comes to resto-mod, I think of 502 crate motors in butchered classic Chevy Suburbans. I just don’t see a big call for older Coronas with puked motors. Maybe if I got it for nothing.
The tuning circuit in Japan is insane. I’m sure you could get some awesome JDM stuff for this
It seems a waste to scrap this, the body looks nice, and it sits well. I wouldn’t pay this much, but if he can get it, good for him. As for “needs rebuilt”, shouldn’t that be either needs rebuilding, or needs to be rebuilt?
Considering how ‘leisurely’ the 1.9/Toyoglide’s performance is, maybe a Lexus V6 or V8, along with suspension/braking upgrades could be an option?
The swap should be doable without major surgery, excepting perhaps making room for a larger trans.
My father and I road-tested one of these cars back in 1970 – he ended up buying a 383 Challenger, as he found the slushbox Toymotor just too damned slow for his liking.
As an aside, there’s a ’74 Corolla with a Lexus 4.0 and a single turbo that runs at the local drags. It only does 10s in the quarter…
Rather than rebuild the original engine, put in a 22R. Those things will run and run and run and run…… a later trans with an overdrive would make it a decent freeway cruiser. That being said, my personal preference would be the previous
model of the Corona – they just seem more authentic and less like a pig with lipstick……
Oh Scotty, regardless of whether this is an auto or a manual, please don’t compare this to an Avalon or a Camry. Those are cars designed for people who find driving any further than the end of the block a chore, who have given up on life, and who have one foot in the grave. They are white-goods on wheels.
I admit that the auto is a disappointment, but this should now be considered to be part of the Japanese automotive history, and deserves restoration. And for those of you who are rolling around the floor and wondering what types of substance I am abusing: How many of these have you seen on the roads in the past week?
Hey, Adam, I was referring to the Camry/Avalon being designed mainly for the American market. Which, by the way, are both top-rated cars for reliability and getting the job done. Not all humans need to have their soul tied to the car that they get groceries in.
Yeah Scotty, different markets have different needs, and therefore different specifications in cars. Unfortunately the Camry and Avalon versions that we have received in Australia have all been bland and uninspiring. I had a Camry as a company car for a while and used to have to travel some quite long distances in it. It was mind-numbingly boring on long trips. Subsequently I had both a Mitsubishi and a Ford, and found them to be nowhere near as tiring on the same trips.
The other issues with both the Camry and the Avalon that we received here in Australia is that both seem to be vehicles that really bad drivers gravitate towards. I’m talking here about drivers who change lanes unexpectedly, pull out of side roads without looking, and believe that traffic indicators are optional extras. Maybe it”s just an Australian thing, but when a Camry driver pulls out without looking into the path of a race-car transporter that’s doing 60 mph, that gets your attention.
Further fuel for the fire here was provided by my brother. He bought a top of the range sports Avalon not that long ago. He was really excited the day that he bought it as it was so well equipped. He sold it 3 months later because he simply didn’t like it. He called it uninspiring and numb. He subsequently bought a Corolla Sports and found it to be an amazingly good little car.
I have no issues with Toyota. I’ve driven some wonderful cars made by them. The sports versions of both the Corolla and Celica were fantastic, especially on a twisting piece of road.
I will never argue about reliability. I think that Toyota build most of their products to be tough and reliable, and their quality control should stand as an example to most manufacturers. It’s just that the Camry and Avalon are dull (as received in Australia).
Adam T45, to my dear misled auto collector, you haven’t driven the new 2018 Camry have you? It’s a game changer in SE and XSE trim. So before you go trashing Toyota products and the people that buy them, perhaps they know something that you don’t.
Greg, I am speaking of my own personal experience as someone who has clocked up well in excess of 3,000,000 kilometres behind the wheel. The drivers that I have found that seem to cause the most grief and chaos seem to be those behind the wheel of the Camry and the Avalon. That is just a simple fact of life from my own experience. If your experience is different, then more power to you.
old guy has one like it close by …a coupe…it’s not bad….it’s stuck between some small trees he doesn’t want to cut down….oh well…
Auction update: This one sold for $3,800.