Years before Toyota introduced its luxury Lexus brand in the USA in September of 1989, the most luxurious Toyota sold stateside from 1978 to 1992 was the Cressida. It was an extremely well-built and equipped luxury sedan, but its sales volume was a drop in the bucket compared to the popular Corolla and Camry. Its best sales year was 1985 when 45,286 Cressidas were sold. Two model years later, that number was cut in half with only 21,968 1987 Cressida’s finding new garages. Here’s one of those 87’s that could be the nicest one out there. It’s been extremely pampered and well taken care of for the past 38 years. Located in Tujunga, California, this clean 1987 Toyota Cressida is for sale here on craigslist for $9,800. Thanks to Barn Find buddy, Barney, for spotting this sparkling survivor and sending it our way!
The slick, color sales brochure for the 1987 Toyota lineup shows a Cressida (described as “combining performance and luxury in a first-class touring car’) just like this one in Gray Metallic. And, like the sales brochure photo, this Cressida’s paint is shiny and glossy. Based on the photos, this Cressida is very impressive inside and outside. I’m not spotting rust or any body damage, and the panels are laser straight. The seller says that all aspects of the car works, including the sunroof which “opens, closes, and tilts as well.”
The Cressida’s nicely-appointed interior is well preserved and is a 1980’s-era time machine. The velour burgundy comfy seats do not show wear and no rips or tears are visible. The door panels and headliner are clean and in very good shape as well. The burgundy dash looks great with no cracks and all lights and gauges work (including the A/C and factory Technics sound system).
Under the hood is the Cressida’s 2.8 liter 6-cylinder twin-cam EFI engine. Toyota claimed it “delivers a smooth, powerful 156 horsepower” and has 112,000 original miles. It’s paired with an automatic transmission and the seller states, “the vehicle starts right up every time and the transmission shifts very smoothly like it should.” The Cressida was recently serviced and received a new radiator, water pump, and thermostat. Given its relatively low sales numbers, you didn’t see many of these luxurious Cressidas on the road here in the States back in the day. A neighbor had one and was very impressed with it. I remember him telling me that if Toyota ever got serious about luxury automobiles, it could be a game changer. Two years after this Cressida rolled off the factory floor, Toyota’s Lexus line was introduced, and the Cressida was retired here in the States in 1992. This sparkling gray metallic survivor could be one of the nicest ones left. What do you think?
My family had an 84 Cressida and it was one of the best cars we ever owned. It was plush, but really moved with that 2.8 V6. It was the same engine from the Supra, so the acceleration was impressive for a 4 door sedan. Very luxurious, amazing build quality.
Isn’t that an I-6, as in, all the cylinders are in a straight line?
Yes., correct,an inline 6.
Very smooth,but very thirsty. Sold Toyotas in ’80-81′, when these came out.
Also, kind of cramped.
Would run forever,like most Toyotas from those days, with basic maintenance.
@whilst. Cressida came out in the ’70’s.
Yes, I6, I misspoke.
Yes, sorry. I meant I-6, I typed the wrong thing.
Not just the engine, pretty much all of the running gear was derived from the Supra, making the Cressida essentially a 4-door Supra.
Cressida came out with the 4M 6cyl. That engine was in the Corona MKII, MX body, pre Cressida.
My mother retired in ’85. She wanted to buy herself a new car to celebrate and had I not intervened, she would have bought a Mitsubishi Galant.
I told her for the couple thou more, she was getting a far, far superior and reliable car in the Cressida.
One of the few times she ever listened to me. She drove that car for the next 15 years, completely trouble free.
As I mentioned above, we had an 84. It was handed down to me and my brother who crashed it at least 3 times. Other than the body work and regular maintenance, we spent nothing on that car. It was absolutely trouble free. Every single electronic device, even the awful 80s automatic seat belts, still worked perfectly on the car when we finally sold it many trouble free years later. It made me a lifelong Toyota fan.
The front and rear seats don’t match. Corduroy in front, plain velour in back. Weird.
I think that’s just a trick of the lighting or camera focus/resolution. If you zoom in on the back seat photo, there’s a hint of that corduroy (or is it just striped?) pattern visible along the outer edge of the back side bolster
Bought an 86 Cressida, new. We were long time BMW folks (2000CS, 1600, 2002, 2002 tii, Bavaria, 320i) and thought we’d try the Cressida. The size was good and it seemed to have pretensions as a driver’s car. It was OK…just OK….just a sedan. The car couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a BMW or a Buick and it leaned closer to Buick. I couldn’t deal with it. Sold it after a year or so: one of the best automotive moves of my life. Never looked back until today. Yuck.
Manufacture tag looks hints of over spray. respray? either way nice clean Cressida.
Sometimes lens flare just gets plain annoying. But it is a nice car!
My mom had one of these in a burgundy exterior with leather seats and a 5 speed manual. What a great fun comfortable car. It made the Datsun 810 we also had seem primitive. It out accelerated, out braked, and out MPG’d the Datsun all with a better and quieter ride. Of course, the Datsun was a 1978 with an L24 inline 6, 4 speed and fuel injection. It pained her when Dad traded it in for a new FWD Datsun Maxima with cloth seats. She felt it was a downgrade although Dad, my brother and I were all 3 Datsun Loyalists.
Toyotas top line.👌
I really really like this car
I don’t know what the price difference would have been, but I would have much preferred a Mazda 929. Or wait a few more years and get a Mitsu Diamante. Of course, both of those were supposed to be models for a flagship offshoot – like Lexus and Infiniti.
My Uncle had a 929 5spd manual. Blast to drive, but didn’t hold up as well as the Cressida we owned. Well engineered cars, but the interiors seemed to go much faster than Toyota, but still great cars. Those older big Mazdas are like hen’s teeth, not too many around.
Went to buy a new ’84 Supra at Longo Toyota. Drove one, loved it and mentioned that I was engaged. He said to be safe drive the Cressida in case you think you may have kids within 5 years. Couldn’t believe it felt like the same car but with a usable back seat and 4 doors!! Bought a white one with brown velour interior. Best car I ever owned and owned it for20 years and 2 daughters! Didn’t put a dime into repairs, just regular maintenance!! Best advice I ever got!!🤣😂👍👍