This 1979 Toyota Corolla was hiding out in an Idaho barn after being traded for a tractor a few years back. The seller acknowledges that the term “barn find” gets thrown around a bit too much, but that this survivor-grade Corolla qualifies given its unmolested condition. The body looks mint and everything appears to remain factory-correct. Find it here on craigslist for $8,995, or go here if the ad disappears.
This is a third-generation Corolla, which I believe came with the 2T four-cylinder. Power is modest, likely somewhere around 75 b.h.p. The seller specifies that this one is equipped with the five-speed manual transmission, a nice feature given many early Corollas were saddled with a four-speed. The list of recent maintenance updates is impressive, including a new distributor / cap / rotor, front and rear wheel bearings repacked and a full rebuild of the carburetor, among other updates.
The cosmetic condition is the car’s best selling point, with a seemingly untouched interior and all of the factory fittings still attached: books and manuals, spare tire jack and lug wrench are all still there. I’m actually on the hunt to complete the original tool kit for my HiAce, as these parts are becoming more and more valuable and harder to find. The seller does note a few dings and one tiny / isolated rust spot on the bottom of the passenger fender, but promises it “…will not spread.”
My 1987 BMW 325is has a similar spot at the bottom of the passenger door jamb, as it’s a tiny spot that hasn’t changed its appearance in years. I don’t have a problem believing the seller’s claim, especially when the rest of the body looks as good as it is depicted here. The Corolla also sports some nice period details, like the rear mudflaps and its hard-to-find hub caps (or center caps) for the original steel wheels. I like seeing the tiny bits still attached, as it speaks to this car’s careful ownership history. Looks like a fair deal all around.
Nice car, if it’s “as advertised” it should eventually get that amount, or close to it.
Steve R
How can the seller know the rust “will not spread?” Rust ALWAYS spreads…
A great man once said; “Rust Never Sleeps!”
Really?
It’s a 3KC 1200 cc.
Definitely a K engine Can’t tell if its a 3 or 4K my daily 77 Toyota has the 3KJ engine and is bullet proof regular oil changes and an annual valve adjustment and she purrs right along wish I had the 5 speed though that would be nice on my 90 mile round trip daily commute. Funny I can’t get regular parts here for it here in Japan but Rock auto and NAPA have everything thing I’ve needed so far.
My version of this little 2 door Toyota was a little different, as my second rally car, it was an ex- factory works car running the 2T 1,6L & 3T 1,8L engines, the 4T 2L may not have been around yet.
The absolute incredible difference from my first homebuilt rally Corolla and the later ex-works version cannot be described.
I went from a bus driver to Jet pilot overnight. Once behind the wheel, the ex-works car made it sooooo easy to go superquick everywhere, especially on gravel.
I have the exact twin. A one-owner with only 83000 miles. Fortunately it has the larger 2T-C engine (1600) with all of 88 hp. However, it’s saddled with an automatic.
For sale
@Carlos – It’s not for sale at this time, but it could be some day. Give me some way to get in touch with you.
Still for sale God bless you
Do you still have the car and what to sell it call me at 4135314520
God bless you guys 🙏 1979 Corolla for sale
Still have it
For sale or not God bless you
Still for sale
Car for sale
Still for sale
You’re correct. Here’s the VIN plate from the CL ad
Still have the car for sale call me at 4135314520
Still have the car for sale
9k for that , ooh how the world has gone mad .
I agree with Rodent.. small engine with little HP.
However If it were the 20R 2190 cc or 22R 2376 cc than it would be more desirable. The R series Toyota engines were the most dependable engines ever built by Toyota in my personal opinion some documented well beyond 300,000 miles. A simple mod such as a header and webber carburetor made the difference in HP out put.
These used to go for about $2500 brand new around 1974.
And also at around that time, you could buy a Hemi-Cuda convertible for about 5 grand or so.
Not really relevant in either case.
my roomie had the exact car – slowest car I ever drove. But – bullet proof, excellent gas mileage, and lasted forever. He churned 160K on it before putting a clutch in. My Police Spec 87′ CV was the total opposite of this car..
This was my first car in 1988. Mine was 2 door, white with a tan gut, 5 spd It had the 1200cc engine with A/C and a manual choke. The a/c worked. When you had it on it sucked a lot of power, when you shut it off it felt like a turbo charger was kicking in. It was a great car. Had it for 2 years.
definitely the 3KC 1166 CC 1.2 liter! I had one and was a perfect pizza delivery car. never have seen the 1.2 with a 5 speed. I thought they were 4 speed only?
Late 80’s had a 1986 Chevy Sprint ER [extended range]. Sprint became the Geo Metro later. 1.0 liter 3 cylinder. GREAT pizza delivery car! 3 years delivering and only one speeding ticket it was so slow. 0 to 60 was measured in millennia but it was so cheap to operate.
At that price, someone better call Mike and Frankie..!
This model is still popular around the world. They’re quite desirable as a base for a build among those in the import scene.
I went through a village while riding the Karakoram Highway in 2016, where just about every car there was a Corolla of that series.
Nearly 9 grand, it needs to be a 20 or 22R. I assume it has like 20 miles on it? I think $5000-6000 seems totally reasonable.
Ugly little thing, but very nice to drive. A GF of mine had a brown one with an appropriately inappropriate nickname, but on a narrow twisty back road it was a charmer. I am given to understand that the much more handsome later ones, the last generation of RWD Corollas, were better in every respect, which is why they are either still paraded around SoCal streets or used up and thrown away. I do think the ask on this is wishful thinking … I might want it, but nowhere near that badly.
overpriced
Car & Driver got ahold of a similar model and did some mods (rear swaybar, better tires, some engine mods) and turned it into a little canyon carver.
I was onboard until the seller said the radio only played country.
Like….and it will most likely end back over in Japan……
Stout little cars – I changed the clutch in one back in 85-6- it was a 4speed with an aluminum case, and heavier than an iron case Chevy / Borg Warner 4 speed !
Much stouter car than the Datsun B210…. The Datsun trans felt about 1/2 the weight…..
I hated these in the ’80s and I can’t say they have grown on me. The price seems aggressive. I would prefer the Corolla generations before or after this, and that doesn’t say much. I preferred the competitors to this like the Datsun 210, Honda Civic, Subaru GL, Dodge Colt, Buick Opel or Ford Fiesta.
I had a 77 in 1987 with a 1.2l 3KC engine, manual choke and 5 speed. This engine was rated at 58 HP. They were all 5 speeds, the 2TC engine got the 4 speed. Fantastic on mileage, but boy did you need a long onramp too get up to highway speed to merge into traffic.
This post reminds me of the ’79 wagon I had back in the day. I remember it was two years old when I got it and it was UPS Brown in color. It was an automatic, A/C, and 32K on the clock. I bought it for $3200.
That car was solid, simple, and very dependable. Too bad they don’t make them like that anymore.
I just bought a 2013 Scion XB with 32k miles for 10 grand. 350k with minor needs.
This car is worth $3000. To a special niche of person.
It wont go
Up in value
Its a slow, dangerous to drive, old Corolla that we bought in high school 15 years ago for $800 in good shape.
It was once a bullet proof. But 40 years of time means it’ll need everything. Cant depend on it daily on a commute.
Its not a classic. Its a really clean beater car.
Still for sale call me at 4135314520carlos
1979 Corolla for sale call me if it is 4135314520
Still have it and for sale
For sale or not God bless you