Additional photos by Simón Varela.
We had a number of T40/T50 Coronas at CC throughout the years, covering most of that fate-defining Toyota range. Clearly the 4-door sedan was the first to appear years ago. Slowly, the remaining models have shown up, with the hardtop recently, and even the sportiest version some time ago; the 1600GT-5.
Now we have a new early Corona find in these pages, the utilitarian 3-door wagon, or ‘Van’ in JDM speak.
It’s been said time and time again here at CC, that the arrival of the 1965 Corona T40 was Toyota’s turning point, the model on which the once-obscure Japanese carmaker built its international reputation. Followed in ’66 by the new Corolla, the two-hit punch signaled that the company had found its stride. Successful at home and abroad, the Corona and Corolla duo laid the path for Toyota’s future fortunes.
Of course, the Corona range in Japan was a whole gamut, with many not leaving that nation’s borders. Internationally, most markets got the 4-door sedans and hardtops, the early Coronas known by everyone.
And the ones most often found, like this one sitting pretty in a San Salvador shopping center.
Against other imports of the period, the Corona was quite an offer. It had decent power and accommodations for its size, plus good assembly and reliability. All at a good value.
It was a rather enticing proposal at the time.
While the sedan and hardtop gained quick international acceptance, the model’s utilitarian range remained mostly confined to Japan and selected import markets. The rarest of those being a 2-door pickup and a 4-door double cab ute, both rarely seen beyond Asia (A handful of 2-door pickups did reach Europe early on, only to prove incredibly hard to sell).
That utilitarian range also included 3-door and 5-door wagon versions, or ‘Van’ as they were marketed in Japan. These models did reach more markets in larger numbers (though they were never sold in the US) and were appropriately promoted as family companions.
Besides their practical qualities, promotional materials showed the wagons through soft-focus images, surrounded by calm and soothing settings. All rather idyllic and Zen in spirit.
Like most markets, the 4-door sedan forms the bulk of Coronas in Latin America, followed in popularity by the snazzy hardtop. Clearly, as the images show, the 3-door wagon also arrived in the region and looks to have been the preferred utilitarian Corona. At least the surviving numbers around San Salvador suggest that to be the case.
Here’s another one in a different neighborhood, in far less preserved condition, but still looking solid enough to be revived.
As some of our readers know, some cars just want to be featured at CC. I had seen this wagon around San Salvador a few times, even capturing some images. However, I had never managed to shoot the car’s front properly. It’s filigreed shovel-nose never wanting to be captured, apparently.
Then, my pal Simón Varela came across it and sent me some shots (lede image) to complete the set. Ok little wagon, I got the message. You wanted your 15 minutes of CC fame, and here they are!
So, what lurks behind that filigreed grille? Under the hood early Corona utilitarian models were powered by Toyota’s 1198cc 2P engine, offering about 54hp at 5000rpm. Starting in 1967, Toyota’s 1490cc 2R engine became available, offering 74hp at 5000rpm. Brochures of the period show that shifting on these models came courtesy of Toyota’s 4-speed-synchromesh manual.
Enough talking about this car’s front end. Let’s check out the rest.
Today’s wagon looks rather original against many of my other San Salvador finds. Missing a few bits, and suffering some minor mods, but mostly all there. The rear bumper looks like a later addition, but brochure images show it’s the model’s original.
Let’s leave this wagon, for now, sitting placidly in this picturesque-looking setting. A rare scenario in this rather chaotic city, but quite fitting. After all, despite those racy rims, this little wagon is filled with those Zen qualities Toyota owners enjoy so much.
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1969 Toyota Corona – It All Started Here
CC Capsule: 1968 Toyota Corona 1600S Hardtop Coupe – The Cool Corona
Curbside Classic: 1968 Toyota 1600 GT-5 – Corona Con Tequila
As I recall, the US market Corona had a 1900cc engine, which seemed big for that class and price car. Larger than the Datsun counterparts, or a B18 Volvo or 1.6 liter Peugeot 404, same as a Mercedes 190. Was that a US-only offering? In fact I don’t recall the wagon here in the States either. The three door is very appealing, at least visually, and I cant say I was ever a Corona fan. But the proportions are very nice.
I understand the wagon didn’t reach the US (I updated that in the text). What markets it actually reached is kinda hard to trace online, but looks like besides some Latin American nations, a few European ones got it as well.
Sedans and hardtops had a larger range of engines available, including the 1.9. At least in the brochures I’ve seen, engine and transmission choices were more limited on the wagons.
Yes, the US version had the 1.9, which was also installed in US-bound Tiaras, its direct predecessor. I can’t readily find detailed info as to whether the 1.9 was available in other markets, but for the most part I doubt it, as that was a rather large engine for its class. I’d bet that sedan exports to pretty much all other countries had the 1.6 or 1.5 R engine, and some utilities had the older 1.2 P series engine.
Toyota was right on about understanding that Americans liked relatively large engines; they learned this the hard way as their first import to the US was the rather heavy Crown with the 1.5 L engine, deemed rather underpowered (and overpriced) by the US press.
As far as I know, the 1.9 was a US only offering. It was a light truck engine fitting to the Toyota Stout, unusually large for a car of this size. It was torquey but a 1600S model sold elsewhere was just as quick.
I likes these wagons. Both the 3 and 5 door versions never came to Australia. We got the standard 1.5 sedan (locally assembled), the imported 1600S sedan, the 5 door hatchback, about 8 or 11 1600 GT5 hardtops, the 2 for utility in very small numbers and also according to some sources around 50 1600S hardtops.
I’ve said it before on CC but I think the RT40 must have had more body styles than any other car. Even the first generation Corona Mk2s had a freq body styles including the twin cab Ute. The only type for the RT40 that seems to have been over looked is a panel van.
Oh wait…
The 1.9 R was just a 1.5/1.6 R with more displacement. All of these Toyota P and R series engines were used in cars as well as light trucks and vans.
Two RHD wagons in the Cygnet area of Tasmania tell me they did go to Aussie, wagons are rare but not unknown the caveman had a couple in his wrecking yard rusted beyond any hope of repair, a friend in Cygnet had a Corona ute in good going condition
I was a fan of these Coronas from the get-go, and I like this 3-door wagon. I’m a bit surprised it didn’t come to the US. I wonder if it was part of that MITI mandate that Toyota and Datsun not compete directly as much as possible in the US. That killed the Nissan Patrol here, but in exchange Nissan had the pickup market here for itself for some years.
I would say those wagons were private imports. I’ve never seen them listed in contemporary magazines etc.
The utilities, again not listed but could be possible that Toyota brought some in to test the market, or they were more or less generally offered but only with a limited batch, similar to the 1600S hardtops which I’m told came in as a small batch. I’ve never them listed but the mighty 1600 GT5 hardtop was..
I have seen the odd (single cab) utilty now and then but never the wagons in 3 or 5 door form.
I’ve seen a RT7x wagon many years ago, obviously a private import or a one off example brought in for evaluation, which was normal Toyota Australia practice back then…
I love these early Toyotas, never knew about the station wagon and sedan delivery until now .
I’ve love to find a coupe in decent shape .
-Nate