Finding a first generation Corolla is always a (rare) occasion to wonder why Toyota, and Japanese carmakers in general, lost the vaguely Italian flavour in their ’60s styling. This is evident with today’s Sprinter coupé. From this angle, it could pass for a Fiat or some late ‘60s Bertone-bodied special. By the mid-’70s, Corollas looked more like slimmed-down Ford Pintos, sadly. However, Toyota did take the Sprinter name and ran with it for a long while, though the model’s initial mission statement did evolve over time.
When the E10 Corolla bowed for MY 1967, the main potboiler variant was to be the family-friendly saloon, as per usual – of the two-door variety, immediately upon the November 1966 launch. Toyota immediately complemented the lineup with a 4-door variant, as well as a 3-door van/wagon for the lucrative professional market. In early 1968, they finally added a direly-needed dose of glamour to the range with the Sprinter coupé.
So initially, the Sprinter was merely a sub-species of Corolla – the spicy version of a rather bland family car. Toyota kept that image alive pretty successfully over the next generations, but they also turned the Sprinter into its own nameplate, albeit one that was always a Corolla clone.
This started with the second generation (E20) that arrived in May 1970: the Sprinter now came in both four-door and coupé guise, to be sold by the Auto Store sales channel. The model’s initial role as the spicy two-door Corolla was to be filled by the Levin from 1972 onwards; the Sprinter equivalent became known as the Trueno. Eventually, the Sprinter blossomed into a fully-fledged range, including saloons, wagons and the like, as well as unique variants such as the Carib, lasting all the way to 2002 in its home market.
So this first-generation coupé is the only “Corolla Sprinter” that ever was, only produced for two years. Our feature car is a late model with the bigger 1166cc engine, introduced in September 1969. Given that this is the higher-trim SL, said engine has a twin-carb setup only seen on JDM Sprinters and churned out 77 or 78PS (not sure if net or gross, but better than the 65hp found in single-carb versions of the same 3KB motor).
Disc brakes were standard on the front wheels and the front suspension was also revised when the bigger engine was installed, so this is the first Corolla to have a slight performance edge to it. They also added a bunch of padding to the dash and a console around the Corolla’s trademark floor shifter.
Once again, we are faced with a 50-plus-year-old car that manages to appear like it just left the showroom floor. The single “5” numeral on the license plate also means that it’s wearing its original plates, as those gradually switched to two digits from 1967 to 1971 and presently (since 1999) have three. The only alteration seems to be the wheels, but those might be period-correct aftermarket. Either way, they do not detract to this Sprinter’s looks in the slightest.
The only problem with this CC was how difficult it was to photograph. Can’t really hold that against it, I guess. Otherwise, the Corolla E10’s delicate design, competent construction, bulletproof engine, this version’s sportier underpinnings and this particular example’s colour and presentation all work for me. And I know I won’t be the only one, so here it is, subjected for your approval.
Related posts:
Curbside Classic: 1969 Toyota Corolla (E10) Deluxe Wagon – Little Car With A Big Future, by T87
Coastside Classic Outtake: 1969 Toyota Corolla Wagon – Home Away From…No Home, by PN
Vintage Review: 1968 – 1970 Toyota Corolla – Smaller Bug Killer, by GN
This was the first Japanese car I became familiar with, being the go-to ride with my best buddy at university. His was the old second car his father bought when new. For an old car, it was in amazing shape. White with a red interior. We spent a lot of time in it, racing around the Colorado Rockies in it. It had far superior acceleration, better space utilization, and never broke down in all the years it was on the road.
It just wore out. I was pretty sad when he traded it in, as I really loved it.
Having had US rides in Gremlins, Pintos, Vegas, and grew up in Beetles, the Corolla was a remarkable experience for me. Airy, roomy, attractive and capable, the car was far superior to the competition. I also had a chance to ride around in a B-210, and found it really awful all around. It did not compare.
I’d love to have an old Corolla of this generation. Problem = RUST.
Front disc brakes on an economy car in 1967… wow. A ’67 Cadillac Deville had drum brakes in front as standard equipment.
The Sprinter wasn’t exactly an “economy car” in Japan; it was a high-performance version of the Corolla, with twin-carb engine, etc.
The Sprinter coupe sold in the US didn’t have either the hi-output engine or the disc brakes; just drums.
Meanwhile, the Renault 8, which was a “economy car” and was sold in the US, had four wheel disc brakes since 1966.
Im trying to think of a car that didnt come with standard discs up front herein the late 60s even Aussie cars were uprated to front discs for the Kiwi market among the four cylinder cars most of ours were UK or European sourced and all had front discs so the Japanese car just had them to compete.
The Sprinter coupe was sold in the US, but other than the lower fastback roof, it was just an ordinary Corolla; no hi-output engine or disc brakes.
It was also a bit tight inside with that lower roof:
Great looking car. It has my approval! Would be fun to drive with the manual tranny.
Nicely hidden lockable fuel filler (under the left-side C-pillar “vent”)
Neat looking example and an interesting find and account. Thanks again, Professor.
I like virtually all Bertone car designs. However, I absolutely love all the funky stylized fonts they come up with.
Aus3teceivrd the Sprinter SL with thr front discs, and twin carbs and (I think) a tachometer, so not stricty JDM only. After this, it would be quite a few years before any Corolla would be offered here with any genuine performance aspect.
I’ve always liked this model in fastback coupe form, a very pleasant design
Not familiar with the “Sprinter” as to my knowledge they were not imported to Canada like the Corolla was.
I like what I see and remember my first ride in a Japanese car was a Corolla, probably a 1969 model. It was quite unlike any North American car I had rode in of course and I remember being so impressed with the rear seat comfort (I wasn’t 6′ 1″ yet) as well as the lack of rattles. Overall, it was a tidy, simple car that seemed quiet around the city and very good looking to my young eyes.
As a kid growing up in Georgetown, Ontario, I can confirm that our neightbor’s teenage son had a 1970 Corolla Sprinter 4 speed in white. I remember it so well, because it looked so much sportier than what was sitting in our driveway…my Mom’s 1969 Corolla 2 door in dark blue with “Toyoglide”.
I was 8 years old, but recall them both being purchased new from Park Toyota. The owner made a presumably fatal mistake of switching his franchise to Park Mercury a year or two later. Yikes.
Not sure how many Sprinter’s were sold, but they were definitely available.
Looks nice to me and with dual carbys I imagine it went well .
-Nate
Sprinter as a Toyota sub brand was still around recently many late model used Toyota imports wear the S where the stylised bulls head should be.
Prior to 1985, any JDM output rating was JIS gross, in PS (so, 100 PS is 98.6 bhp). The dual-carb 3K-B was rated at 77 PS and 9.6 kg-m in 1970, requiring premium fuel. Toyota claimed 100 mph capability for the dual-carb Sprinter.
Thank you!
Nice to see you here, Aaron-san. It feels like it’s been a while.