1 of 100: Retro-Look 1996 Toyota Classic
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of its first production automobile, Toyota developed a limited-build vehicle called the Classic. It had a 1930s retro look and reminds me a bit of the 2000s Plymouth PT Cruiser. Only 100 were assembled and we assume none of them were officially exported to the U.S. With right-hand drive, this odd rarity is in Rush, New York, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $22,900 OBO (thanks for the tip, Tony Primo). Be the only kid on your block to own one!
If you’re a fan of Toyotas and never heard of the Classic, don’t feel bad. Outside of Japan, it’s unlikely a lot of folks did even though Toyota was a big player in the global market by the 1990s. The car was a nod to the A1 which was the prototype that led to the AA model which was the first Toyota built in numbers. We understand the styling of the A1/AA deliberately mimicked the aerodynamic pre-war Chrysler Airflow. But it was much more modern in its execution and borrowed its frame from the Toyota Hilux, a rear-wheel-drive pickup.
Perhaps to make it financially viable to build so few of them, Toyota used the existing 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that was rated at under 100 hp. And, the interior was lifted from Toyota’s current top-of-the-line cars but with extra luxury touches added, like the use of real wood rather than fake stuff. The seller doesn’t go into the history of this 1 of 100 vehicles and we suspect it was imported by a private individual rather than by Toyota given the placement of the steering wheel.
No mention is made of whether any work is needed or has recently been done at 62,000 miles. The body looks good and the black paint is shiny with contrasting stripes and a red and grey leather interior. But we’re told it performs as it should and will likely attract attention anywhere you take it. If you’re into finding one of those cars that no one else has, the Toyota Classic is probably one to keep.
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Comments
I’d rather have this than the ’88 “Avanti” featured elsewhere on Barn Finds, and it would be a cheaper and better car too!
This looks like a sensible classic. Should be durable and reliable. You’ll have all the attention you need and never grow tired of saying that it’s not a P/T Cruiser.
Say what you will about PT Cruiser looks but the Toyota underpinnings will be infinitely more reliable than a Chrysler…even it’s a “bad” Toyota.
Kinda what I said. I’m only poking at the passers by
Neat to take to cars-n-coffee.Get a lot of whats-it.Pretty good copy of an Airflow.
“That’s a WHAT??”
I didn’t think it possible to make a car this UGLY. I thought SUVs were the worst and now a new all time winner.
Sorry, but the Cybertruck will hold that title for years to come.
Looks very like an Airflow reproduction or retro car.
I see the curb weight is 3300 pounds…with a couple people, close to two tons. And a 100-hp four in it.
For many decades, Japan’s national speed limit was 45 mph, or so. Or, so Popular Mechanics asserted when the imported mini-trucks came off the boat. They referenced it to explain why the first generation weren’t that great on freeways, even with our Double-Nickel edict.
This thing is probably geared for those slow speeds, probably using a high rear-end ratio.
I didn’t know about the speed limit. I was thinking it would make a cute prom or wedding limo, but not if it has to take to a highway. It would make a fun Uber for say, a place like Key West. Don’t know about the luggage space for to=from the airport, though.
Odd duck that it is, I like it. Mechanical bits should be easy to come by since it’s modern. I think Toyota missed the boat by not mass producing these for export to our shores. Park this next to a pt cruiser, and for me this would win.
Agree w/you on why it wasn’t offered in the USDM, it would
have been an option but, I like
the PT(if only)for the retro look
like the SSR, HHR..dare I say it,
Prowler(my pick). They were,… I’d have to say it..cool in a time
when cars/trucks were cookie
cutter designed or boring!?!.
Nothing has changed. Today’s cars and trucks are still boring.
I rented a HHR to go on vacation with. Loved it! I would have gladly bought one had I been in a position to make payments. I have some social friends, who last I knew, had one with over 200k on it, and it still looked sharp. Secret to longevity to most any vehicle is to keep up the maintenance.
I believe this car should be called a “ToyoDa”, as I read the name was changed to Toyota in the late 30s. I think it’s cool looking, certainly unlike anything Asian today and compliant. Retro fads come and go, and none stick around long. I’m waiting for that “retro” CJ Jeep to come along.
You can get yourself a JDM CJ3B (it might be called a J53 or some such) manufactured by Mitsubishi until 1998. They are being imported as over 25 years old. It is the high-hood flattie, but I could live with that. It will be right-hand drive, but will be powered by a handy turbo diesel. I would have one but my other half won’t “let” me!
Lol
Time you got a new “other half” ?
The CEO of Toyota is also named “ToyoDA”..just coincidence..FYI some Toyotas in the 60s were called “Toyopets” for an interesting reason. In Japan you could buy a car at a lot or at a department store. Toyotas meant for sale at those stores were named Toyopets while the vehicles at the lots kept their name..
Why the ugly mirrors, dashboard etc.?
The proportions look off somehow too. Has a bit of a hearse look to it.
But who does not like a good hearse I ask you ? ;-)
Roger Robert F and its a pearl harbor thing…
I am liking it bigly. You would certainly turn heads at any car show with this one if only because of it’s rarity.
Proportions are off because this being a low volume build the body is modified from a Hilux crew cab – the dash is pure ’90s Toyota pickup apart from the wood trim and Nardi steering wheel as well, and it’s probably BOF on a Hilux chassis.
The New Beetle and PT Cruiser were both based on FWD unibody car platforms and planned for production runs large enough that all their external body panels were specific to their designs, only unseen panels like floorpans and firewalls were shared with the Golf and Neon (respectively).
If ugly was sold by the pound, this would be a small fortune.
Something I see in a lot of posts, not just this one, is, people tend to to look at older vehicles with modern day eyes. I was born in 1952, and MUCH has been changed and improved just in my lifetime. Do I like all the changes and improvements, no. I miss the days when new cars had different colored interiors, different engines to be had, but, it is what it is. I am not a fan of Toyota, but I think they did a wonderful job with this. Rare, indeed. A show stopper. If speed and low power are really concerns, one could update the power plant. But then that lessens the value of the car.
Looks like a 2-tone London taxi…
Honestly just off the thumbnail I Thought someone had just modified another PT cruiser I remember one PT running around Washington State it must of Han every Chrome accessory JC Whitney had to offer attached to it. With this things obscurity I would be concerned about finding parts to keep it on the road, because yes I’m one of those who would drive it to enjoy it instead of a garage queen.
I thought I would see in the text the phrase of “Every car sold at a loss”. I would think that it would have cost Toyota a lot if money to produce the body panels for such a low production run.
Dude, it was a commemorative edition, they weren’t trying to make money on it!
“Only 100 were built.”
100 too many, in my opinion.
As you said, it looks like a Plymouth Prowler and is just as under powered.
Not a Prowler, but a PT Cruiser. Oy, the mind! The memory! It sucks.
SO Ugly…
I Want One…
Five years before the PT Cruiser. Hmmm, PT designer Brian Nesbitt has some splanin’ to do.
There may be a more ugly car somewhere, but, quite frankly, I can’t think of
one.
If I didn’t see it, I wouldn’t have believed it!
for that money you could buy and import a Toyota origin which was nod to the early Toyota Crown only 1073 made and a nicer interior in a standard sedan format. not sure if the link will work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Origin
I have no use for Toyota, but I like body because it was based on the Airflow.
Know a guy with a London Taxi he wants to make it a parade/prom/wedding car.
This would be better !!!
like it if more streamlined lines, hatch or barn door back (anything but that). Should have been it’s own rather than other ‘pieces/parts’ (Perdue) but low production duznot allow that. The lux take is fine too but not ina direction I perfer. Great toy reliability/durability tho