32k Mile Rare Import: 1971 Toyota Crown
In production since 1955, the Crown has been one of Toyota’s topline automobiles. It holds the distinction of being the longest-running nameplate in the Toyota portfolio and was also the first Toyota to be imported into the U.S. when the company entered these shores in 1958. The fourth generation was built between 1971-74 and includes this survivor-quality ’71 edition that has only traveled 32,000 miles in 51 years. Another great tip from MattR, this car is in Lake Stevens, Washington, and is a rarely seen beauty available here on craigslist for $14900.
The Crown would be considered a mid-size car by the U.S. proportions of the day, but full-size on its home shores. It had a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and used a 1,988-cc inline-six in 1971 (grew to 2,563-cc in later years). The seller is the third owner of this fine automobile and provides an extensive detailing of its history, including a logbook. The second owner acquired the car in 1987 when it had just 25,700 miles. The seller bought it 20 years later when the odometer read 31,600 miles. So, for the past 35 years, this Toyota has only seen highway use to the tune of an additional 6,000 miles.
In the five years the seller has had the Toyota, he’s done some mechanical work to keep it fresh and functional. He rebuilt the carburetor, cleaned out the fuel tank, replaced the fuel filter and battery, had the brakes serviced, gave it a full tune-up, and redid the exhaust system. It’s also wearing newer tires. The seller says the original carburetor can be temperamental and suggests it be replaced. Once that’s done, this should be a solid, reliable car that could be put into regular service.
Other than a small spot on the lower/aft corner of one of the wheel wells, we’re told the Crown is rust-free. The paint is largely original (may have been touched up) and shines nicely. It’s not perfect but there’s no reason to get a quote for a redo. The interior reflects Toyota’s vision of what a luxury car was in those days, and other than a small spot on the carpeting, everything is tidy in the passenger compartment. The fortunate buyer who takes this car home will be treated to all the paperwork that has been kept since Day 1.
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Comments
I like it! Looking at all of the new cars today, this seems to be many years ahead of it’s time with the body color matched bumpers. Even though I am no Toyota expert, the price seems fair too. Nice find!
I agree. Compared to today’s Toyotas and other Japanese cars offered today, I’d much prefer those offered in the 1960s to the early 80s. It’s nice to see some still survive.
Agreed! The thin slot above the grille, blending into the elongated marvel lights, and the integrated bumpers look really modern!
This car has had exceptional care over the years. Doubt you see another if you attend any sort of event with it. Price seems reasonable.
There was a guy (George) who had one of these
in Eureka,only it was red.It was cool,but weird at the same
time.
That is one awesome car. Use to be a fair number purchased in my home town but just a handful have survived. The two door coupe of this same model and vintage is even more stunning. I bet this will be snapped up and returned to its place of birth, Japan.
A guy here in Jacksonville Florida has a 2 door Coupe Crown in great condition.
Amazing detailed vehicles!
Great time spent showing and explaining his car for sale. Wish though he would have taken a recent picture or two of the motor. Sounds like it still has a stalling issue due to the carburetor. Nice example that you would be hard pressed to see another one like it.
I saw two of these in my lifetime. One was in the showroom when I bought my HiLux pickup and the other was bought by a family in the hometown. The second one (a ’72) is still in the family and has about 60K miles on it but it’s suffered a lot more from the tin worm than any of the domestics from the same era. Personally I could never get used to the front ends; that little step in there just seemed out of place. However, I’ve heard that these were good cars and while you wouldn’t likely find one parked on my driveway I wouldn’t go against anyone else driving one. Lord help you find parts for it though…
Is it me or does the straight on front end pic look like a late 60s early 70s Chrysler front end grafted on?
24 photos in the ad, and the only engine bay photos are two bad photos of two even worse photos
Next stop ✋ the Japanese Embassy to drop off the diplomat.
This has a 2600 badge on the rear trunk lid. I think it was the larger six.
From Wiki: “Launched in February 1971, the 4M 2600 engine was introduced with this generation”
From back when Toyota designers were eating ‘shrooms.
Shrooms 🍄 and a Crown Royal 👑 double on the rocks Steve 🥃
Beautiful looking car. I’ve heard of the Toyota Crown, and I knew that they were sold here in the USA, sadly, and unforgivably, they weren’t great sellers in the USA. I wish I knew why. They looked like the best car for the Toyota owner who wanted something larger than the Corolla or the Corona. I wish I could check out the car myself. Unfortunately I have never visited Lake Stevens, Washington. Even if I couldn’t buy the car, I would’ve loved to have a look at the car, maybe take it for a drive around the neighbourhood.
I once owned a 1971 Toyota Corona. I began reading this article thinking I would find a lot of similarities between my Corona and this Crown. Guess what? I couldn’t find many. This is a very nice upscale Corona.
This would’ve been perfect for anyone who likes the Corona or Corona Mark II, but wants something larger and nicer.
HOW CAN i GET IN TOUCH WITH SELLER. mY NUMBER IS 540 230 0077 GARY DUNCAN DUNCANIMPORTS.COM
Gary,
The number’s (206) 293-2856.
I’m hoping to get down to your place in Blacksburg sson.
Coming soon to a stealer, I mean, dealer near you with a likely $10k price increase. Let’s hope an enthusiast gets his hands on this instead.
I remember seeing one of these when I was a kid for the first time and wondering what the hell it was with the Battlestar Galactica Cylon eyebrow above the grill. Looks to be a beautiful shape and probably well worth the money.
Beautiful Survivor, but being a sedan, the price seems a little steep. I bought the 69 Toyota Corona Coupe with original paint, albeit with patina featured on Barn Finds a couple weeks ago for less than half the money.
A Crown coupe is nice, but I’ve always preferred either a Crown 4 door sedan or a Crown station wagon.
Yes! The coupe is neat, but the wagon version of this is the showstopper for me.
I owned an earlier version, a Gen 3, in the late 70’s. My friends called it “the limo” because of the ride, 6 cylinder smoothness and back seat space, the result of a design that targeted Japanese executive and taxi use. Mine had the 4 speed manual tranny too!
I had a water pump failure and they had pressed the shaft in to a casting that was held viscous fluid to drive the fan. The local dealer supplied a new water pump (!) but would not separate it from the casting and no local machine shop was willing to do it either, so the “reliable” Toyota was out of service for weeks until I put the assembly in an oven to about 200° F and then put the shaft in LN2 and it fell apart!
It was starting to have tranny bearing issues when I sold it but probably was a local car from the SanFran Bay Area: the body was solid, interior was great.
Today, if I saw one of those Crown pickup “trucks” shown in the Wikipedia article I would grab it: a high-end Japanese El Camino.
I agree. 🙂
I crossed paths with one of these in a salvage yard in Willow Grove, PA around 1979 while hunting up parts for my ’71 Corona MkII sedan. Blown away by the inline 6; had no idea Toyota even had one. There really were no intermixing of parts, but the interior smelled the same as mine.
These were a large car by Japanese standards, but in ’71 would have been considered a compact, like a Dart. Guessing the Dart was cheaper, and the Crown was well-appointed like a New Yorker. Bad market positioning.
Gone! I wonder if Gary Duncan snagged this cream puff? Good lookin’ little Toyota.
I love these odd-ball Japanese cars! I just wish my chassis was a little smaller so I would fit in them better…or a lot of the older cars I like.
I know what you mean. I would’ve preferred something like this any day over a Corolla.
What’s always bothered me is why certain Japanese cars aren’t offered here in the USA. The Toyota Crown isn’t the only one that never sold well here in the USA. Assuming Nissan’s Cedric was ever offered, not enough sold to justify offering it for North American use.