Readers Rides

1968 Toyota Corona – Reader Ride

Old Coronas must have something going for them. This owner has had two, 50 years apart!

This is our second sixties Corona – we bought the first one when it was new! It’s the third generation Corona, known as the T40, and this one has the later 1500 straight four engine, which claimed 74 horsepower. That’s not a lot, but this is a pretty light car, weighing under 1000kg.

It’s a four-on-the-tree manual, all synchromesh. The gearing is fairly low and it easily gets up most hills in top.

Toyota made a lot of variants of these cars, including wagons and even a two-door hardtop. In Australia, the sedan was by far the most common and these sold in good numbers.

My wife and I used to enter our first Corona in hillclimbs at Templestowe and other places.

I bought this one a few years ago, as she developed Alzheimer’s and I thought this might bring back some memories. It did for a while.

Toyota -corona -1

They’re a very easy old car to own, as they’re very reliable and don’t take much to look after.

This one was pulling a little under brakes, but a pair of fresh drums on the front fixed that.

Overall it was in very good shape, showing only 36,000 on the odometer – though I don’t know how accurate that was. Nevertheless it had obviously been treasured.

I still have a couple of little dents to fix, but that’s all. We also reskinned the dash, as they all curl up over time.

Nowadays I just play with it. They’re simple things and a dream to drive.

Valuation guide: Owners are asking around $10-15k for a good example.

 

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