Toyota Crown VI (S110)
The Toyota Crown was one of the mainstays of Toyota's model program after the war. It was in this model that Toyota added the characteristics that shaped the car brand to what it is today.
A Japanese dream
The first Crown model (Toyopet Crown) was a fairly simple car, barely the size of a Moskvitch and by western standards not much to brag about on the road either. But for the average Japanese, such a car was unattainable. People's hope was that times would get better if you worked hard. Perhaps that is why the car was marketed under the slogan "A Crown, Someday". A Japanese dream?
A car for "executives"
My experience with the Toyota Crown started with the Crown (VI), the sixth in the series. In the early 80s, I lived in Saudi Arabia for a couple of years. An eldorado for car enthusiasts like me. I usually used a robust four-wheel drive for the 10 or so miles I had to drive each day. I was often allowed to borrow the administration car for a change. It was the company car of my colleague, Stuart, who managed our business in Riyadh. An Englishman with long driving time under foreign skies and a taste for fine cars. Stuart was a typical executive of his time – constantly on the move in a well-trimmed moustache, white shirt, tie and briefcase. His white Toyota Crown 2800 SuperSaloon with blue velor interior was far from an eye-catcher in the wealthy oil kingdom. But the Toyota Crown did not lack class. The Crown was arguably a precursor to the Lexus.
Used as a taxi here at home
Last Saturday I had a reunion with the Toyota Crown (VI) outside Hafjell Bilservice on Øyer. In accordance regnr.info there should be 49 cars left on Norwegian plates from model years 1979 – 1983. Unfortunately, many have ended up in the press due to rust. When I search among deregistered, scrapped cars, I also find extremely high mileage on several. The Toyota Crown must have been loved by taxi owners.
Equipment level and motorisation
The red Crown is a Deluxe Diesel. Equipment degree Deluxe has a smoother and simpler interior than the beautiful velor interior in SuperSaloon. Executive cars around 1980 had plush interiors – rarely leather seats. According to the registration statistics, everyone is watching SuperSaloon appeared to have been delivered with a 2,8 liter inline six. There are also a few copies of Deluxe 2600. They had the engine from the predecessor, which was eventually replaced by the new 2,8-litre engine.
Diesel - no racing car
According to the papers, the 4-cylinder diesel engine should produce a modest 66 HP and a torque of 132 Nm at 2400 rpm. 0-100 takes about an afternoon – a whopping 24 seconds. Top speed is 140 km/h. Turbodiesel only became available in the next model, which was not imported to Norway. Crown diesel can be compared to that of the time Mercedes-Benz 240D. No racing car, either.
SuperSaloon 2800
For its time, the figures were very good. 145 HP at 5000 revs and a torque of 226 Nm at 4000 revs. 0-100 in 11,1 seconds and a top speed of 195 km/h. The engine needed a relatively high rev to keep up with the hectic Arab traffic flow. I imagined an automatic would have been a better choice, although the 5-speed manual was certainly easy to work with. The chassis was firm, in typical Japanese fashion, without being uncomfortable. The rear-wheel-drive supercar felt like a compact car when thrown into corners and evasive maneuvers—at least compared to the Chevrolet Caprice I occasionally rented on out-of-town errands. The Crown reminded me more of the cars I was used to here at home.
Crown as a hobby car?
It should be well done to find some Crown (VI) regardless of condition. Even in his native Japan. I have no idea why the cars disappeared, but I'm guessing that the explanation is rust, extremely high mileage and that the nice velor interior doesn't seem to stand the test of time very well. It's the plush car you must have, even if you have to get a new interior! 2800 SuperSaloon with low mileage. The best example I could find for sale online was a 1982 model with 182 km near Stuttgart. It costs 000 euros, and can be driven home with your own machine. The seats in this car had unfortunately been replaced with the more durable seats from Deluxe, but the plush was still intact in the inner lining of the doors. If you want something more exotic, the Crown was also available as a 10- and 000-door Hardtop, but few of them found their way out of Japan.
Diesel or plush?
The red Crown in the photo appears to have dropped road salt. The diesel engine, referred to as Toyota's L engine, were popular in both HiAce and HiLux. Parts will therefore be easy to obtain. Deluxe Diesel bears the hallmarks of being a utility vehicle - not an "executive" car. I myself would choose a 2800 SuperSaloon, without a doubt. It conveys the dream of Crown – someday!
Toyota Crown - Facts
Weights and Measures
Length, width, height in cm: 486, 172, 143
Wheelbase: 269 cm
Net weight without driver: 1420 kg (2,2 D), 1442 kg (2,8).
Petrol tank: 72 litres
Undercarriage
Front: McPherson suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar.
Rear: DeDion axle with coil springs and stabilizer bar.
Brakes: Front ventilated discs, rear drums.
Production year
Series 1: 1979 – 1981
Series 2: 1982 – 1983
From 1982, the model received a facelift. The headlights were changed from double square lamp inserts, to simple rectangular ones. The SuperSaloon received painted bumpers. 2600 disappeared as an engine option.
Sources
Car register regnr.info
Ultimate Specs
mobile.de – Germany's largest Fahrzeugmarkt
Toyota Crown - Pictures
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