It’s a wonder how an obscure Japanese subculture from the post-war era has had an influence on the Japanese classic car scene, 50 years later. It’s also transformed what was until recently considered a large, floaty Japanese approximation of a Buick into an object of desire for a generally young group of people. The trend is not widespread in North America, but is spreading, and there are still various options to get in on the ground floor. Extensive research on the internet and Facebook (huh?) shows that the Toyota Crown is one of the more popular cars to modify. In North America, the Crown was known as the Cressida, and we’ve found this 1986 Toyota Cressida with period-looking Hoshino Impul wheels and lowered suspension in the suburbs of Atlanta, GA for $3500.
It’s still surprising how changing wheels and stance can make a milquetoast car like this look aggressive. The car has 159,000 miles, which is not bad for its age, and includes a wood steering wheel, new tires, and new front calipers. There’s also a 3″ pipe from the catalytic converter – does this make for a boring drone, or a nice roar? It’s not clear if the Japanese-looking plate on the front is included, but it’s a nice touch. The next steps are up to you, but there are plenty of choices – pipe-organ-style takeyari exhaust pipe conversion, ridiculous fender flares or spoilers, or pointless cooling vents? At the very least, you’ll want some Japanese imperial flag stickers, or heck, why not paint it across the hood?
Rusty But Trusty 
October 11, 2013 at 4:24 am |
My first car was a 1971 Toyota Corona sedan, automatic with a bench seat in front, so I have a soft spot for these older Japanese sedans. Would have preferred this one stock.