The content of the article:
- Top 7 rare Toyota models
- Toyota Su-Ki
- Toyota Sera
- Toyota crown
- Toyota Origin
- Toyota Classic
- Toyota blizzard
- Toyota camp mate
Although Toyota is the largest Japanese automaker, the second largest in the world, even sincere fans of the brand do not know about all the models produced over the long years of the concern's existence. There are many rare, even collectible items in the assortment - we will consider the most interesting of them in the next review.
Top 7 rare Toyota models
Toyota Su-Ki
During the 1943 military campaign by amphibious assault troops and army formations based in the Pacific Islands and in Southeast Asia with numerous water obstacles, Toyota provided troops with an amphibious Su-Ki armored personnel carrier.
This unit was equipped with an all-wheel drive system and a 65-horsepower 6-cylinder gasoline engine. The amphibian had an armored hull, externally imitating a boat and a carrying capacity of 2 tons. She had excellent driving characteristics and layout in the absence of standard weapons.
The model was produced for less than a year - from November 1943 to August 1944, during this period about 200 copies were produced. Most of the amphibians at the end of hostilities were confiscated by the American army, although almost all of them were no longer used, but were simply dismantled for the sake of metal.
On the island of Ponape in Micronesia, the only surviving specimen remained, however, in a rather deplorable state. Perhaps this island can be called a kind of rare museum with a lot of unique military equipment scattered throughout the territory or in private use.
Toyota Sera
This compact coupe was not intended for export and was more an experiment of Japanese engineers. Its "highlight" was the upward-opening doors, which were too futuristic for 1990. The side windows on them had such a shape that they actually bent onto the roof, and the rear window did have a hemispherical shape and was striking in size.
The car was designed for four people, but the seats were so tiny as if they were intended for children.
In addition, Japanese designers experimented with might and main with a variety of complex body shapes in the so-called "biodesign" style. Its essence was to imitate naturally occurring streamlined forms in nature, which sometimes led to the creation of overly rounded models, more like pebbles rolled by the sea.
By the 90s, computer technology was added to this style to mate complex body panels during assembly, which gave rise to completely phantasmagoric specimens. Thanks to biodesign, the car has received such a recognizable appearance that it is now considered a collectible "gem".
Despite the fact that this was the first time butterfly-wing doors were installed on an Alfa Romeo, the Japanese have long considered Sera to be the discoverer of such a mechanism. These doors were associated with luxury, exclusivity and sports cars, and therefore ensured a high level of interest in the model.
Under the hood of the front-wheel drive car was a petrol 1.5-liter 110-horsepower engine, to which a choice of 5-speed "mechanics" or 4-speed "automatic" was offered.
The production of the model lasted only 5 years, during which almost 16 thousand copies were produced.
Toyota crown
It was this model that became the ancestor of a whole line of full-size luxury sedans, although, according to the calculations of the company's leaders, it was created exclusively for the needs of taxi companies.
The car is considered the oldest Toyota sedan that has come down to our time, now often used as a limousine for Japanese businessmen. The first generation of the 1955 model can hardly be called significant and impressive: a standard rear-wheel drive sedan with a 1.5-liter 60-horsepower engine and a 3-speed "mechanics".
But the second generation, for the development of which the style of the Ford Falcon was spied, could already boast of a respectable interior and exterior. It is it that receives the proprietary Toyoglide 2-speed transmission, and the engineers installed a 6-cylinder 2-liter inline engine of the "M" series as the power unit.
Then the 3rd, 4th and even the 14th generation appeared, the design, speed characteristics, technical equipment changed. But it was the first non-export models that could get lost as taxis in Japanese traffic jams that became legend, bestsellers and old-timers of their automaker.
Toyota Origin
Millennium has become a significant year for the Japanese brand - the 100 millionth car rolled off the assembly line. To celebrate this event, the company developed a unique model that existed for only a month and had a limited edition of one thousand.
When creating it, the engineers decided to pay tribute to the amazing success of the previous participant in the rating - the design of Origin “imitates” the same 1955 Crown as much as possible.
Surprisingly, with the exterior of the Crown and the base from the Progres limousine, the creators got an impressive, interesting, self-sufficient model. She combined classics with modernity, received first-class wood and leather finishes, swing doors and many electronic assistants.
In the "heart" of the sedan installed a 3-liter 6-cylinder in-line 215-horsepower engine, paired with a 4-speed "automatic".
Although the car cannot be called bright, memorable, unusual, it cost 60,000 dollars, and every copy of the thousand found its buyer.
Toyota Classic
The release of this model was also timed to coincide with the company's anniversary - the 60th anniversary of the existence of the Toyota AA car. The luxury car, worth $ 75,000, was made in retro style, complemented by a respectable leather interior.
The rear-wheel drive car was equipped with a 2-liter 97-horsepower engine and a 4-speed "automatic", and the engineers borrowed the chassis non-standard for the sedan - from the 5th generation Hilux pickup.
All 100 copies were sold exclusively to domestic consumers, not intended for export.
Toyota blizzard
Although Toyota does not have the plagiarism that often occurs in the Chinese car industry, the 1980 Blizzard is a replica of the Daihatsu Taft. The Japanese also made a compact all-wheel drive SUV with a similar frame structure. As a power unit, he received a 72-horsepower naturally aspirated 2.2-liter engine, paired with a 4-speed "automatic".
Although the SUV was sold only in the domestic market and, according to few sources of information, had little demand, it received the second generation in 1984. In a new version, he added power: an atmospheric 2.4-liter 83-horsepower engine and a turbocharged 85-horsepower of the same volume.
The miniature car, unlike its prototype, lasted only 4 years, while Daihatsu was produced until the 90s. Blizzard, on the other hand, was quite popular in Russia, mainly in Primorye, thanks to its import by sailors for sale and personal needs.
Toyota camp mate
This amazing mobile home was produced exclusively for the domestic consumer and was in sufficient demand. Camper was created on the basis of the compact commercial minivan Lite Ice, produced since 1970 and still existing today.
It had a reliable chassis, good ergonomics, as well as dynamics thanks to an economical 2-liter diesel engine and a 5-speed "mechanics". Moreover, the gear selector was installed in a non-standard way for the Japanese car industry on the steering rack. Russian drivers are familiar with a similar design in the domestic GAZ-21.
The "highlight" of this model is the retractable living section, which doubles the internal space, allowing two people to rest at once, which is especially appreciated by people traveling in large companies or families. The salon made it possible to accommodate a bathroom and a minimum set of household appliances, as well as a sliding door to separate the living area from the driver's seat.
Over its 81-year existence, the Japanese automaker has created an incredible number of the most diverse models: trucks and cars, family and racing, futuristic and retro, super-tech, fantastically beautiful and incredibly ugly.
Toyota vehicles conquer the off-road, racetrack and the hearts of car enthusiasts in equal measure. In a word, it is a brand that is changing the world, creating style and writing the history of the automotive industry. Therefore, even unclaimed, even strange models become unique, rarity and take their place in the annals of the Japanese and world automotive industry.
Toyota
