Description
For sale is an exceptionally rare Toyota Crown Custom 2600 station wagon from 1972 – one of the few surviving examples in this specification, particularly as a station wagon.
The vehicle comes from a collection and is in a meticulously restored original condition, with a clear focus on authenticity and factory specification. It is explicitly not a heavily over-restored show car, but a coherent, authentic collector's vehicle with substantial provenance.
The Toyota Crown is likely to be a genuine exotica on the European market – even more so as an estate/ wagon. In the land of the rising sun, however, the Toyota flagship has carried the name Crown since 1955 and continues to be produced for Asia in the now 16th generation. In Japan they were also known as the 'Whale' or 'Kujira' Crown. The vehicle presented here from 1972 is therefore a true unicorn, and impresses with its original preserved Japanese "Baroque style" with lots of chrome and chic. The estate, also known as the wagon, surprises with many small details, ample interior space and robust mechanics. The right-hand drive Crown Custom additionally has a third row of seats.
The entire interior is in a well-kept and largely original condition. The interior trim is blue. The faux leather elements of the front seats are heavily worn. On the driver's seat there is a rip in the side bolster. The door panels are blue and the dashboard is covered in black and are in good condition. The dashboard and instruments show typical signs of wear. Notable is the original period radio in a simple design. The instruments operate correctly. The odometer reads 73, 131 miles, which seems realistic given the light wear on the steering wheel, controls and pedal rubbers. The floor mats in the front space harmonise tone-for-tone with the blue original carpeting. The headliner is originally preserved and in good condition. The car comes with the original 2 keys and the extensive documentation.
The Toyota Crown 2600 features the 4M six-cylinder inline engine with a displacement of 2563 cc and bore and stroke of 80 mm x 85 mm, with a compression ratio of 8. 5:1. The engine is the original with a single overhead cam (SOHC). Mixture formation is via a progressive downflow carburettor with mechanical choke. The engine has a total output of 130 PS at 5200 rpm. The kerb weight is 1370 kg. The three-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels. In stock only a 4-speed manual was offered.
Worldwide there are only a handful of these magnificent vehicles left, and even fewer have found their way to Europe. That the Toyota Crown is a genuine Japanese cultivar and not an export model is shown by the external mirrors mounted on the front fenders. This, therefore, is an extremely rare opportunity to acquire a Toyota Crown Custom. The Crown models of this generation mark an important chapter in Japanese automotive history and are gaining international significance – particularly rare variants like this estate, which were produced in far smaller numbers from the factory.
The car is therefore aimed specifically at lovers and collectors of Japanese classics who appreciate the uniqueness of this model.
