1975 Toyota Corona Mark II – Classified of the Week

It’s OK to get a little start struck by some of the more, how shall we say, high end JDM cars available on Car & Classic; the Toyota Supras, Nissan Skylines and Subaru Imprezas, for instance. They’re brilliant cars and well deserving of their iconic status but they do have a habit of overshadowing some of the less showy models from the land of the rising sun. We love a Mazda RX-7 FD Turbo as much as the next person but while most are drooling over these icons of the east there are a few of us that get equally (well, almost) as excited about the earlier, more modest Japanese offerings. The likes of the Datsun 1200 (we have one), the original Honda Civic, for example and case in point: the Toyota Corona Mark II.

The names Toyota and Corona don’t exactly illicit a particularly inspired response, generally speaking, but that’s because most people tend to think of the more modern, mundane models from the ’80s and ’90s, but the Corona name goes as far back as 1957. It was a hugely important car for Toyota as it eventually helped establish the Japanese manufacturer as a major player in the auto export market, especially in America where the Corona flourished thanks to its reliability and standard equipment levels. It remained a huge seller for Toyota over the coming decades and was a popular car but as the ’70s approached things got a little confusing in the Corona camp.

The original Corona continued to happily roll out of the Toyota factory but in 1968 another car, named the Toyota Corona Mark II was put into production side-by-side. Although initially using the Corona sedan platform as a blueprint it was a brand new car. Larger than the model it was based upon it was intended to sit in between the smaller Corona and the larger, more luxurious Crown in the range. Front-engined and rear-wheel drive the Corona Mark II was available as either a four-door sedan (T60), two-door coupé (T70) or an estate and was offered with a range of Toyota’s four-cylinder R-Series engines from 1.5 to 2.0-litres.

Fast forward four years and the second generation Corona Mark II made its debut in ’72. Based on Toyota’s new X-Series platform rather than the out-dated T-Series chassis of the previous model, the new Mark II was significantly re-styled and now sported a more streamlined and contemporary “Coke bottle” aesthetic. Still sold as both a four and two-door, as well as a wagon, the engine range was now bolstered by not one, but three six-cylinder offering, alongside a handful of four-pots. The Toyopet moniker refers to Toyota’s convoluted dealer network at the time but that’s another story entirely.

The model we’re showcasing here is a 1975 Toyota Corona Mark II GSL. Imported from Japan in April 2021 by Club Japan Imports the car has covered a mere 37,500 miles from new and is fitted with the 18R 2.0-litre, in-line 4-cylinder OHC twin carb engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. According to the Toyota Global website the factory output of this particular car was 115bhp and combined with its rear-wheel drive setup should make for a fun and engaging drive. The car is fully UK registered and has had just one owner since being in the country.

The car received a full service in December last year and the only mechanical frailty listed in the advert is a clutch that will soon need replacing. Judging from the pictures the engine, diff and rear suspension look to be in good shape and thanks to Japan not salting its roads in the winter the under side of the car and bodywork also present pretty well considering the car’s vintage and rust doesn’t appear to be an issue, although the rear sills were repaired and undersealed upon arrival on UK soil. Yes, there are a few blemishes dotted about the exterior but nothing that makes us recoil in horror. The interior is in fine fettle too and is commensurate with the limited mileage of the car. Not only that but it has recently benefited from a full interior valet.

This Toyota Corona Mark II GSL is a rare car from an era when style still counted for something. Before the cookie-cutter system became so prevalent in vehicle manufacturing. Not only that but it represents a great entry into the classic JDM scene. It has correct-wheel drive, a zesty motor and handsome looks. Oh, and that centre console brake monitor. We love it.