1984 Toyota Century – Project Profile

You have to hand it to those Japanese auto makers, they’re an industrious bunch. You see, the west will build a certain car, it will be a huge success and sell in the millions and then Mazda, or Honda or any of the major players in the Japanese automotive industry will think “we reckon we can do better than that” and hey presto, out pops the likes of the MGB inspired MX-5 and the NSX, just two examples of Japanese cars that changed the game when it came to chuckable two-seater roadsters and Ferrari beating mid-engined sports cars respectively. It’s the same story with Toyota, too and the Century: a luxury flagship model to rival the best that Rolls-Royce or Mercedes could come up with.

Introduced in 1967 the Century (named in honour of the 100th birthday of Toyota’s founder Sakichi Toyoda) was at the apex of Japanese automobile manufacturing at the time. Built as a jewel in Toyota’s crown it was reserved for the royal family, high level dignitaries and top ranking government officials, as well as various prominent, yet nefarious “business” bosses. But this wasn’t a flashy, diamond-encrusted show-piece. Far from it. The design, which has remained pretty much unchanged since the car’s inception (until the latest iteration that is), is very much of the conservative persuasion, shunning the usual trappings of such ostentatious status symbols for a much more subtle vibe but one that’s no less impressive.

That’s not to say the Toyota Century doesn’t compare to the upper echelons of automotive grandeur. Far from it. Featuring an unrivalled level of comfort, quality and attention to detail the list of features is staggering, but we’ll get to that. Alongside the stratospheric equipment levels first gen cars were furnished with an uprated version of the 2.6-litre V8 from the earlier Crown Eight model, in this instance a 3.0-litre mated to a manual column shift gearbox. With 150bhp it was plenty powerful enough to waft the car along smoothly in utter comfort.

The Century is still in production today but has now sadly morphed into an SUV, eschewing the original saloon/limousine layout and V8 and later V12 engines in favour of the full size luxury crossover that is currently de rigueur. Boooo. But fear not, because we have you covered here at Car & Classic with this stunning original model.

What is it?

Bask in the glory of this right-hand drive 1984 first gen Toyota Century. Previously a plaything of the rich and influential gentleman the car was imported from the Middle East to join a car collection in the UK and has since been brought out of storage where it had remained unused for around 15 years. Being an ’84 model the car comes with an automatic gearbox as well as the 4.0-litre, VG40 version of Toyota’s V8 engine which gives a performance boost of 40bhp over those original cars, making it a much more usable proposition.

Why is it a project? 

Despite presenting beautifully with no signs of corrosion anywhere on either the chassis or the bodywork, the car has developed an as yet undiagnosed fuelling issue and an electrical fault. The car does start and run but then after a time the engine dies and the battery becomes drained. Small fry (potentially) in the grand scheme of things then, and although the car is being sold as a project having been in storage for so long this Century could well represent an exciting opportunity for an easy win.

What should you look for? 

1) Known issues

So we know there is an issue with the fuel and electrical systems but just how serious is it? As mentioned, the car does start and run so potentially not a catastrophic problem but it still obviously needs to be addressed. If you’re not so savvy with the spanners then it’s a good idea to take an expert with you who may be able to better assess the situation.

2) Does it need a refresh?

Having been in storage for so long certain parts may have perished and might need to be replaced. To save us covering old ground here you can instead check out our Resurrecting a Barn Find article which covers the basics.

3) Equipment

Absolutely laden with equipment and features this is a huge selling point for the Century and so it’s imperative that everything works as Toyota intended. Get in, make yourself at home and ensure that all of the gadgets and toys work. From the electric everything (including the tiny rear quarter windows) and the heated, massaging(!) seats to the digital dash and air conditioning. Everything is labelled in Japanese Kanji though, so good luck!

4) Bodywork

Having lived in Japan where unlike the UK the roads are not salted in the winter, and then in the dry climate of an undisclosed Middle Eastern country this Century should have no issues with corrosion, and the beautifully shot photos of the car do appear to corroborate that. But, it’s still worth getting underneath and having a proper look round for any signs of rust.

5) History

There is no mention of any really history with the car and our brief conversation with the seller only really gave some small allusions to the car’s past so try and dig out any service and maintenance records if they do in fact exist. A quick search on the DVLA website does show MOT tests from 2007 to 2013 with nothing showing as cause for concern within that time frame.

What should you do with it? 

Fix the technical niggles, get it running properly and then just simply enjoy one of the most fascinating and luxurious cars to ever come out of Japan. This Toyota is more a car to be driven in rather than actually drive yourself and you will guarantee to turn heads wherever you go, whether it be Sainsbury’s car park or the local car show. Just be sure to fold the front seat panel down so you can properly stretch your legs out and relax before cranking up that massage setting. Home Jeeves!