UK's rarest cars: 1979 Toyota Corona Liftback Automatic, the only one left
If you wish to arrive at a major automotive motoring event in a genuinely exclusive car, Amjad Sami's 1979 Toyota Corona Liftback might be ideal. While not quite as rapid as a revered Jaguar XK150, it is far more comfortable and considerably rarer; only five of all types of Corona remain on the road in the UK and this is the sole example with an automatic gearbox.
The Corona lineage dates to 1957. By 1965, the third-generation RT40 was the first Toyota officially sold in the UK, with the sixth-generation T130 debuting in 1978. By then, Japanese cars had accounted for 10.96 per cent of the new car market. UK sales began on April 25 1979; only the 1.8-litre Liftback was available in this country.
The Liftback was priced at £5,269, while the Talbot (formerly Chrysler) Alpine GLS cost £5,081, and the Renault 20 TL £5,042. Compared with its front-wheel-drive European rivals, the Corona's frontal treatment and bodywork appeared quasi-American. The interior, with its strip speedometer and moquette trim, is so reminiscent of a 1970s Chevrolet that the lack of a steering column-mounted gear lever comes as a faint surprise.
The T130's appearance reflected the importance of the US export market to Toyota; 47 years ago, it sold more cars in the United States than any other overseas manufacturer. On this side of the Atlantic, this newspaper thought the Liftback's designers had taken 'full advantage of the possibilities of the hatchback layout', while Autocar described the four headlights as an 'American idea of European styling'.
One of the Corona's roles was conquest sales from Datsun; in 1978, their UK sales figures were 102,000 and 28,334, respectively. Another was to lure Ford Cortina Mk4 and Morris Marina drivers to their first Japanese cars with the Liftback's 'sporty good looks and sleek lines'. In a possible veiled reference to British Leyland's track record on reliability, 'cardiac arrests resulting from Toyota garage bills are unheard of'.
The Corona's main sales advantage was its list of standard equipment: a multi-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support along with upholstery resembling the finest sofas MFI could offer. There was also a five-speed gearbox (the automatic box was optional), tinted glass, a radio, a split rear seat, remote controls for the fuel-filler flap and tailgate – and even air conditioning.
Toyota claimed the AC allowed the driver 'to keep a cool head when all around are losing theirs'. From a dealer's perspective, it was a feature offered by no other medium-sized car in 1979. Readers of a certain generation may recall the joys of summer travel in a vinyl-trimmed Hillman Avenger De Luxe, so the Corona's air conditioning seemed almost wanton by comparison.
The Liftback's 102mph top speed was quite respectable by late 1970s standards, but Autocar complained about a lack of precision in the recirculating ball steering system. It also found the handling 'utterly safe, predictable and somewhat uninspiring', although it's likely that the majority of owners were more concerned with the Corona's air conditioning and 'moquette fabric seats'.
The T140 succeeded the T130 in 1982. Since then, the Liftback faded from public memory in the manner of a long-forgotten ITV sitcom. Sales in this country were limited, as the Corona was less important to Toyota GB than the smaller Carina and Corolla. Sami acquired his Liftback just before the first lockdown in 2020: 'I saw the advert and I could not believe my eyes.'
Sami is a devoted Toyota enthusiast; his fleet also includes a 1983 Crown, which will appear on The Telegraph 's display at the Classic & Retro Car Revival event at Tatton Park on August 16-17. On seeing the Liftback advertisement, he said: 'I sent a message to the seller immediately and arranged for the car to be transported 100 miles to my house. The deal was that if it was as described, I would buy it there and then.'
Fortunately, the Corona's arrival 'was magical, and I knew that I would buy it straight away'. Sami finds the Liftback 'handles well. There is no power steering, but the wheel is light enough'. It has also encountered an incredible amount of attention at classic car events, with many show-goers confounded as to its identity.
And the Corona Liftback is a car apart from Cortinas, Cavaliers and Marinas of the late 1970s. For one, none can boast an interior that resembles a mobile Wimpey 'executive home' living room. And, of course, that all-important air conditioning control on the jukebox-style dashboard.
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