The other Corona
04/08/2020
The big topic in the media world at the moment is the Covid-19 virus with the name Corona, which is also the name of a Mexican beer and a former Japanese car model. The Toyota Corona series survived for a good four decades (1957-2001), but we can only pray that the virus will come to an end sooner, much sooner. Incidentally, the Japanese (and not only they) refer to the pearly ring of light surrounding the sun as "Corona".
Toyota had hardly any pre-war experience in the vehicle market and their first Crown model in 1940 was a mid-range sedan intended for cab companies. But Datsun had launched a smaller and cheaper vehicle, the 110, which quickly overtook the larger Toyota. Toyota therefore urgently needed a smaller model, which it did with the Corona.
With 33 hp from the 995 cc four-cylinder engine, a small, self-supporting four-door car with brakes, chassis and steering from its bigger brother, the Crown, was created for the first time in the company's history. In July 1957, the little car was launched on the market with many serious workmanship flaws in the bodywork, which was quickly soaked in rain.
Further generations followed and in the 1970s the Corona also became popular in this country, partly due to a hatchback variant with a tailgate .
From January 12, 1996, the eleventh and last generation, the Corona Premio T210, rolled off the production line before the Corona model range finally came to an end in 2001 after 44 years. Just in time before the name fell into disrepute.
