*This is a translation done by a machine.

Toyopet and Corona. These are names that are too nostalgic today, and many of you probably don't even know them anymore. Toyopet is still the name of the store, so many of you may know it, but it used to be a brand name for small cars. Toyopet Corona was the official name until the sixth generation.

The Corona was one of Toyota's "Big C" passenger cars along with the Corolla and Crown, but its name was finally dropped from the lineup in 2001. The PREMIO (originally called the CORONA PREMIO), which succeeded it, ceased production in 2021, so the Corona's lineage as a "5-number sedan" has been completely lost. The Corolla sedan and the Prius, both of which are 3-number sedans, are the current replacements for the Corolla sedan.

The first generation Corona was born in 1957. The demand for small sedans for cabs was increasing, and at the same time, it marked the beginning of fierce sales competition with Nissan (Datsun sedan). 59 saw the evolution of the Datsun sedan into the Datsun Bluebird, and Toyota responded by introducing the second-generation Corona. However, the dominance of the Bluebird remained unchanged.

Bluebird vs. Corona. The fierce competition in both development and sales came to be known as the "BC War. Finally, the day came when Toyota's reputation was finally recognized. This was the third generation T40 Corona, which appeared in 1964. Developed as a modern passenger car series that could withstand overseas performance evaluations, the T40 quickly gained popularity in Japan, and in January 1965, the following year, it finally achieved the long-sought number one position in Japan in terms of sales volume.

The Corona's popularity has remained unshaken since 1967, and it was also well received in overseas markets, accounting for 40% of Toyota's sales for a period of time. The popularity of the Corona was probably due in part to its wide range of body variations, which included not only a 4-door sedan, but also 2-door, 5-door, 2- and 4-door vans, and pickups. In the latter half of the period, the high-grade Golden Series was developed into the Corona Mark II (T60). Among these, the two-door coupe-based "Toyota 1600GT" became a classic model coveted by enthusiasts and still popular today.

The third generation Corona was eventually produced in the six years through 1970, with approximately 600,000 units produced.

This is a 1966 4-door sedan deluxe. The grille design indicates that this is a mid-year model that underwent improvements in mid-1966.

The car is in good original condition except for the lowered ride height, and the mileage is actual (according to the current owner). The paint and interior are still original, and the car is a survivor. Although it is a 4-door car, it is also a valuable preservation unit.

This is not a spick and span clean car. It shows overall age-related deterioration as it retains its original paint and materials. There is tasteful rust on some of the body panels, peeling paint, floating chrome and fogging, scratches on the sashes and wheels, and deteriorated rubber. The front bumber also had some sheet metal repairs. The interior is generally good, but there are some stains on the roof liner and some sun damage around the pillars.

However, all of these things together make the appearance of this unit beautiful. It even gives the impression that it has been treated with care since its grandfather's generation.

It is a rare survivor who can taste the atmosphere of those days when Japan was full of energy.