Toyota Corolla History

The rear wheel drive Toyota Corolla was first introduced in Japan in model year 1966. Two years later, it was brought to the United States, replacing the unpopular and barely-noticed Crown. It lasted only two years with its original 60 horsepower (@6,000 rpm, gross) 1.1 liter engine. The Corolla was definitely small by American standards, with a 90 inch wheelbase; its 66 cubic inch engine (at that time, the smallest Plymouth had a 170 cubic inch powerplant!), however, moved the Corolla to an 87 mph maximum speed without the slow times one would expect, because the entire vehicle weighed 1,637 pounds - the wagon a bit heavier at 1,731 pounds - far less than the smallest Plymouth, which weighed nearly 3,000 pounds. Torque was balanced with horsepower at 61.5 lb-ft at 3,800 rpm. A two-barrel carburetor got the most out of the engine - in those years you simply could not get a two-barrel Valiant, and most other entry-level cars used a cheap but power-robbing single-barrel. The Corolla used modern unit-body construction, and the engine was hooked up to a four-speed synchronized manual transmission, again, at a time when most cars had a three-speed as their base manual and a four-speed as a sporty option. The small engine was sturdy, with five main bearings.

The 1970 model was bigger, powered by a "much larger" 1.2 liter engine (73 net horsepower), now with an optional automatic transmission to suit American tastes. This new model actually became the second best selling import car in 1970, though at that time, the vast majority of cars were from GM, Ford, and Chrysler, with even AMC selling more vehicles than the imports.

The next year, 1971, brought a 1.6 liter engine, more in tune with American tastes; it produced 102 horsepower, gross, and its SR5 option brought a five-speed manual transmission (advanced for its time). The American Corolla weighed a mere 1,566 pounds, allowing its relatively small engine to move rather quickly; the standard four-speed manual transmission had one more gear than most American sticks, and was syncrhonized as well for easy driving. A fastback coupe and two door sedan made up the line, and with an $1,830 starting price, the Corolla promised more value than just about any other car on the road.

Like most cars of the time, these Corollas had rear wheel drive, unit-body construction, and a solid rear axle with leaf springs. They did have springs and struts in front, which was not unusual for small cars but was not yet popular among American automakers. Both front and rear brakes were drums, and wheels were 6 inches wide by 12 inches tall; the 90 inch wheelbase was shared with the Land Cruiser, while the 153 inch length and 59 inch width let it fit in practically any garage.

Though sales were small, there were three models: coupe, two-door wagon, and sedan, starting at less than $1,700 - a bit cheaper than the popular Novas and Valiants (whose base engines were roughly 150 horsepower gross, 100 net). Some magazines talked happily about their economy, though quality was still a question, and rust was a severe problem. Corollas in coastal states were likely to rust apart before their engines had a chance to wear out.

1974 saw the third generation, and the Corolla's strongest popularity - including the inexpensive Corolla Tercel model [which isn't really fair since the Tercel was a completely different vehicle], it was the best-selling vehicle in the world from 1974 to 1977. Five years later, in 1979, a fourth generation appeared, still with rear wheel drive. This was to last until 1984, when the fifth generation Corolla came with front wheel drive and a coupe version, the GT-S,with a 16 valve engine (the GT-S remained in production through 1991.)

The so-called Corolla Tercel was first introduced to the United States in 1980.

The third generation had five models - sedans with two and four doors, a four door wagon, a two-door standard hardtop, and a two-door SR5 hardtop - but it had the same basic drivetrain, albeit with a catalytic converter. A two-door hatchback with a split folding rear seat and a "sport coupe" were added in 1976, when Toyota bragged:

Corolla offers you the lowest price and highest mileage we have to offer. Better gas mileage in 1976 than in 1975... we check every Corolla engine with ten electrical and mechanical tests before we put it into a Corolla. Then we check every car...from the power front disc brakes to the cigarette lighter...the alignment of the hood to the interior trim. ... Most Corollas come standard with features like fully reclining front bucket seats, wall-to-wall carpeting, steel-belted radials, tinted glass, even an electric window defogger.

An updated grille appeared in 1977.

The most dramatic change to date came in 1979, as all models except the wagon gained coil springs in the rear suspension, the wheelbase was lengthened to 94.5 inches, and a brand new engine was added - producing 75 net horsepower, which is more than the prior 102 gross horsepower. The transmissions carried over, but in 1982 a four-speed automatic was brought out - one of the first available in a mass production car - and the engine was down-rated to 70 horsepower.

In 1983, the 1.8 liter four-cylinder was replaced by a 1.6 liter single-overhead-cam powerplant that continued to feature 70 net horsepower, but boosted gas mileage by 12% to an amazing 36 mpg city, 47 highway with the automatic. The four speed manual, five speed manual, and three speed automatic were still available. The Corolla Hardtop came only with the four-speed automatic. (There were eight models in 1983, the Hardtop, Sport Coupe, Liftback, Sedan, and Wagon with varying numbers of door).

Handling was improved through a new rack and pinion steering system, with power assist on most models; the SR5 Sport Coupe and SR5 Hardtop could be purchased with a sports handling option, featuring stiffer springs and shock absorbers, a larger rear sway bar, a revised differential gear ratio for better torque at low and medium speeds, special seats with a unique fabric trim, raised white-letter steel-belted radials, aluminum wheels, and a wrapped, wider steering wheel. Only the SR5 Hardtop and Sport Coupe got a rear stabilizer bar; all models got a front stabilizer bar. The gas tank held 13.2 gallons for a remarkable distance between fill-ups. Rear brakes were drum, front were discs; all models had power brakes.

The SR5 models also had two-tone paint schemes as options, while a sun-moon roof was available on all Sport Coupe and Liftback models. The lineup was two-door sedan and Deluxe sedan; four-door Deluxe sedan and Deluxe wagon; Deluxe liftback; SR5 Liftback, Sport Coupe, and Hardtop.

In 1984, the Corolla moved to the format pioneered by the Hillman Avenger and copied so well by the Volkswagen Rabbit - front wheel drive with a transversely mounted four-cylinder engine, and MacPherson struts up front and coil springs in back (the SR5 Coupe and hatchback and the station wagon would be converted later). A small number of diesels were sold in the US, but these were quickly cancelled. Instead, a new version of the 1.6 liter engine, boasting dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder, was added in mid-1984 to the rear wheel drive coupe and liftback, which, when so equipped, were called the Corolla GT-S. This vehicle attracted a following as it was rather fun to drive, and the engine was used in the original MR2, introduced in 1985. Meanwhile, the standard Corolla was rated as one of the ten most trouble-free cars in America by J.D. Power.

Faced with increasing sales, Toyota entered a joint venture with General Motors to create NUMMI, taking over a poorly performing General Motors plant in California and turned it into one of the highest quality plants in North America, at least partly due to an innovative system of implementing employee suggestions. The NUMMI plant built both the Corolla and the General Motors version, the Nova (later to be renamed Prizm), and remained active through to the present day.

In 1987, the last year of the fifth generation, the two Corolla choices (four door sedan or four-door hatchback) were supplemented by the new sporty Corolla FX Coupe; standard Corollas now came with the 1.6 liter engine, with a generous two-barrel carburetor, standard, as the only engine choice. Corolla trim lines (except FX) for this year were Deluxe (with reclining bucket seats, thick pile carpeting, tinted windows, map pockets, and rear window defogger) and the lower LE (with cloth trim, center console, four-speaker FM stereo, and intermittent wipers). Toyota could boast of some of the lowest maintenance requirements in the industry, with oil and filter changes at 10,000 miles and spark plugs lasting 30,000 miles, with coolant renewal at 60,000 miles, due to intelligent, efficient design, electronic-feedback carburetion, fuel preheating, and other features. The engine V-belts, according to Toyota, required no service under normal conditions.

The Corolla Sport was considered a seperate model, with two versions: SR5 and GT-S. They provided buyers with a sporty appearance and multi-valve engines; the main buyers were female college graduates in their late twenties (except GT-S hatchback, which was single college-educated men, median age 28). SR5 and GT-S both came as coupes, and GT-S was also available as a hatchback; the SR-5 used the standard Corolla engine, while the GT-S used a higher-compression (9.4:1 rather than 9.0:1), electronically fuel injected, 16-valve powerplant with 112 horsepower and 97 lb-feet of torque. This latter engine used dual cams, a central spark plug (“semi-hemi”), and variable induction - a series of valves in the induction ports to improve intake velocity at low engine speed, andincrease airflow at higher speeds. An oil cooler was standard. Transmissions were the close-ratio five-speed stick and the four-speed automatic.

Both had front seats with adjustable headrest angle, fore-and-aft travel, seat cushion height, and lumbar support; analog speedometer and tachometer readouts; optional dual-stage air conditioning (with an economy setting); and standard power steering. The GT-S had an 8,000 rpm speedometer and a 150 mph speedometer; both had flip-up halogen headlights. Front and rear antisway bars were standard, with an optional antislip differential; GT-S got four-wheel disc brakes, stiffer springs, firmer dampening, low-pressure shocks, and larger diameter antisway bars, as well as 195/60SR13 radials (the SR5 got 185/70SR13 radials).

Finally, the FX-16 was started as its own model, complete with the 16-valve 4A-GE engine. There were just two models, both two-door hatchbacks, called FX16 and FX16 GT-S; the base included reclining bucket seats, cloth interior, carpet, folding split rear seat backs, console, full instrumentation, and rear deck cover, while the GT-S added a more aggressive suspension, larger tires and rear sway bar, power remote outside mirrors, leather-wrapped wheel and shifter, tilt wheel, intermittent wipers, and rear window wiper-washer, along with a rear roof spoiler and other cosmetic touches. Both came with Eagle GT tires, either a five-speed stick or four-speed manual, four-wheel disc brakes, and the 16 valve engine, but tuned to 108 hp and 96 lb-ft rather than 112 and 97. That was a good-sized engine for a car that weighed in at just 2,350 pounds (five-speed FX16) or, at most, 2,436 pounds (automatic GT-S).

Sixth generation Toyota Corolla, 1988-1992

The sixth generation started in 1988. With sales still rising, Toyota opened a new facility in Canada which also produced Corollas. The quality of Toyota's new plants in North America was high enough to garner top (for its class) J.D. Power ratings in 1988, 1990, and 1992, and top ten ratings through 1994. The FX was available with either a single or dual cam engine (with the latter, it was called the FX16).

In 1993, the Corolla moved to its current compact size, garnering many awards. The Tercel was split off as a separate subcompact model to attract those who could no longer afford the increasingly upscale Corolla. The 1.6 liter 4A-F engine continued as standard equipment, with an optional stroked 1.8 liter version, the 7A-FE. A driver's side airbag was standard, and a passenger airbag was added in 1994. We expect to host a separate page on this landmark model soon. Also see technical details and drawings of the 1993-1997 models!

By 1997, all Corollas sold in the United States were built in North America — at NUMMI and in Canada. The wagon was discontinued, but side-impact protection was increased.

In 1998, a new generation was launched, which would last nearly ten years (it is scheduled for replacement in 2008). Its distinguishing feature was a new ZZ-series 1.8 liter engine which produced about 120 hp, with (unlike Civic engines) torque to match. Yet, it achieved very good gas mileage and was quite quiet.

In 2000, the engine was given variable valve timing for better gas mileage and more power. It also reduced emissions, so that the Corolla could be certified by the EPA as a low emission vehicle.

2001 saw a minor facelift of the sheet metal, making the Corolla look even more like a Camry. In 2003, the Corolla was expanded and cosmetically modified in a periodic redesign, while in 2004, a new generation was introduced that was larger inside - nearly matching the prior-generation Camry. In 2005, the Celica's engine was retuned for better mid-range torque (and lower horsepower) and put into a modified Corolla to produce the Corolla XRS.

In the thirty years since its introduction, Corolla has sold more cars worldwide than any other nameplate! (that was written in 1999 but is still true today.)

For a preview of the 2008 Corolla, click here.

Toyota Corolla specifications over the years

	2003-2007	1998-2002	1993- 1997	1990-92	1987***	1983 Sedan/Wagon & SR5/Liftback	1978 Liftback	1966-69
Headroom, front	39.1	39.3			38.3	37.8 & 36.7	36.7
Headroom, rear	37.1	36.9			36.9		36.9
Legroom, front	41.3	42.5			42.4	42.1 & 41.6	42.1
Legroom, rear	35.4	33.2			32.0		29.1
Hip room, front	51.9	50.5
Hip room, rear	46.2	51.2
Tread (max)	58.3	57.5				52.4 & 53.0
Trunk space	13.6 cubic feet	12.1 cubic feet		11 cubic feet	12.7 c.f.
EPA interior space	90.3 cubic feet	88 cubic feet		84 cubic feet
Wheelbase	102.4	97.0		95.7	95.7	94.5 (both)	93.3	90
Length	178.3	174.0		170-172	166.3	166-169 (both)	170
Height	57.5-57.7	54.5		49.5-54.5		50.8-53.0 (both)	63.6
Width	66.9	66.7		65.2 - 65.6	64.4	63.4-64.0 (both)	52
Weight (lb)	~ 2,600	2414-2453 lb		2,390 - 2,436	2134-2167	2,080-2,178 (both)		1,637**
Drag coefficient	.296*	0.31
Ground clearance	5.7	4.7			5.3

* Reported as 0.30 starting in 2005 ** Except wagon, 1,731   *** Four door sedan

Engines (All figures for FWD)	2003-07	1998-2002	1993-1997	1990-92	1987	1985	1983	1982	1966-69
Base engine, horsepower	130@6,000*	120 @ 5,600	103-105	90-102**	72 @ 5,200		70 @ 4,800	70 @ 4,800	60 @ 6,000
Base engine, torque	125@4,200	122 @ 4,400	100-102	95-101**	86 @ 2,800		85 @ 2,800	n/a	61.5 @ 3,800
Base engine, manual trans	32/40	31/38		28/33		30/37			Not Avail
Base engine, four-speed automatic	29/38	28/36		25/33		28/34	36/47		None
Base engine, three-speed automatic	n/a	28/33		26/29		28/32			None

* Starting in 2006, engines were rated to 126 hp / 122 lb-ft of torque at the same engine speeds. Starting in 2005, gas mileage rose to 32/41 (manual), 30/38 automatic, 26/34 XRS.

** 1990: GT-S coupe got 130 hp/105 lb-ft (1990-91 only). 90 hp, 95 lb-ft are 1992 figures for Corolla.