A story in which father Marco and son Sil share their passion for this beautiful Toyota Corolla de Luxe from the land of the rising sun. In the 70s, European competition really woke up; the Japanese invasion brought great fun and reliable cars to the market, with that little bit extra.
The Toyota Corolla is a good example of this: Beautifully finished, reliable technology, comfortable and attractively priced. The Japanese technology was logically structured, the car was maintenance-friendly and people could easily reach everything.
It was a great achievement for Toyota, which managed to be successful throughout Europe within a short time with a wide variety of models. Japan was known for working hard and long to not only produce many cars, but also to make them of high quality.
The rescue of the Toyota Corolla 82-RX-27
Proper maintenance was the salvation of this beautiful Corolla. During the first years of its life, the Toyota Corolla de Luxe was used normally. Marco is only the third owner and can tell in his own words about the history of this 46-year-old Japanese:
The chrome bumper era
Marco: “As a child I was born in the 'chrome bumper era'. At a time when cars seemed to make a sport of rusting as hard as possible. In the 80s I started my career as a car mechanic and salesman. I soon found out that there was almost never anything wrong with a Toyota. Then my love for Toyota was born!
A few years ago, the desire for a car from that era started to play up again. It became a 30 Toyota Corolla (KE1977) that was in use until the late 80s and was then left with a Toyota specialist in Alkmaar.”
Modifications to Marco's Toyota Corolla
“The specialist has breathed new life into the Toyota and kept it very well in his collection until 2018. Together with my son Sil, we fitted the Toyota Corolla with a set of alloy wheels, a tighter chassis with Bilstein sports dampers, a Wildcat exhaust manifold with a stainless steel exhaust for better flow and a sturdy Nardi sports steering wheel.
You could say that together we made the car more personal (of course the original parts are carefully preserved).” A wonderful hobby, like father, like son, going on fun rides together and going to classic car events in the area.
The pleasure plan
You hardly come across the Toyota Corolla in this condition anymore. The beautiful performance shows that it has come into good hands. It is a great fun car that fills the "compliment archive" of father Marco and son Sil.
Especially if you interact with other enthusiasts in a casual way, experience fun events in the region and do each other a favor by telling about it. It is clear that there is admiration for the fact that the car has been preserved. The bond with Toyota Corolla is now so strong that it will remain in the family for a long time, in fact: it will never leave!
History comes alive again
You can also experience that wealth, not in a financial sense, but in pleasure if you subscribe to Auto Motor Klassiek. And speaking of finances, a subscription is much cheaper than buying it separately in the store, and you get the guarantee that it will be faithfully delivered to your doorstep every month.
It was a bit of a mini American for the working class. And so, for example, technically equipped with a rigid rear axle with leaf springs, but with a clock, a mono FM audio installation and headrests as standard to show off.
A plus was the motor and electrical reliability, they did that well. Less: The Japanese from those years did not have a long life because they also rusted like the best (especially the Datsun). They did that invisibly. Where the holes fell into sight with a European, they were mainly in the supporting part with the Japanese. No one cared about rusting: throw it away and get a new one for little money with the latest glitzy facelift in the driveway.
Ultimately, the Japanese brands have gained a place in the market, the South Koreans have copied the trick and the Chinese have recently started doing the same.
After this consideration, I am glad that Japanese cars also appear at fairs and meetings, which also grace the street scene of the time. So kudos if you have one, put your heart and soul into it and enjoy it. Japanese products are also cultural heritage and worth enjoying by others.
I still regret ever selling my 1976 Corolla coupe. I still dream of my first Toyota. Been driving the same brand for 47 years now and would buy another brand for the money in the world.
I had my first driving lessons in a similar Toyota Corrola. With my height of 2 meters and shoe size 47, this was no easy task: I felt like a herring in a barrel.
PS There are still a lot of them driving on Bali.
38-HZ-09, that was my orange metallic Corolla 30 that I bought new in January 1976. A bad buy, after 14 months the first paint fell off the door and in the following years the headlights had to be saved with gauze and putty, otherwise they would fall out. There was always water in the trunk because the seal of the taillights melted in hot weather. The terrible rust turned out to be the result of the fact that the metallic paint was sprayed directly on the bare metal, without an undercoat layer. I have never experienced so much rust on any of my other cars. Apparently a Monday morning / Friday afternoon car, because my father-in-law's Corolla 30 hardtop was fine. After 6 years I got rid of it, 2 years later it went to the demolition. It was my first and last Toyota.
This is really a reminder of the past. This Corolla, identical color, was the first car I ever replaced a head gasket on. I was 14 years old. An emergency operation on Saturday afternoon. Saturday hot ride. So I did it myself…. Check Sunday morning (much needed!) Apparently I had done my job well because it never broke down after that. The boy next door had to go to the place of conscription on Monday and had to go back and forth to Seedorf for months. I remember those Corollas as decent cars. The smell still lingers in my nose.
Cool Corolla, the adjustments make it fun and fit the JDM picture. Old neighbor in HI-Ambacht bought one new in 1978 and I still saw it driving around in the early 90s.
original is beautiful, but also so terribly boring.
beautiful jap, worth pampering.
Had a used toyota corolla diesel 90 cc in the 1700s
not to break, not done either
on time oil change oil filter and air filter enjoyed it for years, even with a caravan of four and a half meters to the south of France at 90 km per hour my bear didn't budge 🤗
The Toyotas of now 🤔 not so good anymore, after eight years they have to be gone
but that's with multiple car brands, they last too long 😥😉
Toyota still comes out as one of the most reliable in tests from all over the world.
Beautiful Toyota in a beautiful color.
Again a bit of a pity that this one has been mismastered with way too big ugly wheels.
The original wheels with wheel covers fit nicely with this model.
Totally agree !
I find these wheels old school in terms of styling, in my opinion they therefore fit a bit.
Everyone's taste! It's all about having fun with your car. You don't have it "for someone else".