Cars You Should Know: Toyota

Toyota Motor Company had been producing cars and engines for two decades before launching in the American market in 1958. Born as a subdivision of the Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, its first Model AA rolled off the line in 1936 and the company produced cars and trucks throughout WWII, though its factory was bombed by the Allies just a day before Japan’s surrender. Following the war, Toyota began building civilian transportation to help rebuild the country’s infrastructure.

Toyota launched in the U.S. with the Toyopet Crown, but saw much more success with the introduction of the Land Cruiser FJ40, as well as with staples like the Corolla and Corona which offered affordability and fuel efficiency. The Corolla went on to become the best-selling car of all time with an astonishing 50 million cars sold between 1966 and 2021.

Toyota launched its popular Camry in 1982 and the Lexus luxury division in 1989 with the LS400. The company refocused on trucks like the T100 and the Tundra while also stretching into sportier cars like the Supra and the Celica. Toyota also pioneered hybrid-electric vehicles, launching the world’s first gas-electric hybrid in the form of the Prius in 1997.

Like other makes we’ve covered here in CYSK (Ford, Chevrolet), Toyota is a brand whose spectrum of vehicles is far-reaching—from daily drivers and tried-and-true family favorites to enthusiast vehicles beloved by the car-obsessed. Because the brand is so well-known for daily drivers and family transportation, you might not be thinking about Hagerty when you see a Toyota on a dec page. As we’ll see, there are a number of enthusiast-loved Toyota models that absolutely deserve special protection.

Keep an eye on your book of business for these Toyota Cars You Should Know.

Land Cruiser

The highly recognizable Land Cruiser is Toyota’s longest running model series. Inspired by the original military Jeep, the first Land Cruisers came about in the early 1950s and quickly became a top choice for motorists in the more remote parts of the world, as well as for regular consumers looking for a rugged, capable utility vehicle. While Land Cruisers see mixed uses among American owners, the model’s image is nevertheless one of exploration and adventure.

Supra

Today it’s one of the most recognizable nameplates in the world of Japanese performance cars, but the Supra had humble beginnings in the late 1970s. Introduced for the 1994 model year, the fourth generation Supra (the Mk IV Supra Turbo), came out during what is arguably the golden age of Japanese performance cars. Mk IV Supras raced all over the world from Pikes Peak to Le Mans. Thanks to films and video games, it’s also an icon of tuner culture.

Pickup

The unimaginatively named Pickup was first marketed in 1968 in the U.S. as the Hi-Lux (later HiLux), before adopting the Pickup name for the 1973 model year. The final assembly of the truck was completed in the U.S. with a bed manufactured in Long Beach, California, to avoid the Chicken Tax tariff, although that loophole was closed in 1980. The Pickup went through five generations before being replaced by the Tacoma in 1995.

MR2 (Forgotten classic)

The MR2, standing for Midship Runabout 2-seater, came about in the early ’80s as a economical, affordable sports car option from Toyota. It drew from a drivetrain developed for Toyota’s first front-wheel-drive car, but placed it behind the passenger compartment to produce the mid-engine configuration. The model went through three generations before retiring after the 2005 model year.

2000GT (Bonus forgotten classic!)

The 2000GT of 1967-70 is seen as Japan’s first supercar. Co-developed with Yamaha, the 2000GT was expensive for the time, and only 337 were produced. Memorably, a white 2000GT was featured in a custom convertible form in the 1967 James Bond movie You Only Live Twice. Later, the 2000GT was the first Japanese car to sell for $1 million (2013), and a racing version developed by Carroll Shelby was the first Japanese car to sell for more than $2 million (2022).

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