Nailing down early Toyota history in the USA

toyotageek · **Posted:** Sun May 11, 2008 11:11 pm

Here is a quick photo tour of some Crowns

1955 RS
Japan

1955RS
Japan

1955 RSD
Japan

1957
Japan (Australia Rally reproduction vehicle)

1958 RS-L
Japan (USA spec vehicle)

1958 before and after restoration
USA

1958
USA

1959 RS20 - Taxi
Japan

1959
USA

1960
USA

1963 RS41
Japan

ToyotaReference · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2008 1:16 pm

Hmmm... that was helpful... but once again we have some brochures that dispute the 1959 version.

http://picasaweb.google.com/toyotarefer ... aCrown1959

Both of these brochures, which are clearly labeled as 1959 and US versions, show the RS22 version of the Crown as '59 models. Now, again, I'm not trying to take these brochures as 100% factual, but two different brochures that say the same thing... are we entirely certain that the white '59 on the flatbed trailer is actually a 1959?

MAYBE -- Maybe both the RS-L and RS22 were sold in '59? That would explain things.

toyotageek · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2008 11:01 pm

ToyotaReference wrote:

Hmmm... that was helpful... but once again we have some brochures that dispute the 1959 version.

http://picasaweb.google.com/toyotarefer ... aCrown1959

Both of these brochures, which are clearly labeled as 1959 and US versions, show the RS22 version of the Crown as '59 models. Now, again, I'm not trying to take these brochures as 100% factual, but two different brochures that say the same thing... are we entirely certain that the white '59 on the flatbed trailer is actually a 1959?

MAYBE -- Maybe both the RS-L and RS22 were sold in '59? That would explain things.

Regarding the dates of the cars in the photos - those from Japan come from the description plaques that were with the car. Most of the cars were from either the Toyota Automobile Museum and Annex, the Toyota Kuragaike Commemorative Hall, Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology and MEGA Web. All those photos were taken by me during various trips to Japan.

The US cars include one from the Toyota Museum, all the others are privately owned. As far as the one on the trailer, I can only go by what the owner told me at the time he sent me the photos - according to him it was a 1959. Of course he could have been wrong

I have some pictures of two other Crowns at the Toyota Museum in California, but I need to locate them (I'll post tem up when I find 'em).

Okay, I checked out some books at work and that I have at home. These books are Parts Catalogs for the various Crowns and date from May 1958 through to July 1960. Here is what they had listed:

CROWN MODEL NUMBERS FROM 1958 TO 1960

RSL (1958) Toyopet Crown - R engine 1453 cc
RS20 1959 Toyopet Crown
RS21L 1959 Toyopet Crown Deluxe
RS22L 1959 Toyopet Crown Custom
RS27LV 1959 Toyopet Crown Custom Station Wagon
RS27LG 1959 Toyopet Crown Custom 4 door Station Wagon
RS32L 1960 Toyopet Crown Custom - Engine 3R
RS37LG 1960 Toyopet Crown Custom Station Wagon

And here is what I found in the Tiara Parts Catalogs (1961 to 1963):

TIARA MODELS

RT20L Toyopet Tiara Sedan - Engine R 1453cc
RT26L Toyota Tiara Pickup
RT26LG Toyota Tiara Station Wagon
RT30L Toyota Tiara 1900 - Engine 3R-B 1897cc

Since I don't have all the books that covered all the various models, this list is not at all complete, but hopefully helps in figuring out some of the model designations.

I will post up some photos from these books tomorrow.

ToyotaReference · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2008 12:47 pm

OK, that pretty much jibes with what I have on the Tiara, assuming that in 1964-1965 the 1900 was the only Tiara model and the wagon/pickup was no longer imported. Also, we're still unsure whether the 1.0L P-powered Tiara was sold here in 1960 at all... I have my doubts that it was based on the lack of information, but I have kept it listed anyway.

I updated a lot of the information on the Crown chart. I made the assumption that the designations that were good for 1960 continued through 1962. I have found several references to an RS26 wagon and I think this is in reference to a Deluxe version of the RS27 Custom. Using that logic, an RS25 would be a standard version. (but I don't think that existed so why did I bring that up?)

toyotageek · **Posted:** Sat May 17, 2008 3:54 pm

Okay, finally getting around to doing this... here are the pictures I promised. I didn't have time to scan the pages, so instead I just took photos (so excuse any distortion you might see). These all come from Toyota Parts Catalogs that were available before the use of microfiche.

Full set of pictures on my Flickr page HERE

Toyopet Tiara RT20 series and Toyota Tiara 1900 RT30L

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2499680899/" title="IMG_5534 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2417/2499680899_5f2f765238.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5534"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2500508004/" title="IMG_5529 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/2500508004_46232fa600.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5529"></a>

Toyopet Tiara Station Wagon RT26 series and Toyopet Tiara Pick-up RT26 series

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2499682751/" title="IMG_5541 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2499682751_f8db5657a5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5541"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2499682205/" title="IMG_5539 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/2499682205_912b60302a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5539"></a>

toyotageek · **Posted:** Sat May 17, 2008 4:11 pm

And now the Crowns...

Full set of pictures on my Flickr page HERE

Toyopet Crown RSL

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2499685641/" title="IMG_5551 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2277/2499685641_9707d09173.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5551"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2500514800/" title="IMG_5552 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/2500514800_c8c103c974.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5552"></a>

Toyopet Crown Custom RS22L and Toyopet Crown Custom RS32L

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2499686989/" title="IMG_5555 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2499686989_c346675eb7.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5555"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2500516110/" title="IMG_5556 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2112/2500516110_f5ebd829c7.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5556"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2500524728/" title="IMG_5582 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2302/2500524728_11c68f0363.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5582"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2499690253/" title="IMG_5565 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2499690253_1b0579da53.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5565"></a>

Toyopet Crown Custom Four Door Station Wagon RS27LG and Toyopet Crown Custom Four Door Station Wagon RS37LG

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2500517386/" title="IMG_5560 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/2500517386_9bdc2f4c97.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5560"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2500525858/" title="IMG_5586 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/2500525858_37d6c0071a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5586"></a>

toyotageek · **Posted:** Sat May 17, 2008 4:27 pm

Some RS4# series Crowns...

Full set of pictures on my Flickr page HERE

Toyota Crown RS40L old

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2499693437/" title="IMG_5574 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/2499693437_fd46896896.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5574"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2500522342/" title="IMG_5575 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2343/2500522342_d6be402d91.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5575"></a>

Toyota Crown RS40L and Toyota Crown Special RS41L-B

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2499694139/" title="IMG_5576 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2175/2499694139_9684fd421d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5576"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2500523028/" title="IMG_5577 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/2500523028_6c5a312212.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5577"></a>

Toyota Crown Deluxe RS41L old

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2499694867/" title="IMG_5578 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2299/2499694867_82b69c8bcf.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5578"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2499695201/" title="IMG_5579 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/2499695201_25643780cd.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5579"></a>

Toyota Crown Deluxe RS41L

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2499695541/" title="IMG_5580 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/2499695541_f421fe1348.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5580"></a>

ToyotaReference · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 9:44 pm

Wow, that is great stuff. So what is the difference between the RS40 and RS41? Was the 40 the standard model and the 41 was the deluxe?

Some of the brochures that I came across show that the car started with a 4-cyl then moved to a 6cyl at some point. Also, saw reference to an MS40 and MS41 somewhere.

It shows this:
Crown 1900 RS40,RS41 63-67
Crown 2000 MS40,MS41 (years missing)

Wikipedia says 1965 saw the introduction of the "M" engine.

A 1967 (I think) brochure shows 2.3L 6-cyl, though, so I think it is the 2M and not the M.

So, here is what I'm thinking right now:
Crown 1.9L (3R) 1963-1965 RS40
Crown 2.3L (2M) 1966-1967 MS40
Crown Custom/Deluxe 1.9L 1963-1965 RS41
Crown Custom/Deluxe 2.3L 1966-1967 MS41
Crown Custom Wagon 1.9L 1963-1965 RS46
Crown Custom Wagon 2.3L 1966-1967 MS46

Not sure what the "L" at the end of the chassis code signifies, also I don't know if the 1.9L engine was offered 66-67 alongside the 2.3L... I'm assuming that it wasn't.

ToyotaReference · **Posted:** Tue May 20, 2008 10:47 am

Update:

Took photos of Terresa's Tiara last night so I was able to illustrate that finally!

She mentioned that she saw an old Crown at Vancouver Toyota months earlier, so I shot an email to my buddy that works there and sure enough they have a '67 Crown Sedan that is getting restored for their showroom. Hoping to get some photos of that soon.

Lastly, I got my first issue of JNC magazine and Ben shed some light on the early Crown. He says that it was introduced in '58 (which we all knew) but that it was last officially sold as a 1960 model year vehicle, so all sales that came in 61 and early 62 were just 60s that had been sitting on dealer lots. I'm still assuming that the 1963 model was the S40 and was probably sold starting late 1962.

toyotageek · **Posted:** Tue May 20, 2008 11:12 pm

More Crown stuff.

I went through a few more books at work and came up with these...

1968?
Toyota Crown Deluxe, Sedan
MS55L-KD engine 2M, 6 cyl
MS55L-ND engine 2M, 6 cyl with Toyoglide

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2509432991/" title="IMG_5674 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/2509432991_5977a1127e.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5674"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2509433309/" title="IMG_5675 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2271/2509433309_6f50deec80.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5675"></a>

Crown Chronology
Sedan
MS55 series
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2509427733/" title="IMG_5659 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2126/2509427733_be48ac646c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5659"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2509428129/" title="IMG_5660 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/2509428129_c000703756.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5660"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2510261174/" title="IMG_5661 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2168/2510261174_2bdf82001d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5661"></a>

MS65 series
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2510261500/" title="IMG_5662 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/2510261500_c5f90c8e67.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5662"></a>

Hardtop
MS75 series
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2509429029/" title="IMG_5663 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2372/2509429029_02f6a43593.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5663"></a>

Station Wagon
MS53 series
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2510262048/" title="IMG_5664 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2335/2510262048_368c7e89b9.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5664"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2509429659/" title="IMG_5665 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2323/2509429659_0c24cc4fba.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5665"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2510262718/" title="IMG_5666 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/2510262718_9a139dec3d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5666"></a>

MS63 series
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2509430303/" title="IMG_5667 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2063/2509430303_006f11db82.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5667"></a>

and the facts...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2510259892/" title="IMG_5657 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2039/2510259892_0c076bc808.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5657"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2510263426/" title="IMG_5668 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2003/2510263426_c78713cbff.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5668"></a>

The book:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2510258378/" title="IMG_5652 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2130/2510258378_2b6f0b1fa1.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5652"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyotageek/2510263780/" title="IMG_5669 by toyotageek, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2099/2510263780_c1cf4b65a8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5669"></a>

toyotageek · **Posted:** Tue May 20, 2008 11:27 pm

ToyotaReference wrote:

Wow, that is great stuff. So what is the difference between the RS40 and RS41? Was the 40 the standard model and the 41 was the deluxe?

Some of the brochures that I came across show that the car started with a 4-cyl then moved to a 6cyl at some point. Also, saw reference to an MS40 and MS41 somewhere.

It shows this:
Crown 1900 RS40,RS41 63-67
Crown 2000 MS40,MS41 (years missing)

Wikipedia says 1965 saw the introduction of the "M" engine.

A 1967 (I think) brochure shows 2.3L 6-cyl, though, so I think it is the 2M and not the M.

So, here is what I'm thinking right now:
Crown 1.9L (3R) 1963-1965 RS40
Crown 2.3L (2M) 1966-1967 MS40
Crown Custom/Deluxe 1.9L 1963-1965 RS41
Crown Custom/Deluxe 2.3L 1966-1967 MS41
Crown Custom Wagon 1.9L 1963-1965 RS46
Crown Custom Wagon 2.3L 1966-1967 MS46

Not sure what the "L" at the end of the chassis code signifies, also I don't know if the 1.9L engine was offered 66-67 alongside the 2.3L... I'm assuming that it wasn't.

The RS40 had a 4cyl 3R-B engine
The RS41 had a 4cyl 3R engine
There was a slight difference in compression ratings between the two engines.

Not sure about the MS4# Crowns. Need to look into that some more.

In my previous post there is a picture of a list that includes the engines for the Crowns from the 1968 to 1972 models.
MS5# series had a 2M 6cyl
MS6# series had a 4M 6cyl
MS7# series had a 4M 6cyl

The L at the end of all model numbers signifies Left hand drive. So a RS40L is a LHD car for the USA and other countries with LHD. A RS40 was a Right hand drive that was Japan spec and for LHD countries.

ben · **Posted:** Thu May 22, 2008 12:32 am

Mike, I used to have scans from that book as well but lost them when my damn hard drive crashed last fall. Argh!

Anyway, based on Toyota USA's numbers, I think the Crown S30 was still sold in 1963. Then the RS40 (4-cyl) was sold for 1965-65 and sales of the MS40 (6-cyl, same body style) began in 1966. The MS50 was introduced in 1967.

Also, according to the Big T, 1964 was the last year of the Tiara.

Keep in mind Toyota's records may not be entirely accurate either, but it's the best we can go on for now.

toyotageek · **Posted:** Thu May 22, 2008 11:52 am

The Vehicle Identification Manual is definately a handy book. I just stumbled across it by accident at work, while looking through all our old books. I just wish we could re-order it. And I wish it would go back further (it only goes back to about 1967!). I'm not sure if there is a newer version available, but I'll look into it.

Yeah, unfortunately the data from Toyota is sparse. And if...

Quote:

...according to the Big T, 1964 was the last year of the Tiara.

Then why does my friends Tiara have an ID tag that places it at 65? :lol:

ben · **Posted:** Fri May 23, 2008 9:06 am

toyotageek wrote:

Then why does my friends Tiara have an ID tag that places it at 65? :lol:

Cause Toyota sucks at keeping records, apparently!

toyotageek · **Posted:** Fri May 23, 2008 11:52 am

ben wrote:

toyotageek wrote:

Then why does my friends Tiara have an ID tag that places it at 65? :lol:

Cause Toyota sucks at keeping records, apparently!

Yeah, I keep learning that... over & over! :roll:

ToyotaReference · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 3:24 am

It could be like the old Land Cruisers. Maybe the Tiara was imported through 1964, but then languished on the distributor's lot until 1965, then when it was titled it was VIN'd as a 1965. I was reading on IH8MUD.com about some FJ25s that were titles as late as 1962 -- two years after the FJ60 was released.

On another note, it looks like the 2M engine was offered alongside the 3R in the S40 Crowns. I located a 67 Crown owner with the original 3R. I changed the chart to reflect that. Throws another monkey wrench into the S40 chronology.

That person also sent me a side shot of their car, so I was able to illustrate it. I'm looking for five more models and I'll have all the classic illustrations finished: Corona MKII 69-72 Coupe, Crown Sedan 58-62 (Frenchy's supposed to be getting this shot for me), Crown Sedan 68-71, Crown Sedan 71-72, Land Cruiser FJ25.

ToyotaReference · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 3:34 am

ben wrote:

Anyway, based on Toyota USA's numbers, I think the Crown S30 was still sold in 1963. Then the RS40 (4-cyl) was sold for 1965-65 and sales of the MS40 (6-cyl, same body style) began in 1966. The MS50 was introduced in 1967.

Crown Production according to TBT (The Big T):
1958: 587
1959: 967
1960: 659
1961: 225
1962: 74
1963: 28
1964: 74
1965: 1107

It makes sense that the S30 was officially promoted and sold through 1960, which is what I have on my page, but 1961-1964 only "leftovers" were being sold, which explains the drop-off in numbers.

The slight rise in 1964 could be attributed to two possibilities. The first is that the S40 model actually started selling in very late 1964 and bumped the numbers up. The second is that its simply a typo on Toyota's part. I find it very strange that 1962 and 1964 have identical sales numbers.

Also, I haven't been able to locate any sales literature for the S40 in 63-64.

My page is going to reflect this:
RSL/RS20/RS30 1958-1960
RS40 65-67
MS40 66-67

Anyone care to disagree?

ben wrote:

Also, according to the Big T, 1964 was the last year of the Tiara.

Hehe... not if you look at their production numbers! They sent me a spreadsheet that shows all 318 Tiara sales lumped into 1965. Those silly Toyota employees!

ben wrote:

The MS50 was introduced in 1967.

But was it a 1967 model or a 1968 model? I think 1968 because Stepho's page shows production dates for the MS5# starting no earlier than September of 1967. By the time it shipped to the U.S. it would have been very late 1967 and would have probably been sold as a new-for-68 model.

ToyotaReference · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 3:54 am

Ugh, more information, this time from Carlyn:

Quote:

model yr/mo serial to yr/mo serial
RS41 6401 46465 to 6512 121414 sedan, 3R
RS46 6401 45510 to 6512 G12031 at 99,999 started at G10001 in 6507

MS41 6601 15530 to 6612 50926
MS46 6601 10010 to 6612 18315
MS45 6611 10508 to 6707 18006
MS47 6611 10146 to 6708 14187

MS53 6712 100088 to 7012 114980 station wagon, 2M
MS55 6709 100002 to 7012 159131 sedan, 2M

MS63 7102 000001 to 7209 004238 station wagon, 4M
MS65 7102 000001 to 7209 017480 sedan, 4M
MS75 7102 000001 to 7209 004487 hardtop, 4M

I don't think there was an MS40 at all, and this info agrees. The RS40 was the standard Crown, the RS41 was the Deluxe/Custom. Well, using that logic the MS40 would have been the standard -- but it doesn't make any sense that Toyota would have sold a standard Crown with the 6-cyl engine. I'm wiping the MS40 from the chart.

ben · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 12:07 pm

Oops, I meant to say that the 4cyl S40 was sold from 1964-65. But again, the conflicting info from TBT...

ToyotaReference · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 12:10 pm

Yeah, I think I knew what you meant. Either way, I think that Toyota was struggling to get their product on the shelves, so for a couple of years there was a pause in importing the Crown. Of course, until we talk to someone that actually was a dealer we won't know for sure.

Good thing I tracked one down! He is 91 years old and owned the first Toyota dealership here in Portland. I've just been a little hesitant about calling the guy since we don't know each other and he is ummm, OLD. I'm not exactly sure what to say, haha.

Nailing down early Toyota history in the USA

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