The rise of JNC prices continues, with this 1974 Toyota Corolla SR5 having recently sold for a truly impressive sum. While we have seen Datsuns and rotaries sell for around $20,000, it’s not that common to see Toyotas in the sporty RWD coupe class pull similar amounts. Why is this car special?
In a word, rarity. Mostly-stock second-gen Corollas are almost impossible to find these days, especially those in the sporty coupe body style commonly known as the mango. The SR5 was the top-of-the-line grade in the US, which came from the factory with steel fender flares. Most of the best examples here have been either turned into race cars or converted to JDM Levin or Trueno clones. Throw in a rare color of 522 Yellow, and you’ve got yourself a 43-year old Corolla that’s worth $17,750.
In Japan, a TE27 would have come with a Yamaha-engineered twin-cam 2T-G motor. Stateside, we had no such luck, making do with the OHV 2T-C. Though they can be tuned and turbocharged to put out strong numbers, factory output came in at a middling 102 horsepower.
Perhaps what’s most amazing about the Bring a Trailer sale is that the car isn’t in stellar condition. It’s been repainted. There are a few spots of rust at the bottoms of the fenders and rocker panels, a common problem area that trap leaves and dirt (and thus moisture). The original wheels have been replaced, though with period American Racing Libres. Overall, it’s not as clean as others we’ve seen. However, as one of the last few stock Us-spec ones remaining, it commanded a price that’s probably only going to rise.
Wow! Great looking car though. Any Toyota otaku would have one of these cars on their wish list somewhere…
Another crazy price for an old Corolla hit my inbox today. It hasn’t sold yet, but check out the asking price of $40,000 for an AE86 in Australia:
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Toyota-Sprinter-1984/SSE-AD-4830256/?Cr=1
Perfect example as to why you should keep stock cars original and not cut them up or make dumb mods.
US-spec SR5s had 88hp 2T-C motors. This may be a 1973, because 1974 required 5-mph bumpers. Another 1974-only feature was the seatbel interlock.
The weird thing about this car (looking at the pictures on the website) is that it looks like this is NOT the original motor, it looks like a 2T-B twin carb that was never sold in the US, probably a imported Japanese engine.
And the dash was disfigured by jamming an aftermarket tach where the factory one would be, but installed some gauges in the center console. And of course, the shift knob is from a later Toyota.
It does have the seatbelt interlock (FASTEN SEATBELT light),so it seems this guy removed the original bumpers.
Aftermarket mirrors, and the Corolla grille badge is incorrect. And a weird coolant overflow setup, too.
And the stripe was never redone after the repaint. Too bad there is no picture of the serial number plate.
Somebody mentioned that the bumpers were changed. Still a nice car but not in my budget with a kid heading to college soon. BTW I loved your mom in Grease.
Hey BEN HSU, 2TC was not SOHC, it was OHV with camshaft in the block with PUSHROD like most USA engines, please!
Oops, corrected!
And like many others Toyota engines too, like 3KC-4KC (KE corolla, KP starlet), 3YE-4YE(van wagon), 3RB (RT40 corona), 2V to 5VE V8 in century even if these was HEMIspherical heads engines like 2TC-3TC, the first V or 1V code V8 in 1964 crown eight was with wedge valves arrangement like classic all American V8 and was not hemi, F -2F-3FE in land cruiser and probably some others that i forget but don’t worry about all that, it’s no secret that OHC(over head camshaft) are not really more technologically advanced than OHV(over head valve) engines, it’s only the overall looking under the hood that do all the job, i remember the first 5MGE under the hood of the first MA61 that i seen in 1981, it was so spectacular and did the same looking job than the last 4.0 liter inline sixes in Jaguar XKE. You must see the new C7 Corvette that still use OHV engines to prove all that i think. OHV not restrain RPM that much.
Bringatrailer….bringing up prices for cars I want for almost 10 years now…..
Noticed another odd thing. The front seatbelts are anchored not in the roof, but the door pillar.
This might be a 1973, no starter interlock. 1974’s had retractors that locked up under hard braking or cornering.
Did their starter interlock prevent the car from starting, like U.S. cars? I’ve read that people would fasten the belts behind them. Sometimes they were tied to the front PASSENGER side, as well…
Nanny-state; the early years.
Well, it’s a rare car in good+ shape, so if ya want it, you’ll pay the number…
I’m a Toyota enthusiast and I own 4 these cars if anyone interested let me know I might just consider selling one of the four that I presently
andrew how much and where are you located?
I’m interested in one of your corollas, could you send over pictures of all of them and what you are thinking you would want for one knowing that its a dream car I will keep and work on until I cant work on cars anymore?
it’s a 74 you can tell by the gaps in the rear where the old fat bumper gaps.
Im looking for a roof for one. We are restoring a 73 TE27. But someone cut weird holes in the center which made the roof unstable and unsafe.