We are sad to report that Carlyn Dinkler, a pioneer in the world of vintage Japanese cars, has passed. Long before the internet, long before Toyotafest, and long before anyone though old Toyotas were cool, Dinkler was already devoting his life to restoring them. His specific passion was the T40 and T50 Corona, which he dedicated, in his words, 99 percent of his time to.
Dinkler graduated from Duke University with a degree in electrical engineering and lived in nearby Mint Hill, North Carolina. Eventually. due to his love and ownership of the T40/T50 chassis, he attained legendary status among vintage Toyota enthusiasts and became the ultimate go-to guru for everything Corona.
Prior to souped up Daruma Celicas and slammed Corollas the barikan (Japanese for electric shaver) Corona was Toyota’s first big hit in the US. In some parts of the country its popularity rivaled that of the Volkswagen Beetle. It garnered a cult following that is largely separate from modern-day Toyota enthusiasts, but among the Corona devotees Dinkler was practically a celebrity.
Starting in the mid 80s, Dinkler self-published a series of newsletters that Corona owners could subscribe to by mail. These booklets contained everything from technical guides, wiring diagrams, and tune-up tips to production date breakdowns by VIN and paint code references. This was made possible only by his vast collection of internal Toyota factory service manuals, repair documentation, and dealer microfiche catalogs.
Much of the information Dinkler shared came from his years of experience wrenching on his own Coronas. He’d cross-reference factory part numbers against physical components to track interchangeability across model years and engine variants. He’d dissect and compare parts and trim pieces to determine exact specs and test fitment across different grades and body styles. Dinkler even published in his newsletter a list of which NOS Corona parts were available, which had been discontinued, and aftermarket alternatives.
Perhaps most amazing of all, Dinkler was able to reach Corona owners across the country without the internet. He was always there to help a fellow Corona owner, even if correspondence was only possible by long-distance phone call or snail mail. It was an enormous undertaking, but Carlyn Dinkler kept many Coronas alive before the world was at our fingertips. We thank him for his service to the JNC community.
Images courtesy of the Toyota Owners and Restorers Club
I don’t know anything about Coronas, so I’ve never heard of him. But this hobby would be nothing without guys like he is described in this piece. It’s always sad when someone from the community, especially a well respected one, passes away. By the sounds of it, this will be a huge hit to the Corona world, although I’m sure he’s left mountains of information for the next generations. We should all be grateful for the caretakers of the automotive world. We should also be caretakers ourselves whenever possible.
We all know someone from the forums we used to frequent who was unquestioned and respected by everyone, who other members would school the newbs about. Be thankful they were around for you. And if they’re still around, be sure to thank them while you can.