Whereas there are many JDM autos roaming the roads of america (I daily-drive one myself), they do not usually seem within the huge self-service automotive graveyards that I frequent whereas researching this collection. Till now, I would discovered a discarded 1979 Nissan Fairlady Z initially introduced over by an airman and that is it. Then I received phrase from a few of my native junkyard tipsters {that a} final-generation Cresta had appeared at a yard close to Denver, and I received over there instantly.
U-Pull-&-Pay’s stock system would not have entries for autos by no means bought in america, however whichever worker did the data-entry job for this automotive knew sufficient about JDM Toyotas to listing this automotive below the identify of its closest U.S.-market relative: the Cressida. The Cressida was bought right here by means of the 1992 mannequin 12 months, and it was primarily based on Cresta-sibling Toyota Mark II.
For many years, Japanese Toyota consumers might select between what amounted to 3 trim ranges of the identical midsize rear-wheel-drive (or all-wheel-drive, late within the recreation) sedan: the entry-level Mark II, the hot-rod Chaser and the luxurious Cresta. The ultimate technology for these vehicles was constructed for the 1996 by means of 2001 mannequin years; after that, the Cresta was changed by the Verossa. These vehicles might need cannibalized gross sales from the Lexus LS on our facet of the Pacific and Toyota was doubling down on SUVs right here anyway, in order that they weren’t bought in america.
This one has the G Package deal, which included a bunch of consolation and comfort upgrades.
This automotive is right here as a result of it received crashed, arduous. Usually I will not doc a car this unrecognizably bent off form, however you do not see JDM iron day by day in American junkyards.
The airbags labored appropriately and the cabin remained primarily intact, whereas the physique construction did its job of absorbing crash power. Let’s hope all occupants had been carrying their seat belts.
The engine is a 2.5-liter 1JZ straight-six, rated at 197 horsepower.
It seems that this technology of Cresta may very well be bought with a handbook transmission, however solely with the bottom 2.0-liter engine.
Its last proprietor swapped in some 18″ Lexus wheels with low-profile rubber.
This automotive would not share a lot with U.S.-market Toyotas and Lexuses, although it is attainable that just a few of its unmashed mechanical elements may bolt onto a Lexus SC or late Cressida. A lot of the fabric inside seems very good, so maybe one other native Cresta proprietor will rescue it.
This technology of Cresta featured prominently within the “Nice Instructor Onizuka” anime collection of a quarter-century in the past.
The Cresta was beneath the Crown and Celsior within the late-Nineties Toyota status pyramid, however above the Corona and Camry.
Makes you an unhittable baseball pitcher.