I'll Have a Corona, No Lime.(Escape Roads)(Toyota-A history)

Byline: ERIC TEGLER

Ten years after World War II Toyota rolled out its first modern family sedan for the home market, the Toyopet Crown RS. A durable, conservatively styled package motivated by a 1453-cc 48-hp four-cylinder, it was complemented in 1957 by the Toyopet Corona ST10. The Corona was a less-expensive four-door with a 995-cc 33-hp inline-four. In 1960 the PT20 model debuted (with a 997-cc 45-hp engine), followed shortly by the 1453-cc 60-hp Corona 1500 RT20.

Success with the Crown/Corona instilled confidence in Toyota, a company that had developed its technology independent of the foreign firms with which its competitors sought alliances.

That confidence led to the establishment of Toyota Motor Sales USA in an abandoned Rambler dealership in Los Angeles in the late 1950s. Toyota USA's first sale was a Toyopet Crown. Modestly adapted for American roads, the Crown RS-L got left-hand drive and 60 hp. The Corona 1500 followed in 1961, but slow sales reflected both models' lack of performance along with a market not keen on imports.

Americans would begin to take note in 1965 with the arrival of the Corona RT40 series (briefly known as the Tiara). The car, which debuted a year earlier in Japan, was the first Toyota designed for the United States, a tradition manifested today in the Camry, Avalon and Tundra.

The swept angularity of the unibody Corona looked modern, and its 1.9-liter 90-hp inline-four promised reliability if not great thrust. The car's interior was in keeping with American expectations, with reasonable room for four and an optional Toyoglide automatic transmission. Alongside the sedan, coupe, wagon, five-door and even pickup versions of the Corona were offered.

Toyota was winding up RT40 production when the 1970 Corona 1900 Deluxe pictured here hit the road. Typically, the manufacturer had made subtle styling changes, including further "Americani-zation'' of the interior with a rectangular speedometer of the type then in ...