1965 Toyota Corona Deluxe

In the care of the current owner for the past four years, this beautiful four-door, right-hand-drive Corona Deluxe is a remarkable survivor car that was in the care of its first owner from 1965 until 1982. The second owner kept the car until 2013, at which point it passed to its third. It was then exported from Japan in September 2016 to start a new life with its first and only UK keeper.

Weighing in at just 940kgs, it’s had an easy life, too. The vendor understands that this corona spent its first 17 years on display in a dealer’s showroom mean it is showing what is believed to be a genuine 47,000 kilometers on the odometer, while salt-free roads and four obsessively careful owners mean it has maintained a staggeringly high degree of originality.

With only a couple of very minor jobs to carry out, this is a rare opportunity for the Toyota enthusiast to get their hands on what might be the best-preserved Corona Deluxe in the country!

The metallic grey coachwork (Toyota colour code 1254) is in a charming condition. Still glossy and reeking of originality, its panel alignment and door shutlines still appear very tight. The care with which the car was built and then maintained is reflected in the smaller areas too, areas that are normally neglected such as the door shuts and boot and bonnet hinges, all of which are pleasingly clean.

Even the lips of the wheelarches are solid and appear free of the sort of lacey rust that afflicts the average Japanese car of the period – and the vendor states the sills are very solid and still sport their black rubber bungs.

The wiper arms are the chromed originals, and the badging is still sharp and vibrant. Another nice touch are the various Japanese window stickers on the tinted windows, which add a lovely retro authenticity.

The steel wheels still wear their original domed, chromed hubcaps. They’re shod with matching Maxxis tyres, all of which have a good level of tread.

As we will never tyre of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but do give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

There is the odd touch-in scratch or stonechip, and there is a rubbing mark on the leading edge of the nearside front wing, but nothing that detracts from the Corona’s overall presentation.

In fact, the work that is needed seems to be limited to a small area of cracked and rusting metalwork on the leading edge of the offside front wing and the front and rear valence, which are showing early signs of rust. The owner was keen to preserve the car’s originality, which is why he did the right thing and left well alone. This means that the car’s new owner can continue to manage the car’s condition, or can carry out localized repairs, depending on his or her attitude towards conservation and originality.

The first thing you notice as you step inside is the glorious pencil-thin steering wheel with its chrome horn push and huge chromed gearlever sitting behind it. And then there is that flat silvery slab of a dashboard that reeks of 60’s Japanese design.

More Japanese cues take the form of the speedometer, that reads to 140km/h. At a time when the equivalent British car would have displayed the same figures in mph, the team at Toyota were typically understated and honest in their depiction of the available performance – and there must have been huge fun for the car’s drivers in seeing the needle sitting all the way over to the right for hour after hour.

That it is all in fabulous condition should come as no surprise given the fact that the car’s previous owners have cherished it to such an extent that the car still wears the original plastic door trim protectors. Even the metal sill protectors are still fresh and vibrant and largely unscratched, and the top of the dashboard appears free of sun damage and cracks.

And then there are the seats. Green might not be your first choice for your vinyl seats, but there’s no denying the quality of both the design and the execution. They’re in great shape, too with no scuffs or marks, much less rips, tears or other damage. They’re also as firm and plump as the day they left the factory; if you’re looking for a Corona in time-warp condition, then you’ve found it.

Lifting the (very good, natch) carpets reveals solid metalwork and, as you’re starting to expect, only the very finest smattering of surface rust that could be rectified easily and cheaply. Even the felt underlay is still present and correct, as is the driver’s heel protector, which is as clean and free of damage as the pedal rubbers.

The boot is home to the spare wheel (still wearing the original tyre), spare wheel cover, and the original jack, the latter two of which are in an excellent condition. In fact, the owner is a bit of a Toyota enthusiast and he’s never seen another Corona spare wheel cover in all the years he’s been looking; they’re a bit flimsy and age takes its toll on them, so you can chalk up this one’s presence and condition as another positive sign.

You want more proof of how well this car has been treated? Well, just take a look at the front seat hinges; fresh and bright, the screw heads are completely undamaged and we doubt they’ve ever been touched in the 55 years since the car left the factory.

The only work we can see that the new owner might want to carry out is the headlining, which has a small rip in it.

Also, they will almost certainly want to consider replacing the door and window seals, which are starting to perish. We are told that these are still available and while the need for new replacements isn’t urgent, the rest of the interior is so good that it would be a shame to leave them as they are. Just hang on to the old ones for old time’s sake, won’t you?

Oh, and the original radio still sits proudly in the middle of the dashboard. It works too, and the aerial rises majestically when it is turned on. unmolested condition, remember?

The owner serviced the Corona when it arrived here in the UK, and changed the tyres as he felt that the originals – which will be supplied with the car – were probably time-expired…

Other than that it has needed nothing doing, which makes this a short-but-sweet section to write. He tells us that the car starts, runs and drives as it should, although the exhaust silencer has rusted through and will need replacing.

The engine bay is clean and neat, and the engine itself even still wears the original 2R engine code designation sticker; how’s that for legitimacy?

The underside is as clean as the rest of the car and even still shows the original yellow paint marks on the bolts and fasteners to show that they have been torqued to the correct value.

Neither the engine bay nor the underside are in need of anything, although an owner who intends to use the car throughout the winter might want to apply a coat of underseal and/or rustproofing fluid to guard against future rust.

The Corona doesn’t have a current MOT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have the car re-MOT’d at the earliest. The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The online MOT history shows nothing of concern whatsoever and confirms the car’s low mileage.

The Corona comes with a printed Vehicle History Certificate and an export certificate in addition to the usual Japanese MOT history. It also comes with the two keys it was supplied with and the original owner’s handbook, plus a period sales brochure and a repair manual.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing to see these items.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please contact the owner to arrange an appointment.

Cars of this quality are rare, and even more so 55-year-old ones, so it is a real treat to be able to offer this charmingly well-preserved example as our latest auction.

While it has a genuine 47,000kms on the clock and some of the best bodywork and interior fittings we’ve ever seen on a car of this age, the sad fact is that Japanese cars of this type have still to rise to a level commensurate with their condition. This might be bad news for the vendor, but is very good news for the car’s next owner as they will be able to get their hands on a piece of Toyota history for what is likely to be a pittance.

How little? Well, despite its condition and provenance, with an estimate of £6,000 - £10,000 this is bloomin’ good value in anyone’s book.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located in Bishops Stortford; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.