Toyota named today Good price or no dice competitor of the century to honor the 100th birthday of founder Sakichi Toyoda in 1967. Let’s see how honorable the price of this ex-pat limo could be.
I started my day last Friday the way I like to spend most of my Friday mornings – sipping my cup of coffee and watching the votes go down on the candidate of the day. Last Friday was particularly interesting because it took exactly nine minutes and 38 votes before anyone supported us. 2008 Lincoln Mark LT competitor’s asking price of $33,000. This stoic vote remained Lincoln’s only supporter for 10 more minutes and 45 more votes before being joined by a compatriot. But it was far from enough, because the Mark LT ending the day with an insurmountable 94% without loss of dice.
As we discussed on Friday, Ford has long lost its mojo when it comes to what to do with its luxury brand, Lincoln. It is not the same case with many other manufacturers, and when it comes to luxury models, Toyota figured it all out decades ago.
It was 1967, in fact, when Toyota introduced its most luxurious car ever, the Century. The model continued in limited production as the company’s flagship for the home market for a remarkable 30 years before getting a significant refresh.
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That long and somewhat immutable model run is why today’s en private imported 1990 Toyota Century Looks like it’s from another age and not from the MTV era. As seen in the picturesthe car’s styling is reminiscent of the early ’70s Corona rather than anything Toyota built in the ’90s. Looks more like a Mopar product from the 1960s than anything else. The only freebies of its origin are the flush headlights that would have been illegal in 1960s America and the contrasting fender-mounted side mirrors. were the law in Japan at the time.
The Century’s V8 engine is matched for its size and stature. The all-alloy 4-litre engine was co-developed with Yamaha and by the time this edition hit the streets it sported multi-point fuel injection giving it around 190 horsepower. Backing up is a four-speed automatic with column shift. According to the seller, the car has only 65,000 miles under its belt. It is said to be “no leaks or noise”. Additionally, it is claimed that he “Rides like a sedated Cadillac.
The interior is a 70s riot, too. Inside the cabin, there’s leather upholstery, a smattering of wood and brushed metal trim, and a carpet deep enough to lose pocket change. This is a JDM car so the steering wheel does the job. That shouldn’t be a problem for rear passengers who get a ton of legroom and swooping door openings for step-free entry. There are also heaters for the rear seats and remote controls for the stereo and automatic climate control.
Perhaps the car’s best party trick, however, is the ability to fold down the backrest on the left front seat, providing lounge-like accommodation for the rear seat. Have you ever put your legs through a car seat to relax? Yes, me neither.
According to the announcement, there are a few flies in this century’s ointment. Of the highest note are issues with the front door window mechanisms and peeling paint on the roof. This last issue raises an interesting feature of this car which is the removable roof section above the lounge seat. It appears to be too big and unwieldy to be handled by a man (or woman) by a single driver. More, where do you put it when it’s off? Still, for parades or the occasional occasion to be adored by his inferiors, it could prove an effective vantage point.
The car is advertised in Reno Nevada, and the seller warns interested parties in neighboring California that this car cannot be registered there without serious (read expensive) modifications to bring it into compliance with state emissions requirements.
For everyone else, however, this could be a fabulous ride and a magnet for any car you come across, a royal outing, or Dollar Tree shopping trip. To achieve this, the seller asks for $7,500.
What is your opinion on this mthe most luxurious Toyota of its time and its $7,500 price tag? Does that sound like a bargain for such an interesting car? Or, do the problems – and the desire for a day moving to California – stifling that interest?
You decide!
Reno, Nevada, craigslist. Where to go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to Bob Maples for the hookup!
Help me with NPOND. Hit me at remslie@kinja.com and send me a fixed price tip. Don’t forget to include your Kinja handle.
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