1970’s Toyota Corolla Wagon?

Any Toyota lovers out there know much about these old Carolla Wagons? Well, I’m pretty sure that’s what it is, anyways…

 

I got my driving license in a 2 door hatch, just like that. That's worth saving!
Back in '78 when they were new! LOL Thing was all jacked up, had 14" mags on the
back and steered like shit!

 

Haha. I got my license in an ‘80 Starlet. 2 door hatchback, bag of squirrels under the hood, but a 5 speed.

I know next to nothing about this little Corolla but it looks like a fun project with my boys. I figure somebody else here might know a little something about it. Not sure I want to dump a pile of money in to it, but I’ve never seen another one of them around. Glass is all there but the windshield is bad. Was told it ran when parked (ya, I know, prolly only driven to church on Sundays by an old lady, too…) but prolly has a bad clutch. Worse comes to worst I can junk it. But it’s kinda unique. Not sure what’s in store for it yet…

 

Good car to learn basic mechanics on. Of course it’s a 5 speed. Back in the days autos weren’t
nearly as common. I think I was 8-10 before I even knew there was an auto transmission.
If your kids are old enough to drive they’ll get a kick out of it.

 

That body looks fantastic! Original motor and trans still in it?

I learned how to drive in an 81 F250 4 on the floor w/granny gear. Straight 6 could pull a house down.

 

Original motor and trans as far as I know. Drivers side has a few character marks but I can’t get to the hood release where it sits. I’ll have to drag it out of the weeds to get a closer look.

Those straight 6’s were under rated. My buddy had one in his old ford on 35’s (you know, HUGE tire back when). He’d chain up in the mud and chug through mud up to the bumpers.

 

That would be a fun project car if you don't intend to restore it to original condition. Can you even get a windshield?

 

Workhorses. Serious little torque monsters.

 

Was that the 300 six? I had one and it had the reliability of an anvil. When the cash for clunkers hit the local Ford dealership mechanics told me those sixes were nearly impossible to kill with the Obamajuice they put in them to destroy the engines. The only complaint I had with mine was the lack of flywheel effect. If felt like a Cox 049 starting out in the non granny first gear. Once up to RPM it was John Deere city.

 

Ha. A cox .049... Think I still have one of those in the garage.

 

Yes that's the one. I think with an Offenhauser intake and some other bolt ons, you could yield a whopping 230 HP lol but man that thing pulled fully loaded cattle trailers with ease. Eventually I got good enough to shift without the clutch

 

I have no idea. My neighbor owns an auto glass shop so I'll find out once I pull some info from the dash/door and give him a call.

And, no, I wouldn't be going to restore it. Clean it up, getting running, brakes and tires, teach my kids how to drive stick, cruise around town. Let them think that's gonna be their car for a while..

 

Hell, slap a 350 in it, some intake stacks, and zoomie headers then really joy ride it

 

haha. I was in the 400m crowd so I got plenty of ribbing for driving a boat anchor. Intake, 4 barrel, RV cam, and flat top pistons made for a surprising little thumper. Still got showed up by the 300-6 in the deep stuff. But I could throw roosters much, much further...

I remember when a neighbor showed me how to rev match; my friends about died when I started driving one of the work trucks around (early 90's dodge with the cummins 5.9) and just started grabbing gears without pushing in the clutch. The looks on their faces...

 

I'm thinking 2jz.

Ya, like I've got time and patience for that...

 

I dunno why, but I dig the grille and the hood vent on this little car.

 

I have this car, been in the family from the beginning. I can't access the starter motor. How many bolts on the exhaust manifold are there that have to be removed? It looks like there are two bolts that hold the exhaust tube in place. Do I have to remove those two bolts, then pull the actual exhaust manifold? I'm trying to take photos but the access is too difficult.

 

This is where Youtube is your friend I think. Good luck. Keep it running!! J

 

I looked on Youtube. One post is mislabeled as being for the 70's Toyota's, but it was actually for the 80's.