Toyota Corona

Playboy  Oct. 1968

    Toyota has always been a producer of small, cheap, reasonably reliable cars for the masses.  Some of them are now collectible and I've personally seen a Corona or two at shows and featured in magazines.  This is actually the third generation of Corona.
     Now take a look at those specs.  90 horsepower.  Compare that to the Starfire that was released 4 years earlier, but with a nice, big V8 and 345 horses.  The Corona can go 0-60 in a snooze-inducing 16 seconds, and can only stretch that another 30 mph to to top out at 90.  Fast enough for highways, but still embarrassing by modern standards.

     Interestingly, 1968 is the same year the Corolla was introduced.  The Corolla was intended to be a cheaper, smaller alternative to the Corona, which is saying something because the $2115 price tag on the advertised Corona up above works out to about $13,768 in modern money.  Not very expensive to begin with.  If you read the fine print, the 4-door sedan actually starts at $1930 ($12,564).

Ad text:  One more thing Toyota gives you is go!
90 hp never felt so good.  0-to-60 in 16 seconds. Tops 90 mph. A car built for performance, the sporty Corona zips ahead of the pack, and still delivers about 25 miles or more per gallon.  Good for the ego.  Great for the pocket!  Real comfort too.  Luxurious bucket seats.  A ride that's soft, and library quiet.  A solid 4-on-the-floor... or an easy going fully-automatic automatic (optional).  Even factory air conditioning (optional).  Test drive the Toyota Corona, today.  It's America's lowest-priced 2-door hardtop.  And that's going some!