Contemporary new product report/review originally published in Popular Science April 1994; republished by the author It seemed that Toyota had painted itself into a corner. The four-cylinder 2.4-liter 138-horsepower powerplant in its Previa minivan just didn’t have the guts for towing or hauling heavy loads. And the under-the-floor placement simply didn’t allow much room for […]
Dancing With Valves: Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo versus Isuzu Impulse RS
Comparison review originally published in the Road & Track Performance Cars 1991; republished by author Some people might not consider the Isuzu Impulse RS versus the Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo a fair match, putting a 160-bhp car up against a 200-bhp rival costing half again as much. But check the specifications: Both are sports coupes […]
Review: 1994 Toyota Supra
Review originally published in Road and Track Specials 1994 Buyers Guide You can see it in their eyes, from the round-eyed wonder of little boys, to the furtive glances of older males who don’t want you to know they’re looking, to the stares you get from women wanting to know just what is that car […]
Carina! Carina! 1972-73 Toyota Carina
History originally published in Sport Compact Car March 1996 Carina. For most it’s not a name that sparks instant recognition. Those who had one in the family will know it. Others may make the Corolla-Corona-Celica connection and recognize it as a Toyota. But few will be able to fix it in the model lineup or […]
1959 Toyopet Crown Custom: Toyota’s initial U.S. failure a lesson for later success
History originally published in AutoWeek August 3, 1992 Who would have believed that Toyota, maker of the 1959 Toyopet Crown, would have become the international automotive juggernaut of today? Toyota products have been almost immovable from the upper reaches of customer satisfaction studies. In 1959 America, they were often simply immovable–except by tow truck. Toyota’s […]
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