The Crown Royal Saloon Was the Pre-Lexus Pinnacle of Toyota’s JDM Offerings
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Asian
In July, Toyota announced that the Crown would be returning to the US market after an absence of more than 50 years. Americans may not be familiar with the name, but in Japan, the Toyota Crown is one of the oldest and most popular automotive nameplates. The beloved sedan has been in continuous production since 1955. The model has endured for over 16 generations, serving as a ubiquitous platform for taxis, police cars, and family haulers.
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For most of its life, the Toyota Crown featured a wagon variant. The eighth-generation model, like this 1988 Crown Royal Saloon recently listed for sale on eBay Motors in Redondo Beach, Calif., is one of the most esteemed. It had an unusually long production cycle of 12 years, from 1987 to 1999. Earlier pre-facelift models were arguably more attractive if you prefer 1980s boxiness to 1990s organic shapes.
The Jewel of Toyota’s Home Lineup
Throughout most of its existence, the Crown was the de facto car for successful Japanese families. Lexus didn’t emerge on the Japanese market as a standalone brand until 2005, so the Crown was an aspirational vehicle for many.
Crowns weren’t meant to be flashy—just comfortable, stately, and traditional. Perhaps that is why there has been so much backlash toward the 2023 Crown, which eschews the tried-and-true rear-wheel-drive layout for a front-biased all-wheel-drive hybrid system with a bizarre half sedan, half crossover design.
The 2023 Toyota Crown Platinum in Bronze Age metallic
Crowns came with many engines over the years, but the wagon in the auction car has one of the more unusual ones. Beneath its hood lies a 2.0-liter, DOHC, 24-valve inline six with a supercharger - opens in new window or tab., making 168 horsepower and 167 pound-feet of torque. Toyota offered it only with a four-speed automatic. The setup was geared toward smoothness rather than speed, but the blower provided a bit more pep as you inconspicuously glided down the expressway.
The Toyota Crown Royal Is a Regal Family Chariot
The Toyota Crown Royal for sale was imported from Japan and has been owned by the seller for one year. The odometer shows about 129,500 miles, so it’s seen some distance. However, as is the case with Toyota’s imperturbable straight-six motors, it should be capable of velvety operation for years to come. The listing corroborates that, as the car is described as unbelievably smooth and quiet.
Though the car is located in California, it may not be legally registered in the Golden State. California requires any car built after 1976 to pass an emissions equipment test, but Japanese cars of this era were not built with the equipment necessary to pass. So even if the Crown Royal could technically pass a tailpipe sniffer, registration will require subjecting it to a California Air Resources Board evaluation. That could cost thousands of dollars. That is why the car is wearing a Vermont license plate. If you plan to register it in the other 49 states, the Vermont registration should be transferable.
The car appears to be in excellent condition. The only part that doesn’t look original is the aftermarket stereo unit - opens in new window or tab., which you’d have to get anyway because standard Japanese radio frequency ranges are different from American airwaves. Station wagons - opens in new window or tab. are an extinct breed these days, but this Toyota Crown Royal is an example of the best Japan had to offer to regular folks.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.