Toyota concept vehicles, 1935–69

Toyota concept vehicles produced between 1935 and 1969 include:

A1

Main article: Toyota A1

The A1 was made in May 1935 as Toyota's first complete vehicle. It entered production in slightly modified form in 1936 as the AA.

Sports X

The Sports X was a concept car shown at the 1961 Tokyo Motor Show.[1] Styling was similar to Italian show cars of the time, with slim pillars and a light roof. A 1900 cc engine was used with other mechanicals based on the Crown.[2] It was not put into production.

Airport Limousine

The Airport Limousine was a concept car shown at the 1961 Tokyo Motor Show.[3] Based on the Crown, the Airport Limousine was a 6-door wagon that retained the fins and side panels of the Crown sedan. It had three rows of bench seats, allowed seating for 9 people, plus luggage space in the rear section. The 1900cc 3R engine produced 80 PS (59 kW) at 4600 rpm and 14.5 kg·m (142 N·m; 105 lbf·ft) at 2600 rpm. The Airport Limousine was not put into production.

The similar production Masterline wagon (also based on the Crown) had only 2 doors, 2 rows of bench seats to allow seating for 6 people (plus luggage) and simpler side panels (without fins).

Toyota made another 6 door Airport Limousine based on the Crown in 1977. It also failed to make production.

Publica Sports

Toyota Publica Sports
Overview
Manufacturer Toyota
Production 1962
Designer Tatsuo Hasegawa
Body and chassis
Class Sports car
Body style 1-door coupe
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Doors Canopy doors
Powertrain
Engine 697 cc 2U air-cooled OHV H2
Dimensions
Length 3,510 mm (138.2 in)
Width 1,454 mm (57.2 in)
Height 1,180 mm (46.5 in)
Curb weight 690 kg (1,521 lb)

The Toyota Publica Sports was a concept car that was developed from the Publica production car.[1]

The first public viewing was at the 1962 Tokyo Motor Show.[2] It featured just 2 seats, a small but high revving engine and a sliding canopy for entry.

The Publica used a 2-cylinder boxer engine, so the Publica Sports is likely to have used the same engine.

It was further developed into the production Sports 800 but without the sliding canopy. The concept featured 1 canopy door that slides backward.

Corona 1500S Convertible

The Corona 1500S Convertible was a concept car displayed at the 1963 Tokyo Motor Show.[1]

The 2-door convertible body was similar to the 4-door Corona RT20 sedan from the waistline down. The 1500 cc engine used a pair of SU carburettors and was connected to a 4-speed, all synchronised manual gearbox. It was not put into production.

Corona 1900S Sporty Sedan

The Corona 1900S Sporty Sedan was a concept car displayed at the 1963 Tokyo Motor Show.[1]

The 1897 cc 3R engine from the Crown was fitted to a Corona RT20 sedan instead of the standard 1500 cc engine, increasing power to 80 PS (59 kW). It was not sold in Japan but in 1964 it was sold in the American market as the RT30L Tiara, replacing the identical looking 1500 cc RT20L.

Corona Sports Coupe

The Corona Sports Coupe was a concept car by Toyota shown at the 1963 Tokyo Motor Show.[1] Although it used the Corona name, it shared little except for the suspension.

The body was similar to 2+2 coupes produced by many Italian design houses,[4] with simple, clean lines instead of the more pronounced lines of the 1961 X concept car. Even the front indicators were demurely placed within the front grill next to a pair of single headlights instead of the more usual place under the bumper. The swage line started midway along the door, continued to the rear flanks and then raised up before flowing around the rear corners to form the top rear edge of the boot. Unlike other Toyota models of the time, horizontal rear indicators were used as part of the emerging trend in car design.

The engine was the 1897 cc 3R engine from the Crown with twin SU carburettors. Transmission was by a floor shift, 4 speed, fully synchronised manual gearbox. Top speed was 170 km/h.[2]

Crown Convertible

The 2-door Crown Convertible was displayed at the 1963 Tokyo Motor Show, based on the Crown 1900 sedan.[1] Features included a hydraulically operated folding soft top and electric windows. The 1897 cc 3R engine had dual SU carburettors fitted, raising the power to 100 PS (74 kW). Transmission was by a 4-speed column shift manual gearbox. It was not put into production.

Dream Car Model

The Dream Car Model was a model of a concept car shown at the 1963 Tokyo Motor Show.[2] This was designed as a 'running reception room inside a luxurious cabin'. The body was a cab forward van on a stretched chassis. The top half was completely formed from transparent panels, including the roof.

Dream Car

The Dream Car was a 2-seater concept sports car shown at the 1964 Tokyo Motor Show.[2]

EX-I

Designed to show how Japan's new highways could be used, the EX-I was a 2-seater concept sports car shown at the 1969 Tokyo Motor Show.[2] Styling was similar to the Celica released the next year with more emphasis placed on aerodynamics. A roof mounted spoiler was raised and lowered electrically to increase stability at high speed. The interior was ergonomically designed with a wrap around console so that all switches were within easy reach of the driver. Twin exhausts and bonnet scoops hinted at an engine larger than normally used on Japanese cars.[1]

EX-II

The EX-II was a 2-seater, fully enclosed electric runabout shown at the 1969 Tokyo Motor Show.[1]

EX-III

Shown at the 1969 Tokyo Motor Show, the EX-III was the big brother of the EX-I.[2] The larger body was even more aerodynamic, being built very low with a pointed front (no bumper), a long bonnet, sharply sloped sides and a tapered rear. Large exhaust outlets hinted at a gas turbine engine but no details were given.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Japanese Showcars 1 Tokyo Motor Show 1954~1969. Japan. 2007. ISBN 4-544-91032-3.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Fifty Years of Toyota Concept Cars". The wheel extended 17 (3). 1987. ISSN 0049-755X.
  3. ↑ Toyota Motor Guide (Tokyo Motor Show). Japan. 1961.
  4. ↑ http://www.2000gt.net/Prototype1963/Proto1963.php TOYOTA Prototype 1963 (French)

External links

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