SFBay FTW: 1991 Toyota Cressida 1UZ V8
DT’s logo guru and resident craigslistologist Kaibeezy has frequently made that assertion that the SF Bay area craigslist is the best place to get a used car (classic or otherwise). I had originally written this nonsense off as some kind of localist tendencies (mine is better than yours) but when the Beez moved from his SF Bay area home (think one part Yoda’s camp on Degobah and one part Mother Goose little old lady in the shoe house) I started searching the SF Bay craigslist for the goods myself…and by golly…it delivers. Like this 1991 Toyota Cressida with 1UZ V8 and 5-speed manual offered for $8,000 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist. Tip from Kaibeezy.
This isn’t some kind of rare machine offered for pennies on the dollar, but the Cressida was the last Toyota badged car to leave the factory with rear-wheel-drive (before the FR-S was released a few years ago). A stock Cressida isn’t much in the performance department and they were all sold new for a 4-speed automatic…but this isn’t your average Cressida.
Under the hood is a Toyota 1UZ-FE, a 4.0 liter 32-valve quad-cam V8 that was available new in the Lexus LS400 and Toyota Crown/Soarer/Aristo (JDM only). Stock power is 260 horsepower and 260 ft-lbs of torque — which will be glorious when mated to a 5-speed manual and the skinny rear wheels of this Cressida. Hope it has some kind of limited slip out back and enjoy the smokey burnouts.
See a better swapped classic from your local Craigslist? Send it here: tips@dailyturismo.com
Oh man this is such a great swap. I've had a couple stock Cressida's and they are nice to drive but this one is the ultimate sleeper. These blend right in and have aged very well looking modern for a 25 year old car. I'm wiping the drool off my keyboard now and off to show the wife what can replace our P-71 Vic
Vince, I think you're forgetting about the MkIV Supra as the formerly-last RWD Toyota badged car.
And the FR-S has a Scion badge, unless you meant to reference the GT86.
…and if you're not talking strictly US market there've been quite a few others.
…and I was also forgetting the W30 MR2 Spyder in my above comment, which they sold here until 2005.
All that work and it's still got the crap motorized seatbelts.
My guess is it has been swapped and its time for it to be smogged which it won't pass in CA. So he has to sell it down the river. In a year, it would qualify for classic status in NV though…
For sure it's been swapped – the 7MGE inline six was the only factory engine for this Cressida in the US.
The seller makes no mention of BAR certification so it's safe to assume this isn't smog legal – at the moment. An enterprising buyer could use this to their advantage, and then go through the work necessary to get it certified as an emissions-legal engine swap. Bam, instant jump in value.
Nice Sleeper 4 sure.
Oh man, the want is very strong with this one. BAR? We don't need no stinking BAR! The one time I'm glad I live in crappy Ohio. 🙂
For what its worth, I completely agree with Vince and Kaibeezy; SF bay area's craigslist is my go-to for the best classified gems. Now I just have to figure out the small problem of getting back any of the aforesaid classified gems. That, and winning the lottery, so I can scoop up every one of the beauties that I run across.