So Beige It’s Almost Cool: 1983 Toyota Cressida

The second generation Toyota Cressida (MX63) was produced from 1980 through 1984 as an executive pre-Lexus flagship sedan.  It was notable for being a well constructed car, and one of the first cars equipped with those detestable neck-chopping automatic seat belts.  If you don’t mind the occasional death by accidental strangulation, you just might find life in an MX63 Cressida to be interesting.  Find this 1983 Toyota Cressida offered for $2900 in Culver City, CA via craigslist.

The US market Cressida was based on the JDM Corona Mark II and used a coterie of components borrowed from the 2nd generation Supra.  Up front was a decently powerful inline-6 and underneath was a decent semi-trailing arm independent rear end and 4-wheel disc brakes.  

Power comes from Toyota’s 5M-GE inline-6, which was a dual-over-head cam (but perplexingly 12-valve) 2.8 liter engine that put out 143 horsepower into a 4-speed electronically controlled automatic. 

The inside isn’t exactly something that will get your blood pumping, but the basic cloth seats and brown dash looks well preserved.   The seller claims he purchased it from the original owner, (did some maintenance) and it wears the original California blue plates.

See a cooler two-tone beige and brown classic? tips@dailyturismo.com