Trésor caché : Toyota Cressida Wagon 1982 dans la casse

In the automotive landscape of the early 1980s, station wagons were a popular choice among American car shoppers, with several car manufacturers offering wagons in various sizes. Toyota was one such manufacturer, offering three wagon models: the compact Corolla, the slightly larger Corona, and the luxurious Cressida. The Cressida, featured in today’s Junkyard Gem, was a rear-wheel-drive model available in the United States from 1978 to 1992, spanning four generations. Derived from the Corona Mark II, the Cressida was considered the pinnacle of luxury for Toyota in the U.S. market until the arrival of the Lexus LS 400 in 1990.

The specific Cressida wagon we’re examining is from the 1982 model year, part of the generation that was sold in the U.S. from 1981 to 1984. It shared its platform with the Celica Supra, boasting an M-series straight-six engine that powered the rear wheels. The 2.8-liter 5M-E engine with electronic fuel injection produced 116 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque, providing decent performance given its weight of just 2,906 pounds.

Equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission with an overdrive top gear, the 1982 Cressida wagon carried an MSRP of $12,699, making it one of the most luxurious and expensive offerings from Toyota at the time. Standard features included air conditioning, cruise control, rear defroster, and an AM/FM four-speaker audio system, surpassing what other vehicles in its class offered as options.

Although there is a niche enthusiast following for the Cressida, this particular example found its way to the junkyard with only a modest 100k miles on the odometer over its 42-year lifespan. The Cressida wagon was available in the U.S. market until 1987, after which it was succeeded by the higher-end trim levels of the Camry wagon.

Despite its enthusiast appeal, the Cressida could not escape its eventual fate in the junkyard. It’s worth noting that the turbocharged version of the Cressida was never offered in the U.S. market, adding to the allure of this once-stylish and luxurious wagon.