In 2023, Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu invested billions of Vietnamese dong to add over 30 different JDM car models to his collection. In early 2024, he unveiled a unique car, possibly purchased the previous year.
One of the standout models in his collection is the Toyota Corona, a renowned Japanese brand. In this article, we will take a quick look at Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu’s extremely rare Toyota Corona, which has earned him the title of the biggest supercar collector in Vietnam.
Which year was Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu’s Toyota Corona produced?
Based on design details such as headlights, grille, rearview mirrors, and taillights, it is evident that Mr. Vu’s Toyota Corona belongs to the 3rd generation. This generation was produced from September 1964 to January 1970 in the Japanese market and from 1966 to 1972 in the Korean market.
The 3rd generation Toyota Corona was introduced in September 1964, just a month before the 1964 Summer Olympics. It was available as a sedan, a hardtop two-door, a wagon, and a five-door sedan. There were also utility coupe variants and a five-door hatchback.
The 40-43 series consisted of sedans, while commercial vehicles were in the 46 and 47 series. The hardtop variants were assigned body model codes from 50 to 55, while the five-door hatchback was coded as 56. The 1965 model marked Toyota’s return to the US market after a temporary withdrawal in 1961.
Exterior design of the car
First and foremost, Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu’s Toyota Corona still retains its original 4-digit license plate, which is quite rare. In terms of design, the car features classic round headlights placed side by side on top of a harmonious front grille.
The front bumper of the 3rd generation Toyota Corona protrudes quite far, originally made of shiny stainless steel, but Mr. Vu’s car features a black plastic bumper.
Additionally, Mr. Vu’s Toyota Corona is divided into smaller sections, similar to the first version produced in 1966. In this generation, the Corona had its own logo on the front grille, first as Toyopet and later as Toyota.
On the side, Mr. Vu’s Toyota Corona features additional orange turn signal lights on the front wheel arches, followed by chrome-plated Corona logos. Additionally, he has added the symbol “UN” using stickers, creating highlights on the white paint.
At the rear, the Toyota Corona has a similar design for the rear bumper with sharp corners, made of plastic. The turn signal lights, taillights, and reverse lights form a continuous strip. The new car logo is placed on the hood.
Interior of the car
In contrast to many current Toyota Corona models with downgraded interiors, Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu’s car boasts a newly redesigned driver’s cabin and passenger cabin, while still maintaining a classic seat color.
In general, the car retains its original details, with the owner only adding an ashtray and a coffee cup holder as personal items.
Other information about the Toyota Corona
Toyota showcased the performance of the new Corona on the Meishin highway with a public demonstration. The car was tested on a 100,000 km track and maintained a speed of 140 km/h. Toyota released the Corona one year after its traditional rival, the Nissan Bluebird. In November 1966, Toyota introduced the Corolla, a smaller car that fulfilled the market’s need for a more fuel-efficient vehicle, allowing the Corona to increase in size. The 0-97 km/h acceleration time was 15.1 seconds.
In its original version, the commercial models were equipped with a 1,198 cc 2P engine, delivering 55 horsepower at 5,000 rpm. This enabled a maximum load of 500 kg for the two-seater version and 300 kg for the five-seater version.
In July 1965, a two-door hardtop coupe variation was introduced. The top speed of the 1.2-liter Corona was 110 km/h. In January 1967, the car was also offered as a five-door model. In April 1967, larger and more powerful 3P (1.35-liter) and 2R (1.5-liter) engines were introduced, replacing the smaller 2P version in most markets. Their respective powers were 77 and 65 PS.
The Toyota automatic transmission, known as Toyoglide, was introduced for this Corona model. The 4R engine (12R in Australia) with a capacity of 1587 cc featured dual SU carburetors and had a power output of 90 horsepower. Disc brakes were also introduced for the front wheels.
Export of this Corona model proved popular in the US and Europe due to improved engine performance and durability compared to previous versions. In September 1967 alone, Toyota produced 80,000 cars, including 30,000 Corona models.
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