The Ultimate Spin: Reviving the 1971 Toyota Crown Custom – A Unique Ride that Turns Heads

In anticipation of the Gumball 3000 2024 supercar event, an unusual gathering formed on the morning of September 13, 2024, in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City. This particular area is known for car enthusiasts who gather to capture photos of rare vehicles, especially those owned by Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu. On this day, however, all eyes were on Le Loi Avenue in District 1, where a stage was being hastily prepared by Trung Nguyen Legend to showcase nearly 20 supercars.

Mr. Vu’s Unique 1971 Toyota Crown Custom Captivates Foreigners

Around 9 a.m., a 1971 Toyota Crown Custom in a striking shade of blue made an appearance, immediately drawing the attention of passersby. It’s not surprising, given that the exterior paint still looked fresh for a car that was already 53 years old. The wagon design of the vehicle is quite distinctive, and not every enthusiast would be eager to drive it in the morning.

Mr. Vu has a soft spot for this car as it offers a more comfortable ride than his supercars, he shared with an acquaintance. The person chatting with the “Vietnamese Coffee King” also revealed that this was not the first time the Chairman of Trung Nguyen had taken this car out for a spin. In fact, during his drives, both locally and abroad, he had often received admiring glances and gestures from foreigners who appreciated his unique choice of vehicle.

While Toyota Crown is not an unfamiliar model to Mr. Vu, the 1971 Toyota Crown Custom stands out with its wagon design. Its elongated, bulky rear end and spacious interior accommodate six passengers according to Vietnamese registration, but it actually features a 5+2 configuration. The middle and rear seats can be lowered to form a flat bed, making it ideal for family outings and road trips.

Mr. Vu, the leader of Vietnam’s coffee industry, has a penchant for rare and unique vehicles, especially American and Japanese models rarely seen in Vietnam. This particular 1971 Toyota Crown Custom was put up for sale by its owner in March of this year and has now joined Mr. Vu’s impressive car collection.

Introduced in February 1971 for the Japanese domestic market, the fourth-generation Crown was available in various trims, including Deluxe, Super Deluxe, and Super Saloon. Another variant, the Royal Saloon, was launched alongside the updated Crown in 1973, offering additional luxury features akin to those found in the limousine Century. The first two years of this fourth-generation Crown were sold in North America before being replaced by the Corona Mark II.

The 4M 2600 engine was introduced alongside the 5R 2.0-liter inline-four and the M six-cylinder 2.0-liter engine. The MC engine, featured in the previous generation, produced 104 horsepower, while the 5R offered a slight boost with 97 horsepower. In certain markets, the earlier “2M” 2.3-liter six-cylinder engine remained available, either in sedan or “utility” form.

The Utility Wagon body style, a blend of commercial and passenger vehicle, carried the chassis code MS67V until early 1973 when it was updated to MS68V with a 2.6-liter engine. Sedans and Wagons (Custom) were coded as RS60/MS60/MS64/MS65 and MS62/MS63, while the Van was coded as MS66V, known as the “six” two-liter. The Crown Custom, specifically for the Japanese market, was classified as a seven-seater vehicle.