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1979: You Asked For It, You Got... a Toyota Corona Liftback Sedan?

by Murilee Martin
(IC: employee)
April 4th, 2012 12:35 AM
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The Junkyard Find ’79 Corona we saw earlier was a pretty nice car, but it was a regular sedan with an old-fashioned trunk. Just as Chevrolet buyers could buy a Nova with a hatchback in 1979, Toyota shoppers had the option of getting a Corona Liftback. Let’s tune into the old days of analog television and watch how Toyota USA’s marketers pitched this fine automobile.
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So, we have a mean-looking tough old guy with a combover— probably just got back from advising the Proceso on interrogation techniques in Buenos Aires, from the look of him— driving a ’79 Corona Liftback around a suburban American neighborhood. Through clenched teeth, he commands the viewer to get with the program and buy this extremely sensible car. Few viewers did.
#1970s
#1979
#Advertising
#Commercials
#Corona
#Malaise
#MalaiseEra
#Television
#TelevisionAdvertising
#Toyota
#ToyotaCorona
#TVCommercial
Published April 4th, 2012 10:15 AM
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1979 was a great year for Toyota (and Datsun and Honda and Mazda...)
There was a Corona wagon as well. These were the last of the RWD, engine in the front on a north / south axis, subcompacts from Toyota prior to the Camry. For the traditionalist, the Cressida was there to soldier on much longer.
When I was born, my parents drove a Falcon, but I have no memories of it. Then they bought a brand new '78 Corona liftback, much like this one. That's the first car I could recognise. My parents were happy with it, the only problem was rust here in the north. They kept it 7 years. I have good memories of this one. I haven't seen one other than on a picture in a loooooong time.