The Corolla E20 was the second generation of cars sold by
Toyota
is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 ...
under the
Corolla nameplate. Launched in May 1970, it featured "
coke bottle styling
Coke bottle styling is an automotive body design with a narrow center surrounded by flaring fenders which bears a general resemblance to a Coca-Cola classic glass contour bottle design. It was introduced by industrial designer Raymond Loewy on ...
" and had a longer wheelbase. The front suspension design was improved greatly, using a swaybar, however the rear remained relatively similar. The Corolla became the second-best selling car in the world that year. Grades for sedan were Standard, Deluxe, and Hi-Deluxe. The coupé was offered in Deluxe, SL, SR, and
Levin ("levin" is
Old English
Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...
for "lightning") trim levels.
History
Minor changes were made in September 1971
with a new grille, turn signal lights, and tail lights, along with similar treatment to the Sprinter. A further facelift was done in August 1972.
The E20 Corolla was also used as the basis for the 1974
Daihatsu Charmant
The Daihatsu Charmant is a subcompact sedan built by Daihatsu of Japan, based on the Toyota Corolla. It was succeeded by the Daihatsu Applause two years after Charmant production ended. The Charmant was heavily based on the E20 Toyota Corolla; ...
. The E20 series was the first Corolla marketed in
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, where it was sold between 1971 and 1975.
Japan (1970–1978)
Most models stopped production in July 1974
but the KE26 wagon and van were still marketed in Japan alongside the new 30-series, until production finally ended in May 1978.
Load carrying duties of the Corolla Van were lightened by the arrival of the all new
Toyota TownAce
is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 m ...
in 1976, while its twin the
Toyota LiteAce
The Toyota LiteAce and TownAce are a line of light commercial and derivative passenger vans produced by the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota. These vehicles originally utilized the cab-over-engine configuration, although since 1996 a semi-ca ...
was sold at ''Toyota Auto Store'' locations next to the Sprinter, with both vehicles using the Corolla/Sprinter 1200 cc 3K-J, and 1600 cc 2T-J and 12T-U engines. Vehicles installed with the 1.6-litre engine were ranked as the top level trim package, as the engine displacement obligated Japanese owners to pay more annual
road tax
Road tax, known by various names around the world, is a tax which has to be paid on, or included with, a motorised vehicle to use it on a public road.
National implementations Australia
All states and territories require an annual vehicle registra ...
.
The sporting Levin was originally only available with the twin-cam engine; in late 1973 this was joined by the somewhat cheaper and less powerful "Levin J", with the SOHC 2T-B engine.
Levin production levels were around 5000 per year. In addition to a variety of other performance upgrades, the Levin has fender extensions and a quicker steering rack than other Corollas, while the Twin Cam versions lack servo brakes so as to make for a sportier feel for the driver.
[
Japanese engines:
*3K – 1.2 L (1166 cc) I4, 8-valve OHV, carb, ]
*3K-D – 1.2 L (1166 cc) I4, 8-valve OHV, carb,
*3K-B – 1.2 L (1166 cc) I4, 8-valve OHV, twin carb,
*T – 1.4 L (1407 cc) I4, 8-valve OHV, carb, [''Automobil Revue '74'', p. 495]
*T-D – 1.4 L (1407 cc) I4, 8-valve OHV, carb,
*T-B – 1.4 L (1407 cc) I4, 8-valve OHV, twin carb,
*2T-B – 1.6 L (1588 cc) I4, 8-valve OHV, twin carb, [''Automobil Revue '74'', p. 496]
*2T-G – 1.6 L (1588 cc) I4, 8-valve DOHC, twin carb,
*2T-GR – 1.6 L (1588 cc) I4, 8-valve DOHC, twin carb,
JPN-market chassis:[
*KE20 – 1,166 cc Sedan, 2-door/4-door (Std, DX, Hi-DX)
*TE20 – 1,407 cc Sedan, 2-door/4-door (Std, DX, Hi-DX)
*TE21 – 1,588 cc Sedan, 2-door/4-door
*KE25 – 1,166 cc Coupé (DX, Hi-DX, SL)
*TE25 – 1,407 cc Coupé (DX, Hi-DX, SL, SR)
*TE27 – 1,588 cc Coupé (Levin)
*KE26V – 1,166 cc Wagon/Van, 3-door/5-door (Std, DX)
*TE28 – 1,588 cc Wagon, 5-door
Export engines:
*3K – 1.2 L (1,166 cc) I4, 8-valve OHV, carb, (DIN)][ / (SAE)][''Automobil Revue '74'', p. 149]
*3K-H – 1.2 L (1,166 cc) I4, 8-valve OHV, carb, (DIN) - desmogged version, introduced in fall of 1974[
*2T – 1.6 L (1,588 cc) I4, 8-valve OHV, carb, (DIN)
In some years and in some export markets, SAE outputs were used. In the UK, the standard 3K engine produced a claimed at 6,000 rpm, while the twin-carb 3K-B engine installed in the Coupé offered at 6,600 rpm.]
North America (1970–1974)
In the United States, most body styles were available, although the 1.4-liter and twincam engines were never offered. An optional engine with an SAE gross output of was added in September 1970. Either a four-speed manual or a three-speed automatic were offered, until sporty five-speed coupés called the S-5 and SR-5 were introduced in 1972. In 1974, an SR-5 was entered by Car & Driver
''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was fo ...
magazine's team in SCCA competition.
The E20 Corolla was also assembled in Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a former city and urban community on the east coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Sydney was founded in 1785 by the British, was incorporated as a city in 1904, and dissolv ...
by Canadian Motor Industries (CMI). CMI only ever assembled small numbers of Toyotas, as the finished cars cost ten percent more than a fully built up import and their quality was inferior; in 1974 Atlantic Canadian dealerships refused delivery of Canadian-assembled Corollas as a result.[ Jacobs (2015)]
p. 74
/ref> CMI ended operations in November 1975, after nearly 8,000 cars had been built there. The production tools were transferred to Ireland, where local assembly of the E20 Corolla had begun in February 1973.[
American engines (SAE norms):
*3K-C – 1.2 L (1,166 cc) I4, 8-valve OHV, carb, gross / net at 6,000 rpm]
*2T-C – 1.6 L (1,588 cc) I4, 8-valve OHV, carb, gross / net at 6,000 rpm[
US-market chassis:
*KE20 - 2-door Sedan (Std.)
*TE21 – 2-door/4-door Sedan
*TE26 – Wagon
*TE27 – Coupé (S-5, SR-5)
]
Gallery
File:1973 Toyota Corolla Deluxe coupé (KE25-D) 06.jpg, Coupe
File:1972 Toyota Corolla (8864359883).jpg, 4-door Sedan
File:Toyota_Corolla_(5314344460).jpg, 3-door wagon
File:Toyota Corolla Standard (14455836019).jpg, 5-door wagon
File:1973 Toyota Corolla (KE26) van (21321524746).jpg, Van
References
{{Toyota 58-79
0 20
Cars introduced in 1970