Toyota Corolla (E20)
Toyota Corolla E20 2-door sedan
Overview
Also calledToyota Sprinter
Production
  • May 1970 – July 1974 (coupe/sedan)[1]
  • May 1970 – May 1978 (wagon/van)[1]
Assembly
DesignerTatsuo Hasegawa (1967)
Body and chassis
Body style
LayoutFR layout
RelatedDaihatsu Charmant
Powertrain
Engine
  • 1.2 L 3K I4
  • 1.4 L T I4
  • 1.6 L 2T I4
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,335 mm (91.9 in)[3]
Length
  • 3,945 mm (155.3 in) (coupé)[4]
  • 3,990 mm (157.1 in) (van)[5]
Width1,506 mm (59.3 in)[4]
Height1,346 mm (53 in)[4]
Curb weight730 kg (1,609 lb) to 910 kg (2,006 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorCorolla E10
SuccessorCorolla E30

The Corolla E20 was the second generation of cars sold by Toyota under the Corolla nameplate. Launched in May 1970, it featured "coke bottle styling" and had a longer 2,335 mm (91.9 in) 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 for "lightning") trim levels.

History

Minor changes were made in September 1971[1] 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.[1] The E20 Corolla was also used as the basis for the 1974 Daihatsu Charmant. The E20 series was the first Corolla marketed in Indonesia, where it was sold between 1971 and 1975.

Japan (1970–1978)

Most models stopped production in July 1974[1] 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 in 1976, while its twin the Toyota LiteAce 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.

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.[6] 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.[6]

Japanese engines:

JPN-market chassis:[9]

Export engines:

In some years and in some export markets, SAE outputs were used. In the UK, the standard 3K engine produced a claimed 73 hp (54 kW) at 6,000 rpm, while the twin-carb 3K-B engine installed in the Coupé offered 83 hp (62 kW) at 6,600 rpm.[11]

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 1,588 cc (97 cu in) engine with an SAE gross output of 102 hp (76 kW) 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 magazine's team in SCCA competition.

The E20 Corolla was also assembled in Sydney, Nova Scotia by Canadian Motor Industries (CMI).[12] 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.[13] CMI ended operations in November 1975, after nearly 8,000 cars had been built there.[14] The production tools were transferred to Ireland, where local assembly of the E20 Corolla had begun in February 1973.[13]

American engines (SAE norms):

US-market chassis:

Gallery

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Toyota Vehicle Identification Manual. Japan: Toyota Motor Corporation – Overseas Parts Department. 1984. Catalog No.97913-84.
  2. ^ "1971 Toyota Corolla KE20 2 Door Sedan". Shannons. Australia. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d Braunschweig, Robert; et al., eds. (14 March 1974), Automobil Revue '74 (in German and French), vol. 69, Berne, Switzerland: Hallwag AG, p. 494, ISBN 3-444-66015-1((citation)): CS1 maint: ignored ISBN errors (link)
  4. ^ a b c "Autocar Road Test: Toyota Corolla 1200 SL". Autocar. Vol. 134, no. 3908. 18 February 1971. pp. 6–9.
  5. ^ 愛される車づくり。トヨタはあすにいどみます。 [Lovable car manufacture. Toyota dares to defy tomorrow.] (catalog) (in Japanese), Toyota Motor Co., 1972, p. 2
  6. ^ a b "New Model: Corolla Levin". Motor Magazine International. 2 (1). Tokyo, Japan: 94–95. January 1974.
  7. ^ a b c d e Automobil Revue '74, p. 495
  8. ^ a b Automobil Revue '74, p. 496
  9. ^ a b c d Hajek, Alexander. "Toyota Corolla E2". Toyotaoldies.de. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  10. ^ Automobil Revue '74, p. 149
  11. ^ Toyota Corolla: One of the Toyota Collection (brochure), Croydon, Surrey: Toyota (G.B.) Limited, 1972, p. 12
  12. ^ Jacobs, A.J. (2015), The New Domestic Automakers in the United States and Canada: History, Impacts, and Prospects, Lexington Books, p. 73, ISBN 9780739188262
  13. ^ a b Jacobs (2015), p. 74
  14. ^ Malloy, Gerry (3 July 2018). "Did you know that all these Japanese cars have been built in Canada?". Autofile.ca. p. slide 3. Archived from the original on 31 May 2021.
  15. ^ a b Wakefield, Ron, ed. (January 1974). "R&T Specifications 1974". Road & Track. Vol. 25, no. 5. CBS Consumer Publishing Division. p. 98.
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