The Toyota Cressida was once a luxurious and sought-after station wagon in the United States. In the early 1980s, car manufacturers like Mercury and Toyota offered station wagons in various sizes. Toyota had three models at the time: the Corolla, Corona, and the opulent Cressida. Today, we explore one of these Cressidas, discovered in a car graveyard in Northern California.
The Cressida, available in the US from 1978 to 1992, went through four generations and descended from the Corona Mark II. Interestingly, it retained the Mark II name in Japan until recently. Before the arrival of the Lexus LS 400 in 1990, the Cressida held the title of Toyota’s most luxurious car in the US market. The closest alternative to the Cressida in today’s market is the Avalon.
This particular Cressida belongs to the generation sold between 1981 and 1984. It shares similarities with the Celica Supras of that era, including the M-series overhead-cam straight-six engine that powers the rear wheels. However, unlike the Celica Supra, this wagon did not come with an independent rear suspension.
Under the hood of this 1982 Cressida is a 2.8-liter 5M-E engine with electronic fuel injection, generating 116 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. With a curb weight of just 2,906 pounds, it performed decently for its time. The car was equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission with an overdrive top gear as standard.
At its release, the 1982 Cressida had a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $12,699, equivalent to about $42,294 today. Among all Toyota models available in the US that year, only the Land Cruiser four-door had a higher price tag of $13,218.
This Cressida was originally sold in the California market, as evidenced by the underhood emissions sticker. It came standard with several features that were optional extras in most comparable cars at the time, including air conditioning, cruise control, rear defroster, and an AM/FM four-speaker audio system.
Interestingly, this particular Cressida has relatively low mileage compared to other high-mileage Toyotas found in junkyards. While other models have exceeded 600,000 or even 900,000 miles, this Cressida only managed to reach just over 100,000 miles during its 42-year life.
The wagon variant of the Cressida was available between 1978 and 1987, after which it was replaced by the higher-end trim levels of the Camry wagon. Although these cars have garnered a small enthusiast following, it wasn’t enough to save this rust-free Cressida from its fate in the junkyard.
Unfortunately, the turbocharged version of the Cressida was not available in the US market, leaving enthusiasts yearning for more power and excitement.
In conclusion, the Toyota Cressida was a luxurious and well-equipped station wagon during its time. While it may not have achieved the same mileage records as other high-mileage Toyotas, this Cressida’s presence in a junkyard is a reminder of its past glory and the changing automotive landscape.