Toyota Corolla (E10)

First generation
Overview
Production Nov 1966–Apr 1970[1]
July 1968–unknown (Australia)[2]
Assembly Toyota City, Japan
Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Designer Tatsuo Hasegawa
Body and chassis
Body style 2/4-door sedan
2-door coupe
2-door station wagon
Layout FR layout
Powertrain
Engine 1.1 L K I4
1.2 L 3K I4
Transmission 4-speed manual
2-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase 90.0 in (2,286 mm)
Length 151.5 in (3,848 mm)
Width 58.7 in (1,491 mm)
Height 54.3 in (1,379 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor Publica
Successor ToyotaCorolla E20

The Corolla E10 was the first generation of cars sold by Toyota under the Corolla name.

Toyota Corolla E10 wagon emblem

The Corolla was launched in Japan in November 1966 at a Japanese dealership sales channel called Toyota Corolla Store. Eiji Toyoda said it took hard work to create popular demand, and disputed that Toyota rode a wave of private car ownership that was taking off in the mid-1960s. The Corolla's major competitor was the Datsun 1000, released a few months earlier. Its companion, the Toyota Sprinter, was sold at a different dealership sales channel called Toyota Auto Store. The Corolla's development was largely influenced by the success and lessons learned from an earlier, smaller vehicle called the Toyota Publica, which used an air-cooled two-cylinder, boxer-style engine, inspired by the Citroen 2CV. The dealership that was named after the Corolla in Japan was previously known as the Toyota Public Store, to sell the Publica.

The initial car, the KE1x series was small, with a 90 in (2286 mm) wheelbase.The transmission was by a four-speed floor shift manual transmission or a two-speed floor or column shift automatic transmission, with rear wheel drive. At the time, floor shift transmissions were considered only for trucks and 4 speeds implied that the engine did not have enough torque to drive through only three gears (more torque allows each gear to have a wider spread of engine revolutions, thus requiring fewer gears). This was a big risk for Toyota but the effectiveness of the new system gained in popularity.

The suspension in front was MacPherson struts supported by a transverse leaf spring beneath the engine cross-member, with leaf springs connected to a solid axle in back.

The engine was originally meant to be for the under 1000 cc tax class but was changed late in the design process to be 1077 cc in order to beat the forthcoming Datsun 1000. This put it into a 1000cc engine road tax class but gave it some prestige over the Datsun 1000 - helped by its "100 cc advantage" advertising campaign. In August 1969 the engine was upgraded to 1166 cc. Special twin carburettor K-B (1077 cc) and 3K-B (1166 cc) engines were used in the SL grade models for an extra 13 PS (9.6 kW).

Japan

Japanese market engines:

Japanese market chassis:

North America

Toyota has been almost steadfast in facelifting each generation after two years, and replacing it with an all-new model every four years. Exports to the United States began in March 1968 at about US$1,700.

North American market engines:

North American market chassis:

Australia

The first export market for the Corolla was Australia in November 1966. Australia received right hand drive versions of the same models as America.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ Toyota Vehicle Identification Manual. Japan: Toyota Motor Corporation - Overseas Parts Department. 1984. Catalog No.97913-84.
  2. ↑ "Overview of Overseas Production Affiliates: Oceania". Toyota Motor Corporation. 2012. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
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