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Lovert Mafukure
In 1985 a car was introduced that didn’t fit in many categories, it was a large sedan but it was still built on the same platform as the Toyota Supra — Toyota’s super sports car of all time! It was the car that could easily fit the description of a broke man’s Benz yet it wasn’t cheap, neither was it slow. It was worthy competition to the luxury executive sedans of the time and it was the Toyota Cressida.
It was Japanese perfection of the time. It wasn’t exactly what you’d call beautiful but it oozed luxury and personality. The car was introduced into Zimbabwe in the mid-80s and was assembled by Willowvale Motor industries. Because this car was pure luxury, it was mainly for company executives and government officials. Toyota called it a sports sedan, why, you’d ask? Well, my wildest guess is since it rolled off the same platform as the Toyota Supra, it had to be called a sports sedan. The power train was basically Toyota Supra on the high spec model. It would fit the class of the Toyota Altezza today. The Altezza is actually the Cressida’s grandchild . . . same X chassis family line.
The Cressida was offered in mainly two trims in Zimbabwe and that is the sedan and the Station Wagon, the sedan being the most popular. Its styling was modern at the time and had upmarket features that were ahead of its time and meant to appeal to the richer folks. It was and still is quite a long sedan with sharp angles on all corners. It seems many manufacturers of the time were moving away from the curvy styles of the 60s to more modern angular shapes. It featured plastic bumpers breaking the norm from the chrome bumpers of its predecessors.
The Toyota Cressida interior re-defined luxury. It was introduced at a time when the digital age was just breaking forth. The seats were bulky and tufted, tufted seats have always been comfy and perhaps Toyota wanted that sofa-feel when the executives were on the move. Seats were made out of fabric for the entry-level models and leather interior was standard on the higher spec versions.
Some models came with digital speedometers, a trend which was kept even to the very last of the Mark 2s. (The Cressida and the mark 2 were basically the same cars, just different name for different markets). It was quite a feature for these models then and somehow it set the Cressidas aside from the rest of the other cars in its class. All the gauges were shown on a digital screen. Most of the digital staff we see today on Japanese cars like the Toyota Vits, Toyota Vista, Nissan Liberty just to name a few, the Cressida had it in 1985!
Supply of power for the Cressida was via a front-mounted engine driving the rear wheels, basic package for the executive car.
The Cressida came into a market that had largely been dominated by old and dying French cars like the Peugeots, Citroens, Renaults and the like. Many of which had been adopted from the colonial era. It was an instant success and a joy for many but was considered top of the range at the time because there wasn’t much of a variety in this category. Popular Japanese toys were the 120Ys.
Entry level models featured 2y and 3y engines which were 1800cc and 2000cc respectively. These were 4cylinder engines which did not really bring out the beast out of the Cressida. Most of them were offered as carburetted engines. The straight six line-up started on the 2000cc 1G-GE going up to the mighty 7M-GE which was a 3000cc engine boasting of some impressive torque figures. This engine defined performance in the Toyota Supra and was also found in this flagship Cressida model. The only difference with the Supra motor was that the Supra 7M was a 7M-GTE meaning it was turbo-charged. The six cylinder engines were double overhead cam engines with 4 valves per cylinder — 24 Valves of pure bliss.
The Cressida also came with a 5 speed manual transmission as standard. Four speed automatics were also available as options and even today there are older car enthusiasts that still have these Cressidas in mint condition — It’s every collector’s dream.
It is a tradition for Toyota to make cars that never tire and the Cressida is no exception. With a rear drive train as strong as the Hilux itself, it was the car to own. With the premium models coming with electronic fuel injection, they were a joy to drive as would be any six cylinder car. You would be surprised to note that the same 1G engine is found in the modern Mark 2s, Chasers and Crestas. They have just been refined to offer better economy and less harmful emissions.
The Cressida today holds memories for many, it was only available outside Japan as the Cressida. It was offered in America, Africa Australia but in Japan it was the Mark II or Chaser. Some JDM spec Mark IIs of the era are around today and are just about the same as the Cressidas.
Give us feedback if you have similar classics in your garage. @lovert116 Automart Used Spares Centre – Quality Used Japanese Spares +263 772 33 99 38 — [email protected] Facebook: @automartusc
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