The AE72 Corolla Station Wagon: A Classic Car from Toyota’s Past
The Toyota Corolla has been a mainstay in the automotive industry since its introduction in 1966. Until the 1984 model year, every new Corolla sold in the United States used a rear-wheel-drive configuration. Today, we take a look at a classic car from Toyota’s past – an AE72 Corolla station wagon, from the final model year of its generation sold here, found in a car graveyard in John Steinbeck’s hometown.
The Final Model Year for the E70 Corolla in the United States
Not only was 1983 the final model year for the E70 Corolla in the United States, but it was also the last model year for Corolla wagons here until the AE95 wagon went on sale as a 1988 model. Presumably, the longroof versions of the smaller-than-Corolla Tercel and larger-than-Corolla Cressida were considered sufficient for American Toyota shoppers for the 1984-1987 period.
The 1980-1982 E70 Corollas sold in the United States were powered by the poky-but-reliable 1.8-liter pushrod 3T engine, but the ’83s got the far more modern 1.6-liter SOHC 4A engine. This carbureted 4A-C was rated at 74 horsepower. It’s tough to make out the text on the underhood emissions sticker, but it shows us that this Corolla was sold new as a California-market vehicle.
Features of the 1983 Corolla Wagon
While a couple of the cheaper US-market 1983 Corolla models had four-speed manuals as their base transmissions, all the new Corolla wagons that year got a five-speed manual with overdrive top gear as standard equipment. If you wanted your ’83 Corolla wagon with a three-speed automatic, the cost went up three hundred bucks (about 931 bucks in 2023 dollars).
The MSRP for this car was $6,508, which comes to about $20,187 in today’s money. The Nissan Sentra wagon, which debuted here as a 1982 model, listed at $6,649 ($20,624 now) for 1983. The 1983 Honda Civic wagon cost $6,369 ($19,694 today).
Rust and Corrosion Issues
Cars that live near the ocean in California often develop top-down rust around seams and glass. In any place where salty fog tended to collect, there is corrosion. I’ve seen some real Toyota rust horror stories in coastal California, but these cars dissolved into nothingness much more quickly in places like Maine and Minnesota.
The End of the Road for the AE72 Corolla Station Wagon
The AE72 Corolla station wagon we found had 176,100 miles on the odometer at the end. It did not have air conditioning (which would have been actuated via a switch where there’s a block-off plate to the right of the heat/vent controls), but someone installed a mid-1980s Proton AM/FM/cassette unit with Schotz noise reduction. Even just a simple AM-only radio would have been a $110 option with this car ($341 in 2023 money).
Despite its age and wear and tear, this classic car still has a lot of life left in it. It even has a new engine that gets 18 percent better fuel economy! Wow! Corolla!
Conclusion
The AE72 Corolla station wagon is a classic car from Toyota’s past that still holds a special place in the hearts of many car enthusiasts. While it may not be as flashy or high-tech as some of today’s cars, it has a certain charm and character that is hard to replicate. If you ever come across one of these classic cars, take a moment to appreciate its history and legacy.
