Publication: Car Graphic
Format: Road Test
Date: January 1971
Author: “C/G Test Group” (uncredited)

Road testing the Toyota Carina 1600ST

The Toyota Carina, first unveiled to the public at the Tokyo Motor Show in the fall of 1970 and released on December 1st, is a five-seat semi-fastback sedan with exterior dimensions closer to those of the Corona 1500/1700 than the Corolla. It is powered by three engines: the same 1407cc 86ps OHV with crossflow head that powers the Corolla 1400, a 1588cc, 100ps unit with enlarged bore, and a 105ps twin-carburetor version. A wide variety of transmissions is available, including a 3-speed column shift, 4-speed floor shift, and even a 5-speed option on the 1600cc model, a major attraction of the Carina. The suspension is different from any previous model. While the front suspension uses conventional MacPherson struts, the rear suspension is essentially the same as the Crown, a rigid axle suspended with a four-link and Panhard rod system and supported by coil springs. The body is available in two-door and four-door versions, with prices ranging from 509,000 yen for the 1400 Standard with 3-speed column shift, to 720,000 yen for the 1600ST four-door with twin carburetors and 5-speed.

Publication: Motor Fan
Format: Road Test
Date: March 1971
Author: Katsuhiko Nishida, Kenji Higuchi, Yasuhei Oguchi, Hiroshi Okazaki, Atsushi Watari, Akira Miyagawa, Kiyoshi Matsumura, Kunitaka Furitani, Masahide Sano, Hiroshi Hoshijima, Tadashi Nishiyama, Katsumi Kageyama, Yasu Saito, Kenzaburo Ishikawa, Akio Numazawa, Toshihide Hirata, Kiyoki Higuchi, Motor Fan Editorial Department (uncredited)

Aiming for “People First”

Magazine: To begin with, could you tell us about the aims and general outline behind the development of the Carina and Celica?

Publication: Motor Fan
Format: Test Drive Report
Date: July 1971
Author: Eiizo Ikeda

The Cool One in “Mermaid Blue”

If the Celica already offered a 1600cc DOHC-powered model, then why had there been no equivalent version of the Carina? And why has the long-awaited “Carina GT” finally appeared now?

While driving the car, we explored the background behind those questions.

The Composition of the Carina 1600GT

Under its “full-line policy” slogan, Toyota’s recent new-model strategy has been advancing at a pace virtually without precedent anywhere in the global automobile industry.

Publication: Car Graphic
Format: Road Test
Date: July 1971
Author: “C/G Test Group” (uncredited)

Summary: A family sports car combining the two-door Carina ST body with a 1.6-liter DOHC engine. Excellent 5-speed gearbox. The engine is flexible enough to use fifth gear from 60km/h, making it well-suited even to low-speed driving in the city. Impressive fade resistance from disc/drum brakes. Handling is at a high standard even on cross-ply tires. Well-balanced engine and chassis. Good passenger accommodation and interior equipment. Fuel economy is rather poor.