Publication: Motor Fan
Format: Road Test
Date: July 1971
Authors (Roundtable): Shiro Sasaki, Atsushi Watari, Shoichi Nishiyama, Osamu Hirao, Hiroshi Okazaki, Takahiko Kinoshita, Katsuzo Kageyama, Fumio Agetsuma, Kunitaka Furutani, Yasuhei Oguchi, Kenzaburo Ishikawa, Takeshi Toba, Minoru Onda, Kenichiro Noda, Motor Fan Editorial Staff (uncredited)

Is the Gear Ratio Too Low?

Magazine: To begin with, we’d like to ask about the development aims behind the 1400SR, and the kind of car you had in mind.

Publication: Motor Fan
Format: Road Test Summary
Date: 1971 (Motor Fan Road Test Digest Annual)
Author: Motor Fan Editorial Staff (uncredited)

Toyota Sprinter 1400SR Model Overview

As consumers become accustomed to having their own cars, they tend to gravitate toward higher-end models within a vehicle series. The successive release of engines of gradually larger displacement in the same model series is likely a response to these changing user preferences and demands. The launch of the 1400cc engine as the top-of-the-line Corolla and Sprinter in April 1971 can be considered part of this trend. The test car this time, the Sprinter SR, as its name suggests, is flavored as a sports car for rallies, and it does not simply offer increased displacement, but also goes one step further to pursue single-purpose functionality in response to the diversification of user preferences.

Publication: Car Graphic
Format: Group Test
Date: February 1972
Author: “C/G Test Group” (uncredited)

Comparison test: Toyota Sprinter SR vs. Mitsubishi Galant FTO GIII

This month, we compared two 1400cc sports cars, the Toyota Sprinter SR and the Mitsubishi Galant FTO GIII, under a variety of conditions, including performance testing at Yatabe. We would like to begin by briefly explaining why we chose these two models from the many cars in the same class. First, the Sprinter SR boasts the best specs in its class, making it a natural choice for pure motoring enthusiasts like us (and we think many C/G readers share our priorities), so we unanimously agreed that it should be included. Second, the Galant FTO GIII was just recently released on the market, and since we drove the GII last month and were impressed with its handling, we were particularly interested in how the GIII, which has 9ps more power, would stack up, so we included it as well. When we think of Sprinters, the Nissan Sunny GX also immediately comes to mind. In our opinion, however, the Sunny Coupe 1200GX is the best of the Sunny model range, and the Excellent, with its SOHC 1400cc engine, is a downgrade in every respect (except for having a brake servo), so we deliberately left it out of this comparison test. To avoid any misunderstanding, we should add that the C/G test is first and foremost a test of driving performance, and places particular emphasis on the balance of maneuverability and braking power with power performance, especially when it comes to cars that are marketed as being sporty.