Toyota's first front-wheel-drive car mounted its engine lengthways, because Toyota felt traditionalists might be scared off by a transverse layout.
Lead trim: 1.5 1A-C (US, 60 hp) · up to 82 hp
Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Toyota Tercel yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactToyota's first front-wheel-drive car mounted its engine lengthways, because Toyota felt traditionalists might be scared off by a transverse layout.
The first Tercel was introduced in Japan in August 1978, in Europe in March 1979 and in the United States in 1980, where it was called the Corolla Tercel; Japan also had a twin, the Corsa. It was Toyota's first front-wheel-drive car, with the engine mounted longitudinally and the transmission under the floorpan, and the first Toyota with rack-and-pinion steering since the 2000GT. It was offered as a two- or four-door sedan and a three-door hatchback. An August 1980 facelift replaced the 1A engine with the 3A.
Real Toyota Tercel cards spotted on the street by Burbles collectors. Tap any card to flip it over, inspect the collector’s binder, or follow them.
VerifiedFIRST · WORLDWIDEFIRST PRINTONLY ONE IN VANCOUVERThis Tercel's all-new look wasn't a coincidence — it was styled to echo the bigger Camry that launched the same year, and in Japan the two were sold side by side at the same dealerships.
4 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 2A (Japan, 74 PS) | 1979–1982 | 1.3 L Inline-4 | 73 hp | — | — | FWD | — | — |
| 1.5 1A (Japan, 80 PS) | 1978–1980 | 1.5 L Inline-4 | 79 hp | — | — | FWD | — | — |
| 1.5 1A-C (US, 60 hp) | 1980–1982 | 1.5 L Inline-4 | 60 hp | — | — | FWD | — | — |
| 1.5 3A (83 PS) | 1980–1982 | 1.5 L Inline-4 | 82 hp | — | — | FWD | — | — |
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Nobody has claimed one yet.
This Tercel's all-new look wasn't a coincidence — it was styled to echo the bigger Camry that launched the same year, and in Japan the two were sold side by side at the same dealerships.
The L40 hatchback ended in a large wraparound rear window curved in three dimensions, and North America never got it.
Toyota stripped the 1988 Tercel EZ down to the bone: vinyl upholstery, rubber mats instead of carpet, and even the passenger's sun visor deleted to hit a lower price.
The 4WD Tercel's six-speed manual hid a secret seventh gear in spirit — an ultra-low 'EL' ratio meant only for crawling the car out of mud or snow, geared down to 17.6:1.
Toyota's first front-wheel-drive car mounted its engine lengthways, because Toyota felt traditionalists might be scared off by a transverse layout.
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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