1958 Toyopet ( Toyota )

If anyone is interested I have my 1958 Toyopet Crown on display in the show room at one of my Toyota dealership in Sierra Vista Arizona. I have posted a few pictures of the car. This is the second oldest Toyota that we know in the US. I have been looking for this car for the last 32 years and 3 years ago it found me. I know that this may not be the place for me to post this type of vehicle so if anyone is offended by my post sorry. I just want for those of you who like other type of car would enjoy seen it. I forgot to mentioned that the hole above the front license plate is where the hand crank fit. When I take the car to various show I like to display how to start the car and the look on the kids face is something to see.

Thanks
Frenchy

 

Neat. Looks like a midget 50's Chevy or Mopar. Gary

 

that is kinda neat, needs to be lowered downa bit though.

 

Put that grille in a Merc or chevy custom and watch people guess...

 

Cool car! Definitely worth it for the historical value, for certain! The tail lights look a lot like late '50s Nash/AMC, or maybe Packard, too. I like the car.

 

That's great! I had no idea they were around that long. Where do you put the rice?

 

That's a one-of-a-kind piece of history and should be preserved, not rodded, IMO.

Did I just say that?????????

 

Really cool. The engine...Toyota got a lot of its start in life building clones of 6-cyl Chevy trucks, using a near copy engine that evolved into the very 235 like Land Cruiser engine. Is that engine in your car like an early Chevy cut down to a four, I wonder??
And look at the toolkit...they wanted that thing to survive no matter what heathen wilderness it was sold in!

 

There was a complete one in a yard near here a few years ago and it had been there since the 60's. It was in good shape, but no one wanted it. A great example of a rare car that has very little value, underscoring the fact that low production or rarity doesn't necessarily mean high value. It eventually was crushed when the owner of the yard died.

 

Neat car. I work in the new RAV plant in Woodstock and before that the Corolla, Matrix, RX 350 plant in Cambridge. Got Toyota in my blood but I'm trying to get it out. Peter

 

The Toyopet that you are talking about was it from Washington State and in a field ? And was this car light blue. I have a second Toyopet that was bought by Toyota 6 years or more and they had plan to restore it but needed to much work so when I bought the first one I got the second one in the deal. Here is a few pictures on the other one. My son and I are planning to put in a Lexus V8.

Thanks
Frenchy

 

It has been waiting 32 years for you.....



Just kidding!!! Cool car and cool find.

 

Friend of mine says his dad has one that vintage in a barn somewhere. Looks like a 5/8ths scale '54 Plymouth, but with a Packard grille and different taillights.

The place to put one is on eBay and make sure the listing's viewable in Japan - then you could sell 'em for good money.

 

Peter

I have worked for Toyota for the last 32 years that is the reason why I had to find the oldest Toyota known. We receive all Rav 4 / Lexus / Matrix / Corolla and others from Cambridge Canada by railcars here in Phoenix and ship them to dealers.
Take care
Frenchy

 

Wait till someone slaps one of those grills in a merc shell in some shoebox.

 

Jeffrey

You are DA MAN after seen picture of the Toyopet chopped you gave me the idea to do that to the other one I posted pictures of above post( Light Blue ). Can you do another one with more of a chop.

Thanks
Frenchy

 

Thats really cool. I like cars from the long ago's. Even O/T's. Its not like its everywhere ya know. thets what were all about, I suppose.

 

They look pretty cool as hotrod's too. This one is a little later model.


CBB

 

Baby Blue as you found her....well not exactly like you found her.

 

You need to find one of those Toyota HEMI motors. There was one kinda like this on the cover of custom rodder years ago. Incase you have never seen it or have it I will look to see if I have an extra copy or can send you some scans,

 

Here are pictures of the only 5 Toyopet in the US that have survived that we know of today. The last picture is a dark blue and is been restored as we speak in Tupelo Mississipi and I am responsible for the restoration of the engine / transmission.

Picture # 1 Toyopet owned by Toyota in the museum in Torrance Calif.
Picture # 2 My other Toyopet sitting a a field when first found and will be chopped.
Picture # 3 Toyopet owned by a dealership in San Francisco Calif ( Mobile gas logo ).
Picture # 4 My Toyopet at Sierra Vista AZ Dealership showroom.
Picture # 5 Toyopet been restored in Tupelo ( Mississipi ).

Thanks
Frenchy

 

i just discovered the "color burn" option. *****in!

 

The Toyopet in Washington was in Jonnie's in Woodinville, which closed after the owner was killed in an auto accident. The kids wanted to sell the land but it was too contaminated. There have been old Toyota's around here for a long time-one of the first dealers (maybe the first?) was in Seattle.

 

DAMN!, that thing looks like its 1958... GREAT piece

 

damn imports

 

Man, that thing is cool! But then again, I still have my Datsun 510!

Can't wait to see the custom version done!!

 

You guys have me all pumped up to get started on the other one. But first I have to finish my 32 Lincoln Hot Rod.

Take care
Frenchy

 

For those on here don't know Frenchy or seen more of his work you can trust his signature line is dead-on (Doctor Detail). The most impressive attention to detail I've ever seen.

 

I too think it's cool,but then again I raced Toyota's for a few years also in early 80's.

 

RC I appreciate all of your nice comments I know a lot of these people on this site do not know who I am but all that matters is how we are all in the car hobby and having fun at the same time ( Car Crazy ). Once I have the 1932 Hot Rod Lincoln done I will be posting some pictures on a new thread.

Thanks
Frenchy