This Toyota Corolla got away, but there are more like it here.

This 1978 Toyota Corolla Deluxe is finished in white over blue vinyl, and power is provided by a 1.6-liter inline-four paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. Equipment includes 13″ wheels, an AM stereo, and a heater. The car is said to have been purchased by the seller’s grandparents in 1978 and later acquired by the seller’s mother in 2017. Work in February 2019 included rebuilding the carburetor and replacing the fuel tank, valve cover gasket, spark plugs, and fuel filter. This TE51 shows 50k miles and is now offered at no reserve by the seller on behalf of his mother with service records, owner’s manuals, and a clean Washington State title.

No Reserve: 1978 Toyota Corolla Deluxe Liftback

The car is finished in white and features bright side moldings as well as chrome-finished bumpers with rubber end caps. The seller states that the passenger-side body panels and trim were replaced following an accident in 1980, and a receipt documenting the repairs is viewable in the image gallery below. Imperfections including rust in the filler panel above the front bumper as well as rock chips, scuffs, and dings are also shown in the gallery.

No Reserve: 1978 Toyota Corolla Deluxe Liftback

Steel 13″ wheels with stock center caps are wrapped in 165/80 Atlas Silvertrac Plus narrow-whitewall tires. A full-size spare wearing an older Dunlop tire is housed beneath the rear cargo area floor along with a scissor jack.

No Reserve: 1978 Toyota Corolla Deluxe Liftback

The seating surfaces are upholstered in blue vinyl with a matching dashboard, center console, door panels, and carpets. Gray carpeted floor mats line the footwells, and other amenities include an AM stereo, a heater, and an analog clock. The air conditioning system is non-functional, and tears in the driver’s seat upholstery are documented in the gallery.

No Reserve: 1978 Toyota Corolla Deluxe Liftback

The three-spoke steering wheel features an aftermarket tan wrap and frames a 115-mph speedometer. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows 50k miles, approximately 300 of which were added under current ownership.

No Reserve: 1978 Toyota Corolla Deluxe Liftback

The 1.6-liter 2T-C inline-four was factory rated at 75 horsepower and 86 lb-ft of torque. Maintenance in February 2019 is said to have included rebuilding the carburetor as well as replacement of the fuel tank and filter, valve cover gasket, and spark plugs.

No Reserve: 1978 Toyota Corolla Deluxe Liftback

Power is delivered to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission. The exhaust system is rusted through in several areas, and additional photos of the underside are provided in the gallery.

No Reserve: 1978 Toyota Corolla Deluxe Liftback

The information shown on the chassis plate is consistent with a Toyota Corolla Liftback finished in white equipped with a 1.6-liter inline-four, a three-speed automatic transmission, and a 4.10:1 gear ratio differential.

Auction Result

Winning Bid USD $6,200 by egz323
Auction Ended September 28, 2021 at 11:38AM PT
Bids 11
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BaT Essentials

Seller: tmealy
Location: Seattle, Washington 98198
Listing Details
  • Chassis: TE51684281
  • 50k Miles Shown
  • 1.6-Liter Inline-Four
  • Three-Speed Automatic Transmission
  • White Paint
  • Blue Vinyl Interior
  • Steel 13" Wheels
  • Heater
  • AM Stereo
  • Wind-Up Windows
  • Single-Family-Owned Since 1978
  • Owner's Manuals
  • Service Records
Private Party or Dealer: Private Party
Lot #56089