1972 MS65 Toyota CROWN SE

[sammm]

Buying white, base model, imported*, luxury cars from the 70s is fast becoming a habit of mine.


(*this one was actually built here under license)

My BMW has been joined by a 1972 CROWN SE.


The SE is a tough tag to have when your up against the Deluxe, Super Saloon and Royal Saloon because this one is just about option less.



Only luxury I have found is an electronic antenna (which has be replaced with a stationary rubber item at some point).

That means it missed out on;
Power steering
Air conditioning
Foot operated radio seek button
Rear seat passenger operated radio seek button
Electronic boot release (operated by rotating the key all the way left)
Vacuum operated central locking
Boot mounted refrigerator



What it does have is a 2.6 straight six with a single carb and a 4 speed manual box.



As well as a spotless black vinyl interior.



Passenger side rear wheel arch has some damage and there is some rust around the edges but nothing structural.



Plan is to give a good wash/polish/wax and drive it for a while to see if I like it.

If it passes the test then it will hopefully get some 'flaked steels a mild hit with the stick and some more 'flake on the tail light surrounds. Oh, and fishtail exhaust pipes suit this shame like no other I have seen.

[brettmrc]

Stunning!!!

I'd love that!!! (And at that price too )

[lyingscotsman]

i bought a 72 CROWN custom with all the toys in 1975....cost me 600quid to insure back then...
fridge in the boot was my favorite option....ice cold coke anyone???...

i think theres only about 12 left in the UK...


big al

[tonka12]

that is sexual would love one

[street]

What a gorgeous retro ride! And in incredible bargain, you must be very pleased with that!

[leigh]

These are class looking cars, well done on that bargain. Is the old guy you got this from recovering in hospital now cos you robbed him!! It'll be well cool lowered on the steels

[michiel]

Yum!

[chaz]

Very nice car mate, poverty spec cars
are not a bad thing because they are
what they should be, cars. A fridge place
is in the kitchen.

[devilishdesigner]

Love your flake plans, should be a wicked ride!

[darrenr]

cool retro mate,i remember my dads mate had one in white the same in the late 70's. I wonder what they cost when they got launched back then??

[cam]

in nz they were nz$5k manual, nz$5500 auto.
compared to an xjs for nz$3k. lol

beautiful car bro.
not 100% base model, you've got the cool tail ights and front compared to the yuck ones that came out on the full pov model.

I didn't get seek switches or a fridge in mine either, even as a deluxe. different markets i guess - you could get with no radio out here, or with am, or an 8 track player.
yikes

[waveman1500]

Very nice car. Go with stock appearance and Supra motor to blow the doors off of surprised Commodores and Falcons! Go on, you know you want to... 7M-GTEs are fairly cheap these days and would make this car quite amusing!

Either way, the metal-flake treatment will look quite nice. And a good buy too!

[sammm]

Appreciate the kind words.

Was more than likely owned by an old man at some point but that's not who I bought it from.

List price was $3,949 in '72.

Australian CROWNs were manufactured by Australian Motor Industries en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Motor_Industries and we only got the Custom and the SE for the MS65.

[Knugcab]

Very cool car. Boats like this in white paint are underrated...

[sammm]

As you can see here

the tail lights need a little work.

One bulb was out completely and the lenses all looked a little dirty.

Water was getting in somewhere on the lefthand side and it all had a nice coating of slime and crust.



So with a clean, tighten and reassembly with one less stud (for drainage) it was back together.



And now looks like this



Next job was some side on shots with and without the hubcaps.







These will be used for photoshopping wheel ideas.

[Knugcab]

Use the caps... They are cool...

[chip83]

nice work with the lights, often the small jobs give instant results and feels like you are moving forward.book marked for the future.

[grizz]

Hey Sammm, Great purchase, I always smile when I see these tanks on the road.

Really got yourself a great base car there, and I do hope you loveit ,and keep it mate.

[sammm]

Mar 28, 2009 8:10:54 GMT Knugcab said:

Use the caps... They are cool...

At the mo' it looks better with than without but I just don't think 14 inches is going to be enough (Oooh Errr Mrs etc.)

Hopefully larger wheels and less sidewall will make it visually lower without having to get to drastic with the suspension.

Mar 28, 2009 9:39:08 GMT chip83 said:

nice work with the lights, often the small jobs give instant results and feels like you are moving forward.book marked for the future.

My sentiments exactly. I have been trying to do something everyday so I don't loose interest. (7 Hours of F1 coverage a day ain't helping)

Mar 28, 2009 11:36:15 GMT grizz said:

Hey Sammm, Great purchase, I always smile when I see these tanks on the road.

Really got yourself a great base car there, and I do hope you loveit ,and keep it mate.

Thanks Grizz, it is growing on me but I'm still not sold on the rear end.

Working lights was an improvement but I need to get onto this;

as soon as possible.

It should be silver like this one


But to get the surround off means the taillight lenses have to come back off as well as the rear bumper (it looks like just the chrome part not the wraparound)

I would also like to add some metalflake to it, which means deciding on wheels and wheel colour because they will have the same 'flake.

What are peoples thoughts on silver steels?

Its not adventurous in any way but it will at least tie in.

[sammm]

Not really an update but I found this and had to share



Turns out CROWNs are all about singing, crabs and jumping jacks. But don't tell anyone, its a secret.