Toyota Crown or Nissan Laurel

[Wolseley1660man]

I remember those cars from the early '80s (they're still sold or were sold recently in Japan, but that not what I mean). I like the look of them. Nice velour seats etc. What do you esteemed owners of shite think of them?

[VWPowered]

love the crown and it'll have to be an estate too, my dad had one loved them ever since, although now shooting up in value so out of my league

 

[warren t claim]

Is that Richard O'Sullivan in the first pic?

[trigger]

There's a thread like this on retro-rides at them moment, For me it's the Crown though, Something about the front looks so good, I would love one to swan about in.

[Pete-M]

I don't like white cars, or Jap cars, but I'd have this.

 

 

Rather happily.

 

I remember going on holiday sometime in the late '70s in a Nissan 280C (I think it was a 280, possibly a 260C if they did one - my Jap old car knowledge isn't that hot) and it being rather funky with 'lecky windows, radio controls and a little "STOP" light on the parcel shelf that seemed perfect to me as it indicated when I should brace myself if I was looking out of the back window (Before seatbelts, this..). Dad seemed to be of the opinion that the big Datsun really wasn't very good, but it was big so he used it anyway.

 

So for me, it'd have to be a Crown.

 

If I had to have a Nissan, it'd have to be a Cedric - (or a 260Z, natch)

[barrett]

I'd have either in an instant if i could, these are exactly the type of old japanese motors that i covet. As VWP says Crowns are getting pricey though, i reckon now is the time to buy one if you get the chance. not sure if Laurel/Glorias are worth that much though, finding one would be the problem i think.

[Mr H Sceptre]

Always thought of the Crown & the Cedric being in the same sector, whereas the Laurel was a touch smaller & therefore more a Cressida rival.All great cars, but the Crown would be the one for me, esp in estate form.

[Wolseley1660man]

love the crown and it'll have to be an estate too, my dad had one loved them ever since, although now shooting up in value so out of my league

 

The one I'm thinking of is a bit newer, early 80s. That looks a proper pimpmobile.

[Mash]

I do like that early 70s model of Crown but it would have to be a Laurel for me every time. Preferably the C130, my favourite large Datsun or even an uber-rare C30.

 

C130:

 

 

C30:

 

 

I think the Crown from the 80s you refer to is the last version sold here. My uncle had a Y-reg one, lovely car (not this actual car though):

 

[Wolseley1660man]

Yeah, that's it, I thought it had a slightly more prominent grill, but the other cars in the thread are fine motors. Now to see if I can track down a good one, thought it will be a while as I need a bailout. But I'm not a bankster .

[Timewaster]

 

 

Similar?

[Spottedlaurel]

Always thought of the Crown & the Cedric being in the same sector, whereas the Laurel was a touch smaller & therefore more a Cressida rival.

I'd agree Mr HS, though Laurels from 1975 onwards have 6-cyl engines which gives them a distinctly different feel to Cressidas.

 

 

/\ My Laurel. I had a good drive in it on Saturday, probably the last time before it gets stashed away for winter. I may say so myself, but it's a lovely old thing to cruise about in and picks up speed amusingly. I paid £1700 for it, with 70-odd on the clock and one owner from new. A late '70s Cedric in comparable condition would have been more, plus bits on them are more expensive to buy. Long-time Datsun-lover and big British car enthusiast Graham Kelly has a gorgeous 260C, but he reckons from experience that the Laurel like mine would be a better drive.

 

The Cedrics I've had are the mid-80s 300C models, which while they look similar to earlier models have a fairly high-tech, free-revving OHC V6 under the bonnet. They definitely have more of a 'big car' feel to Laurels.

 

Older Cedrics from 240C-280C (1971-84) and Laurels from 1975 right through to 1988 had the straight-six L-series engines, basically detuned versions of what was in the Z/ZX range. I think they're a better engine than those Toyota fitted to the Crowns, but the latter counter with the fairly unusual claim of having a separate chassis.

 

Obviously they all rot!

 

A good summary of the Cedrics is that they are like a Japanese Austin Westminster, and it's probably for that reason that several current/former banger racers run them. I would imagine that Crowns have a similar feel.

[Wolseley1660man]

Hehe, possibly. It would be a good dream. For me just getting one that's in good order, when the government bail me out, will do.

 

A neighbour had a blue Crown, he was called the 'American' as he had that sort of accent. It sorted of looked like a Chevrolet Caprice.

 

Always thought of the Crown & the Cedric being in the same sector, whereas the Laurel was a touch smaller & therefore more a Cressida rival.

I'd agree Mr HS, though Laurels from 1975 onwards have 6-cyl engines which gives them a distinctly different feel to Cressidas.

 

 

/\ My Laurel. I had a good drive in it on Saturday, probably the last time before it gets stashed away for winter. I may say so myself, but it's a lovely old thing to cruise about in and picks up speed amusingly. I paid £1700 for it, with 70-odd on the clock and one owner from new. A late '70s Cedric in comparable condition would have been more, plus bits on them are more expensive to buy. Long-time Datsun-lover and big British car enthusiast Graham Kelly has a gorgeous 260C, but he reckons from experience that the Laurel like mine would be a better drive.

 

The Cedrics I've had are the mid-80s 300C models, which while they look similar to earlier models have a fairly high-tech, free-revving OHC V6 under the bonnet. They definitely have more of a 'big car' feel to Laurels.

 

Older Cedrics from 240C-280C (1971-84) and Laurels from 1975 right through to 1988 had the straight-six L-series engines, basically detuned versions of what was in the Z/ZX range. I think they're a better engine than those Toyota fitted to the Crowns, but the latter counter with the fairly unusual claim of having a separate chassis.

 

Obviously they all rot!

 

A good summary of the Cedrics is that they are like a Japanese Austin Westminster, and it's probably for that reason that several current/former banger racers run them. I would imagine that Crowns have a similar feel.

Brown is certain the right colour for the era.

[VWPowered]

 

/\ My Laurel.

nice it is too chap

[Milford Cubicle]

Stop quoting images on the same page, it's a pain in the arse to scroll through, especially on a 9" screen.I think SL's Laurel is maroon rather than brown, Wolseleyman.

[Spottedlaurel]

Indeed it is, though that's not the first time this colour has caused confusion.