Mar. 25, 2015

Toyota Automobile Museum to Host
'Toyota Crown 60th Anniversary Exhibition'

 

Toyota City, Japan, March 25, 2015―Toyota Motor Corporation announces that its multi-maker automobile museum in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, the Toyota Automobile Museum, will host the "Toyota Crown 60th Anniversary Exhibition" from April 25, 2015 through July 5, 2015.

The exhibition will feature 13 vehicles connected to the history of the "Crown", which marks its 60th anniversary this year. The Crown has the longest history of any domestically produced passenger vehicle in Japan, thanks to its many customers and fans. Emblematic of Toyota Motor's manufacturing history of "Succession and Innovation", the Crown has consistently reflected the desires of consumers and the needs of the times, incorporating the latest technology at each stage of its development to help establish Japan's luxury car market.

Among the exhibition will be the first-ever exhibition of two derivative models, the Crown Custom and the first-generation Crown Majesta. The exhibition will also feature TV commercials for past vehicles and a poster display in the gallery offering a unique look into the past. Historical Crown catalogs and other related documents will be available in the museum library during the commemorative exhibition period.

As special Golden Week events, visitors may take part in events to make their own movable paper craft and original kaleidoscopes on April 25, April 26, and from May 2 through May 6. Exhibition details are as follows.

  1. Toyota Crown 60th Anniversary Exhibition
  1. Duration
    Saturday, April 25 – Sunday, July 5
  2. Place
    Special Exhibition Room, Main Bldg. 2F, Toyota Automobile Museum
  3. Details
No. Vehicle name Year manufactured
1 First generation Toyopet Crown (left-hand drive; first-ever exhibit) 1958
2 Second generation Toyopet Crown Sedan 1963
3 Third generation Crown Hardtop (first-ever exhibit) 1968
4 Fourth generation Crown Custom Wagon (first-ever exhibit) 1971
5 Fifth generation Crown Sedan 1975
6 Sixth generation Crown Sedan 1980
7 Seventh generation Crown Sedan 1986
8 Eighth generation Crown Hardtop (wide-body) 1988
9 First generation Crown Majesta (first-ever exhibit) 1992
10 10th generation Crown Hardtop 1995
11 11th generation Crown Hardtop 1999
12 12th generation Crown (first-ever exhibit) 2003
［Main Bldg. 1F］Fourth generation Crown Sedan 1972
Note
13th and 14th generations are panel exhibitions only.
  1. "Toyota Crown Poster Exhibition"
Duration
Saturday, April 25 - Sunday, July 5
Place
Main Bldg. 2F Gallery
Details
Display of Crown promotional posters from over the years
  1. Other events
  1. Library event
    "Toyota Crown 60th Anniversary"
Duration
Saturday, April 25 - Sunday, July 5
Place
Annex Bldg. 3F Library (Free zone)
Details
Display of past Crown catalogs and related documents
  1. Golden Week Events
Duration
Saturday, April 25 - Sunday, April 26; Saturday, May 2 - Wednesday, May 6 (national holiday)
Place
Annex Bldg. 1F (Free zone)
Details
Event Participation fee No. of participants
Movable paper craft
Toyopet Crown Model RS21		 600 yen each First-come, first-served
50 visitors each day
Original kaleidoscope 300 yen each First-come, first-served
50 visitors each day
Toyota Automobile Museum website
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Museum/english/

Attachment

Overview of exhibited vehicles

Note
13th and 14th generation vehicles are panel displays.
1 First generation Toyopet Crown (left-hand drive) (1958)
  100% made-in-Japan passenger car developed entirely by TMC amid efforts by other Japanese automakers to develop cars through technical alliances with overseas companies. The vehicle on display was one of the first to be exported to the United States.
2 Second generation Toyopet Crown Sedan (1963)
  In the 1960s, Japan's economy was surging ahead thanks to the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics the Ikeda Cabinet's plan to double the nation's income. Household incomes were on the rise and the dream of a car for each family was becoming a reality. The Toyopet Crown Sedan was developed to combine a comfortable ride and maneuverability with durability and high-speed cruising stability.
3 Third generation Crown Hardtop (1968)
  In the late 1960s, the development of new highways in Japan had reached its peak with the full opening of the Meishin Expressway and other major arteries. This Crown Hardtop embodied the desire for a refined sedan ideal for cruising at high speeds and long distances. The color schemes were enhanced to facilitate the notion of individual ownership, and the Crown Hardtop was launched as the "White Crown."
4 Fourth generation Crown Custom Wagon (1971) / Crown Sedan (1972) Exhibited on the 1st floor of the Main Bldg.
  This Crown Custom Wagon sported an avant-garde "spindle-shaped" design which never enjoyed commercial success. Still, the vehicle was beloved by fans, who nicknamed it the "Whale."
5 Fifth generation Crown Sedan (1975)
  This Crown Sedan featured a boxy design completely overhauled from the fourth-generation. The car had a four-door pillared hardtop, and sales were robust despite the oil crisis and more stringent emissions regulations.
6 Sixth generation Crown Sedan (1980)
  After experiencing two successive oil price shocks, Japanese society shifted towards resource and energy efficiency. This Crown Sedan led the way, marking an improvement in fuel efficiency through a lighter body and improved aerodynamics.
7 Seventh generation Crown Sedan (1986)
  This Crown Sedan debuted with much fanfare under the slogan, "A Crown, Someday." The four-door hardtop model became the core series model, replacing the sedan.
8 Eighth generation Crown Hardtop (1988)
  This Crown Sedan was launched at the start of the so-called "bubble economy." The car featured a special body design for "three number" Japanese vehicle dimension requirements and a bold array of state-of-the-art technologies including electronically controlled air suspension and Electro Multi Vision.
9 First generation Crown Majesta (1992)
  The Majesta was added as the top-of-the-line Crown model. It replaced the traditional full-frame structure with a monocoque body, while adding a four-wheel double-wishbone and electronically controlled air suspension. These new design features marked the start of a new history for the Crown.
10 10th generation Crown Hardtop (1995)
  The Crown turned 40 with this Hardtop model. As part of the Royal series, this model also adopted the monocoque frame structure. The design emphasized Japanese aesthetics with a traditional flowing style that made it instantly recognizable.
11 11th generation Crown (1999)
  This iteration featured an impact-absorbing body and GOA high-strength cabin compartment to achieve world-class collision safety performance. The sporty Athlete model was introduced to complement the supremely comfortable Royal series.
12 12th generation Crown (2003)
  This model was introduced with the slogan, "Zero Crown". The design concept of "transforming from stillness to life" imbued not only the interior and exterior design, but comprehensive changes in the mechanisms.

Downloads (Images)

  • First generation Toyopet Crown (left-hand drive)
    First generation Toyopet Crown (left-hand drive)
  • Second generation Toyopet Crown Sedan
    Second generation Toyopet Crown Sedan
  • Third generation Crown Hardtop
    Third generation Crown Hardtop
  • Fourth generation Crown Custom Wagon
    Fourth generation Crown Custom Wagon
  • Fifth generation Crown Sedan
    Fifth generation Crown Sedan
  • Sixth generation Crown Sedan
    Sixth generation Crown Sedan
  • Seventh generation Crown Sedan
    Seventh generation Crown Sedan
  • Eighth generation Crown Hardtop (wide-body)
    Eighth generation Crown Hardtop (wide-body)
  • First generation Crown Majesta
    First generation Crown Majesta
  • 10th generation Crown Hardtop
    10th generation Crown Hardtop
  • 11th generation Crown Hardtop
    11th generation Crown Hardtop
  • 12th generation Crown
    12th generation Crown
  • Fourth generation Crown Sedan
    Fourth generation Crown Sedan