The Car Challenge

[Frank Hovis]

Dannie Boy is corrent with Tiara.
It's basically a Toyota Corona Mk2 but called the Tiara (Little Crown as it was a smaller version of the Toyota Crown)

That's the easy stuff done and dusted, get your googles on and find out what 'first' it holds (in a specific country).

[Frank Hovis]

No takers on the 'Toyota Tiara' First question?

I'll give it ten minutes and then reveal the mystery.

[Siani]

One year warranty in the UK? Electric window?

[STEVE G]

It was the first Toyota built in Australia?

[Frank Hovis]

I'm not sure they sold them in the UK and I'm pretty sure it didn't have electric windows.

I already had the 'answer' written and when I posted Steve G has popped in with half the correct answer, it's not Australia.

Ten more minutes on the clock.

[Siani]

Was it the first to be imported into the UK?

[Frank Hovis]

No, Steve is right, it's the first Toyota car assembled in ..... ?

[Dannie Boy]

No, Steve is right, it's the first Toyota car assembled in ..... ?

The US?

[Frank Hovis]

Nearer than that.

[Dannie Boy]

Nearer than that.

Thailand?

[Frank Hovis]

Correct - The first Toyota car assembled in Thailand.

The Toyota Tiara (1964) was the first car to roll off the assembly line of the newly formed Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd.
Since then over 5 million vehicles have been produced by Toyota in Thailand, although looking at what's on the roads you'd think they must be producing 5 million a year.

The Fifty Year history of Toyota in Thailand can be found here http://www.toyota.co.th/lite/50th/en.html

They should do a 50th anniversary version of it; a Vios with a 60's body. I'm sure it would sell quite well.

[STEVE G]

I missed Thailand! They were also the first Toyotas built in Australia, at Port Melbourne, Victoria from 1963.

[Frank Hovis]

Sorry Steve, you might be right but it's not what's on the card.

No, honestly, I didn't know it was also a first in Australia. When looking it up I did notice there were a lot of references to it in Australia, with a pickup 'ute' version, a saloon and a wagon 'estate' version too.
Here's a Australian advert, suggesting it's a good car for falconers? Notice it's in Aussie Pounds.

"Tops 80 m.p.h .... [with drum brakes ] "

[STEVE G]

35+ mpg isn't bad for 1963!

[Siani]

Mr Siani says that the Japs had revenge by sending us the Toyota Tiara after the war...A rust bucket and death trap, not to mention the brakes More effect than the famous Kamikaze pilots He said he would sooner fall on his sword than drive one Maybe a Morris Minor