Toyota · Corolla

Toyota Corolla 2nd generation (E20)

Years: 1970–1977
Chassis: E20
Drivetrain: FR

Story

With a body a size larger than the first generation, its basic lineup was five types: 2/4-door sedans, a 2-door coupe and 2/4-door vans. The quarter vent windows were dropped.

Stories

From Assistant Chief Engineer to Chief Engineer

In the development of the first-generation Corolla, Sasaki served as the "shusa-zuki," the assistant supporting chief engineer Tatsuo Hasegawa. Hasegawa himself had played the coordinating role as Kenya Nakamura's assistant on the Crown. It was Sasaki who succeeded Hasegawa as chief engineer of the second generation, and from here it became customary for the assistant to become chief engineer of the next model. The second generation had a body a size larger than the first. Sasaki looks back that because the first generation's planning was so outstanding, the Corolla that inherited its DNA has lasted for 50 years.

Shiro Sasaki

Chassis

Front

Strut

Rear

Rigid axle

Curb weight: 750kg

Production plants

Takaoka Plant
Toyota, Aichi

US import eligibility

Earliest cars: Eligible since May 199525 years after sales began in May 1970
Last cars: Eligible since 200225 years after sales ended in 1977 (month not recorded)

Eligibility depends on each car's month of manufacture on its build plate, not on the sale dates shown here (NHTSA).

Japanese cars by US import year →

Engineers

Shiro Sasaki

Hometown: Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture

Development lead for the second- and third-generation Corolla. On the third generation, to bring back the sense of quality that had been lost on the second generation, he focused on improving comfort, including vibration, noise and air conditioning.