1959 Crown Supercoach School Bus

School bus? Cool bus! Designed for school districts that could afford the very best, the Supercoach pictured was built virtually unchanged from 1949 all the way to 1991. From curbsideclassic.com: "What made Crowns so special?  In a word – toughness – these buses were legendary for their strength, robust construction, and longevity.  While most of Crown’s competitors used 45,000 psi steel, Crown’s floorpan and framework were constructed of 90,000 psi ultra high tensile steel sheathed with heat-treated aluminum bodywork.  The Super Coach’s double-walled steel body structure was both bolted and welded to outriggers on the main chassis which was built using nested channel frame rails and cross-members."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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1964 Imperial Crown

Nearly 20 feet long and weighing two and a half tons, brand new this Imperial by Chrysler would have run you nearly $50,000 in inflation-adjusted dollars. 430 horsepower, push-button everything.

Observations:
* This car doesn't appear to have moved in years. It is probably destined to become a parts car for the restoration of a convertible or coupe. There aren't that many junker Imperials in circulation.
* The number of Imperials still around was reduced that much further by the employment of twenty-nine cars from this era to make the Green Hornet movie in 2010.

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1971 Toyota Crown Custom Wagon

Known in Japan as "the Whale" this Crown Custom Wagon was spotted down at the SoDo importer of Japanese cars designed for use in Japan. Most of their vehicles are from early 90s, as cars that don't meet American standards for smog and safety are eligible for import when 25 years old.

* Love the double-grill look and the way-up-front side mirrors.
* This car has a manual transmission of course, so if you've ever had a hankering to drive a left-handed three-speed column shifter, here's your chance.

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1987 Toyota Crown Super Salon

If you're into right-hand drive, you probably could not buy a more indestructible car than the Toyota Crown. The Crown has been Toyota's signature big (well big by Japanese standards) rear-wheel drive car since 1955, unavailable in the US since the mid-70s. It is however legal to import vehicles not designed to US standards once they're 25 years old, and here on the west coast I occasionally see right-hand cars and trucks from Japan.

Observations:
* Love all the little crown logos unique to this model.
* This Crown is powered by the turbocharged "Diesel Ceramics Power" engine. It will probably run forever.

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