1975 Toyota Corolla E30

Overview

Engines

1.2L four-cylinder, 1.6L four-cylinder

Came as

• Sedan, two-door
• Sedan, four-door
• Wagon, five-door
• Hardtop coupe

On record

1 warning, no recalls

What changed for 1975

• New generation, on sale in late 1974. The SR5 comes only with the 1.6L and a five-speed, and adds a tachometer and sportier wheels. A published reference

Compare 1975 with 1974

Colors

• Copper Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)338, 1975
• Brown An owners' registry (unofficial)415, 1975
• Green Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)684, 1975
• Dark Blue An owners' registry (unofficial)829, 1975
• Orange Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)337, 1975–1976

Sources: An owners' registry (unofficial)

Specs

Engines

• 1.2L four-cylinder 3K-C Toyota, a published reference

  55 hp

• 1.6L four-cylinder 2T-C Toyota, a published reference

  75 hp; the only engine in the SR5

Transmissions

• 4-speed manual Curbside Classic, a published reference
• 5-speed manual A published reference
• Toyoglide automatic A published reference

Drivetrains

• Rear-wheel drive A published reference

Body styles

• Sedan, two-door A published reference
• Sedan, four-door A published reference
• Wagon, five-door A published reference
• Hardtop coupe (1975–1977) A published reference, an owners' registry (unofficial)

Trims

• Standard A published reference
• Deluxe A published reference
• SR5 A published reference

Also in the generation, years not known: 1.3L four-cylinder Toyota, a published reference

Figures for the whole 3rd gen

• Model codes: E31 sedans, E38 wagon, E37 hardtop, E51 sport coupe and liftback A published reference
• Built: August 1974 to July 1981 A published reference
• Emissions: The 1.3L 4K-C that replaced the 3K-C made 60 hp from 1,290 cc A published reference

Watch out

Faults owners and the press report, and how to spot each one.

• Rust All years

  One source so far

  Check: Look under the car and along the lower body and wheel arches for rust and repairs.

  Four readers commenting on Curbside Classic's liftback article, an unofficial source, mention these Corollas rusting, around Chicago and in northeast Ohio within six years. Owners' reports (unofficial)

Recalls

No recall is written up here.

No recalls are listed. Checked against NHTSA records on November 2, 2026.

Owning

What owners and buyers say

• Sought after

  Long-lived, to its owners All years

  One source so far

  Of six owners commenting on Curbside Classic's 1976–79 liftback article, an unofficial source, five praise their cars' durability, some of them family cars. Owners' reports (unofficial)

• Avoid

  Heavy and thirsty for its class, in 1975

  Less sought after

  Road & Track found the 1975 Corolla large, heavy and expensive beside the Honda Civic and Datsun B210, with a crude rear suspension, little room inside and poor fuel economy beside the VW Rabbit, a published reference reports. SlashGear ranks the 3rd gen last of twelve, calling it underpowered. SlashGear, a published reference

Maintenance

No service schedule is added yet.