1976 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
• +2 more

On record

1 warning, no recalls

What changed for 1976

Refresh

• Minor facelift with a new grille and a hood with a raised center and one offset vent. The liftback and sport coupe join the range. Toyota, a published reference

Compare 1976 with 1975

Colors

• Dark Green Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)1976
• Orange Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)337, 1975–1976
• Dark Brown Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)455, 1975–1976
• Red An owners' registry (unofficial)335, 1975–1976
• Yellow An owners' registry (unofficial)539, 1975–1977

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)
• Sport coupe (1976–1979) Toyota, a published reference
• Liftback, three-door (1976–1979) Toyota, a published reference

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)

Maintenance

No service schedule is added yet.