1st gen Toyota Corolla 1969–1970 E10

Overview

Engines

1.1L four-cylinder

Came as

• Coupe
• Sedan
• Wagon, two-door
• Corolla Sprinter coupe

On record

0 warnings, 3 recalls

The story

Toyota launched the Corolla in Japan in November 1966 with a new 1100 cc pushrod engine. It reached the US in spring 1968 as a 1969 model, and Car and Driver praised the finish of its interior. Toyota, a published reference

Colors

• Pan White An owners' registry (unofficial)T1506, 1969
• Moonstone White An owners' registry (unofficial)T1440, 1970
• Selene Yellow An owners' registry (unofficial)T1502, 1969
• Greenish Yellow An owners' registry (unofficial)521, 1970
• Neptune Turquoise An owners' registry (unofficial)T1353, 1969

Sources: An owners' registry (unofficial)

Specs

Engines

• 1.1L four-cylinder Toyota

  1,077 cc with overhead valves and aluminum parts; 60 hp, or 51 hp SAE net

Transmissions

• 4-speed manual Toyota

Drivetrains

• Rear-wheel drive A published reference

Body styles

• Coupe Toyota, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Sedan Toyota, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Wagon, two-door Toyota, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Corolla Sprinter coupe (years not known) Toyota

Trims

• Base Toyota

Figures

• Engine: 1,077 cc overhead-valve four with aluminum parts Toyota
• Power: 60 hp, or 51 hp SAE net Toyota
• Gearbox: A four-speed manual, the only one offered Toyota

Years and what changed

1. 1969

   New to the US, arriving in spring 1968: a coupe, sedan or wagon with a 1.1L four and a four-speed manual. Toyota

2. 1970

   No change recorded

Watch out

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

No warning is written up yet. That means none is recorded, not that there are none.

Recalls

Newest first. Ask the seller for proof the work was done, or check the VIN with NHTSA.

• 1970–1971 Recall 71V084000

  NHTSA's record gives no summary and names no part. NHTSA

• 1969 Recall 70V023000

  NHTSA's record gives no summary. It files the campaign under the hydraulic brakes. NHTSA

• 1969 Recall 69V140000

  NHTSA's record gives no summary. It files the campaign under the manual transmission's floor shift. NHTSA

Checked against NHTSA records on November 2, 2026.

Owning

What owners and buyers say

• Sought after

  Ranked fourth of twelve All years

  One source so far

  SlashGear ranks the 1st gen fourth of twelve Corolla generations, noting its floor shift, collapsible steering column and MacPherson strut front suspension. SlashGear

Maintenance

No service schedule is added yet.