Classic cars: the Toyota Corolla turns 50

Today it is possibly the best-selling car in the world. The units that have rolled out of the 16 plants where this Japanese model is built add up to 44 million, a figure that attests to its popularity worldwide. The Toyota Corolla was born in 1966, which means it is celebrating its birthday and has passed the milestone of its first 50 years. And by all accounts, a promising future lies ahead.

It was conceived as “the car for everyone“, so from the outset it came with a range of equipment that aimed to match higher-end models. One of its main features was the gear lever mounted on the floor, which was revolutionary for the industry at the time.

The name was chosen from the Latin word for “flower crown“, reflecting the model’s intention to “bloom” in the market, which it did within three years. In that period it became the best-selling model in Japan that year and since then it has remained one of the most popular models, and not only in its country of origin.

It reached Europe in 1967, although production did not begin at the Sakarya (Turkey) plant until 1991, by which time it already had seven generations behind it. It arrived in the United States in 1968, and its characteristics made it one of the best-selling cars in that demanding market. Four years after its launch, the Toyota Corolla had already sold one million units.

So far, eleven generations have been designed, always seeking to offer equipment that stands out in its segment and with considerable durability and reliability. The 11th generation is currently in force; it has undergone several significant changes to its image and is expected to remain in place for several years, before a new generation arrives to keep this model going and maintain the standard it has achieved so far.

Technical specifications of this car

SedanToyota Corolla12 versions · from 31,400 €