Sunday, March 22, 2015

5k: Liftback Style:1981 Toyota Corolla E72

The 4th generation Toyota Corolla was a mild mannered econobox sold from 1982 through 1987 that won't ever be accused of being a thrilling ride.  It did however have a rear-drive setup and light weight chassis that translated to decent handling and potential if you were willing to bolt on a few performance upgrades.  Find this 1981 Toyota Corolla E72 offered for $5,500 in San Jose, CA via craigslist. Tip from Kaibeezy.


The Corolla was a simple economy car with no particular designs on world domination, but it was cheap to buy, cheap on fuel, cheap to insure, but most importantly: it was reliable.  The liftback version is one you don't see often on the road, but it looks very useable.  


 Under the hood is a 1.6 liter 4A-C inline-4, an 8-valve SOHC carburetor fed engine rated at 90 horsepower from the factory.  It was mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and should be good for years of driving if you keep up with maintenance.


 See another liftback for cheap? tips@dailyturismo.com
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15 comments:

  1. $15K isn't cheap, but I'd rather have this FWD liftback than the RWD 'Rolla even though it has old-skool swagger.

    I must admit that I'm a tiny bit confused about the difference between a liftback and a hatchback. I know the definition, but that doesn't really define it to me. Here are some others that I find appealing for one reason or another. But are they hatches or lifts? One of the below is what I'd call a wagon, even. Actually, who really cares.

    1987 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z

    1979 Plymouth Horizon TC3

    1988 Citroen BX 16 TS

    1984 Toyota Corolla GTS

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  2. And of course, I'm not all that interested in drifting so I get why folks would want this E-72. Or is it an E-71? I forget. E-7something.

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  4. As far as I ever knew, liftback was just marketing-speak for hatchback, once hatchback acquired a slightly "cheap" label.

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    Replies

    1. Most likely true and a keen observation, Bobinott.

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  5. Wiki agrees with you.

    A liftback is a broad marketing term for a hatchback where the rear cargo door is more horizontal than vertical, with a sharply raked or fastback profile. In comparison with the hatchback, the back opening area is more sloped and longer and is lifted up to open, offering more luggage space. Very similar is the "fastback". Liftback is not used as a term in the UK — fastback or hatchback are used instead.

    Liftback or hatchback? I'd vote the former on this one. What do you think?

    [img]https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6145/5971510791_085d8dfca6.jpg[/img]

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    Replies

    1. Well, Lancia called it an HPE, for High Performance Estate. An estate car being what the English call a "station wagon". Because the English have estates where the Americans have stations. Or ranches. Or something. Why don't you guys call them "ranch wagons"? In New Zealand and Australia, if we have a big lump of land we graze sheep or cattle on, we definitely call it a "station".

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  6. Classified as a liftback, but the img URL labels it a hatch. Which would you pick?

    [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Toyota-Camry-Hatchback.jpg/220px-Toyota-Camry-Hatchback.jpg[/img]

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  7. IMO, if the glass is less than 45 degrees, I see a hatchback. More than that is a liftback in my mind.

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  8. The lift/hatch/coup de grâce?

    [img]http://image.motortrend.com/f/roadtests/hatchbacks/1402_2015_bmw_4_series_gran_coupe_first_look/66120370+w191+h191+cr1+ar0/2015-bmw-435i-gran-coupe-navy-blue-rear-three-quarter-02.jpg[/img]

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  9. Would you give a lift to this Hatch?

    [img]http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumb_medium/hash/86/cb/1346006532_4066_orrin_hatch.jpg?itok=iqqq4CiU[/img]

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    Replies

    1. K2 -- how much coffee did you drink this morning??

      Delete

    2. Just my usual one today! It's like you don't even know me... :-)

      But it's fun to ponder the difference between a liftback and a hatchback, though I may be alone in that query. Oh well, what's new.

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    3. Ended up with two but the second one was decaf. Now you know and wish you didn't.

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  10. The hatchback is not quite dead yet! Let's not jump the gun here.

    [img]http://mediasvc.ancestry.com/image/831f41db-99e0-428b-ab13-619975f89427.jpg?Client=MCCManager&NamespaceID=1093&MaxSide=160[/img]

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