 History
The first Toyota Corolla was marketed way back in October
1966 as the KE10 Model with a 1.1L K Series engine which was
a very basic non-crossflow pushrod engine but still made a
quite respectable power of 60HP.
In 1969 updated versions (same look) KE11/17/18 came out with
the 1.2L 3K engine.
 The
KE20 came out in 1970 which was of a new shape. This used
the 3K engine again until 1973 when the 2T 1.6L engine came
out. The 2T was had quite an advanced chamber design which
was a hemi crossflow but still using pushrods, this produced
75-100HP.
In Japan the Sprinter
Levin and Sprinter Trueno used the coupe body TE27 coupled
with the 2T-G Twin cam engine using sidedraft carbs this produced
115Hp. The Yanky-Doodle versions used the TE27 body and was
spec'd like the Levin but didn't use the Twin Cam engines,
these were called "Corolla SR-5".
In 1974 the KE30 Corolla
came out with the 3K and 2T engines again. While the Sprinter
Levin used the 2 Door Hard Top body (TE37) with the 2T-G engine
still running carbs. Again in Yanky-Doodle land there SR-5's
were based on the Japanese Levin using the TE37 Body but without
the Twin Cam Engines. Around 1975 the Sprinter Levin/Trueno
was released but with  different
panels to the rest of the KE30 range. The Sprinter Trueno
used the TE47 Body while sharing the 2T-G Engine and Running
Gear to the Levin models. Lift back and coupe Corolla's were
released based on the KE30 platform but with different panel
and with dashes lower and wider than the rest, but the engine
bay and drive train was identical.
In 1977 the top spec Sprinter
Levin's used the TE51
couple and lift back bodies. The Twin Cam 2T-G was updated
with EFI. The Sprinter Trueno became the High Performance
twin complete with the 2T-GUE which came with emission devices
and EFI but still produced 110-115HP. In 1978 these were revised
to remove the EGR valve helping with performance.
In 1979 the new shape
of the TE71
and the TE72 liftbacks were released, these came with the
3T-C 1.8L engine or the 1.6L 2T-GUE. They now came with the
common 5-Link setup for the rear axle (which is still used
in the AE86 range). This came from the Celica range of cars
to replace the old leaf spring setup. The estate range still
used the leaf spring's though.  Around
1981 the saloons and estates were replaced with the squarer
KE70 and TE70 models with the 4K 1.3L pushrod non crossflow
65HP engine or the 3TC engines. In the later Te70/KE70 Series
Corolla's came with the 4A-C SOHC 74HP engine becoming the
AE71 Corolla's. In Japan and some parts of europe there was
a 1.8L Diesel C series engine produce making the Corolla called
the CE70.
While at this point Toyota
was about to switch over to only producing FWD car's they
decided to release their last famous RWD Corolla this was
to be called the AE86 (Hachi-Roku) in liftback and coupe form,
They came with the 4A-C as the AE85 and the 4A-GE Twin Cam
engine with 125HP. The floor plan and layout was based very
similar to the TE70 Corolla's. Their Sleek Design and great
handling stock while slightly under powered gave them the
cult status today, with many still being raced in either Drift
Completions or full on track racing.
Trivia
In Japan some of the earliest Corolla's were sold under
the Daihatsu Brand as well as the Toyota one.
There was also the Corolla II Series but these were based
on the Tercel range in Japan.
Corolla means "Crown of a Flower" |
