This Group is for Toyopet Crown Owners and Enthusiasts. Join us and talk about the first Toyota to be sold in the United States, and many other countries. Share stories, questions and advice. The Group is US based, but International owners are encouraged to join us and help build a Toyopet Crown registry.

Covering the Toyopet Models RSD, RSL, RS20 and RS30 series, built from 1955 to 1962.

PHOTO - Toyopet Crown Registry

Toyopet History - Along with the Land Cruiser, the Toyopet Crown was the first Toyota to be sold in the United States. Toyota Motor Sales (USA) began it's operations on October 31st of 1957, in Hollywood California. Only 287 Crowns sold the first year. By the time Toyota decided to call it quits for the Toyopet Crown in 1960, they had sold less than 2000. The car was a total failure for the American market, but it was the start of it all for Toyota in the USA.

It's not that the Toyopet Crown was a bad car, it's just it wasn't for America. The car was made for Japanese roads and driving conditions. It weighed almost 3000 pounds, but only had a 58hp motor. That was fine for getting around the rough roads of Japan at low speeds back then, but for American driving it was definately underpowered. Even Shoichiro Toyoda learned this when he came to America to test the cars on American roads. After he returned home with the news, the decission was made to rethink the American market. Toyota eventually came back with a later generation of Crown, but that eventually disappeared too. In Japan however, the Crown has continued to be produced and sold to this day.

Current Toyopet numbers are unknown, and it is my hopes that this Group will bring together many of the owners and enthusiasts that appreciate or have known these cars. It is also my hope that we can begin a registry of the remaining cars that are scattered across America and other parts of the world.

Regards,
Michael Foertsch ~ Toyotageek
Founder