The
Toyota Mark II is a model name used by
Toyota for several decades.
The first series, called the
Toyota Corona Mark II was an all new vehicle at its introduction in 1968, that sought to offer a car that was just under
Japanese government regulations concerning maximum vehicle dimensions and engine displacement. Using the established platform of the
Toyota Corona sedan but slightly larger and wider, it was offered as a competitor to the newly introduced
Nissan Laurel in Japan, and the
Nissan Bluebird /
Datsun 510 internationally that appeared August 1967, and two years after the
Mazda Luce in 1966. Toyota was known at the time as a small, economy car manufacturer and the Mark II allowed Toyota to establish itself as a more mainstream, international automaker. The Mark II introduced the world to a comfortable front engine, rear drive vehicle that was larger than older Toyotas while maintaining an affordable price and better fuel economy than vehicles with larger straight 6 and V8 engines.
The Mark II began to become popular with drivers around the world, Toyota introduced variations of the Mark II with two different model names, both sedans but with different styling and marketing approaches. The sportier
Toyota Chaser appeared in 1977, and later in 1980, the high luxury content
Toyota Cresta appeared. As other Japanese and international automakers continued to offer vehicles in this size class, the Mark II's popularity peaked in the 1980s. The Mark II was available with...
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