The head gasket blew at 150000 but the car was still running well enough to make it home. I had to stop and add water, but I was not stranded.
The drivers seat still looked new when I sold the car.
This was the only car that went up a lot in value when the new "blue book" came out for the last year I owned the car.
The head gasket can be change with general tools is the backyard without any special expensive tools. I did use the shopmanual because I am not a mechanic.
My 1979 Toyota Cressida four door sedan with the 4M engine,
is the best car I ever owned. With over 225,000 miles and
just regular repairs and maintenance, this car keeps going
and going. Everything works, performing and looking almost
like a new car, from the interior to the exterior. The car
has been garage kept, which I believe it is very important
for any car.
If I could find another one, especially a station wagon, of
the same year or close, shall buy it at once!
Philip M. Jane', Alva, Florida, U.S.A.
I have a Cressida RX30 1968cc which I have had since 1981. It is a 1979 November brown metallic car and has around 44,000 miles on the clock.
It is just such a good baby that I feel like keeping it for ever, except I suppose, soon the parts will become difficult to get. At present I don't have a problem with parts, even the clutch master cylinder was easy to get.
She has never broken down, when she has had a problem, she has at least got us home... limped home after the clutch master cylinder seals went...15 miles!!
We all love her and she lives in our garage, but we might let her go to another loving enthusiast.
Dev.
The Cressida 1977-1979 USA version uses 4M-U carburated engine of 2563cc displacement, yielding 108bhp@5000rpm, or 115bhp (all these figures are on SAEnet ratings), she accelerates very swiftly for such a modest output.
Compared with the GM's X-car of roughly same era, for example the Buick Skylark, the Cressida accelerates with strong torque and mid-range urge, I think. But her defects are rather feelless power steering, which is too light, and abrupt bump on rugged roads.
Unless such somewhat unsophisticated ride on bad road conditions, the smooth six-cylinder engine and excellent noise suppression made the Toyota Cressida one of the smoothest mid-luxury sedans in this era. In fact, she is much quieter than the Volvo 264 and the BMW 528i of same era, below 100km/h (62mph) speed area.
Needless to say, like most big-Japanese cars, her air-conditioner is excellent among the sedans of late 1970s, with climate control system largely in common with Cadillacs and Rolls-Royces in this era.
Well in fairness the GM X-cars like the Buick Skylark cost far, far less than a Cressida. But the Cressida is a nice little car.
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