1979 Toyota Cressida Quick Take: More Modern Than You’d Think

This does not feel like a 45-year-old car.

I’m rolling towards Signal Hill, the historic lookout above St. John’s, Newfoundland, in an absolutely pristine 1979 Toyota Cressida. This time warp vehicle is owned by Michelle Melendy, CEO of Western Group which owns three dealerships in the province. We’re all here to kick off Toyota Canada’s cross-country Kanreki celebration, and while Jeff Wilson and I will be getting behind the wheel of various contemporary Toyotas soon enough, there’s no way we’re missing the opportunity to drive a car nearly half a century old.

Exterior Style: Mix-n-Match

The Cressida’s styling is hard to place: you’ve seen it or something like it a million times and yet also never, the shape of traffic in any ‘70s-set drama. It’s broadly American in proportions, though on a smaller scale: the Cressida is almost exactly the size of a current Corolla sedan in height, length, and wheelbase. The nose features generous amounts of chrome in the grille and surrounding the sealed beam headlights, lending the Cressida a slightly British look.

Those balloon tires! Excellent.

Powertrain and Fuel Economy: Leisurely Progress

This was the final model year of the third-generation Cressida. Thus it has the fuel-injected version of Toyota’s smooth 2.6-liter inline-six, not the carbed engine. There was only around 115 horsepower on tap here when new, sent through a four-speed auto to the rear wheels. No, there will not be any drifting up and down the Signal Hill road.

Power builds with a creamy nonchalance. Hurrying would be uncouth, after all. This is the first way the Cressida feels modern: the big six is well-mannered and torquey. The four-speed auto deserves credit too: it lacks the number of ratios of modern machinery or the instant response of a CVT, but it shifts smoothly and responds appropriately to differing amounts of throttle. Since the Cressida weighs a few hundred pounds less than a modern ‘Rolla, it ably keeps up with modern traffic.

Handling and Drivability: Grand Glider

To hold a modern BMW steering wheel is to wrestle with two bratwursts. The classic Cressida is the complete opposite: the wheel rim is Twizzler-thin, a gently textured hoop of wood that gives it a sense of delicacy. Power steering ensures low steering effort, yet it still feels positive as soon as you wind on just some of the (considerable) available locks. The Cressida’s helm encourages a light touch.

Braking is handled by front discs and rear drums. This is the one aspect of the driving experience to feel old: though the pedal has a good initial feel it quickly requires more and more effort to pull the car to a complete stop, especially on the short jaunt downhill.

Interior Style and Quality: Very velour.

Remember when car companies weren’t afraid to get a little funky with the cabin colors? Pepperidge… er, Toyota remembers. Cherry red velour seats match the lush pile of the floor mats. The rest of the cabin has a more purple hue, like a currant. It’s all berry good. (Sorry not sorry.) The shifter is topped with wood but that tall stalk is metal—same with the tactile air vents. I still can’t get over how great that thin-rimmed steering wheel feels, or its three—three!—horn buttons.

There’s a good sense of space thanks to the super-thin pillars, too. Modern safety standards have made those all but impossible on today’s cars.

Final Thoughts: 1979 Toyota Cressida Quick Take

With its quiet, charming cabin and laidback, comfort-first drive, the Cressida is an interesting if brief look back at what constituted a brand flagship nearly 50 years ago. Much of what it offers stands up to the driving experiences of today. It can be easy to get sucked into the latest-and-greatest cycle—especially in this industry—but this is one of those times it’s worth slowing down.

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