Growing up in Southeast Wisconsin, I was not a stranger to the name Jack Safro. In fact, my parents and I, like many other residents within the last forty years have come to know Jack Safro as synonymous with Toyota and great customer service. Sadly, Jack Safro died of a heart attack earlier this year and a large portion of his personal estate was liquidated recently at the Mecum High Performance Auctions.

Short History
In 1962 Safro started “Jack Safro’s Pewaukee Motors” selling used cars to the local area, but it was not until 1976 that Safro began to sell a relatively unknown Japanese brand in Wisconsin. His dealership became the largest dealership in the Midwest it’s first year, selling 42 new Toyota’s.

Safro also became one of the first eight United States Lexus dealers in 1989. He stated in a New York Times interview at the time that, “he was not shocked by the scores of buyers who have been willing to spend more than $35,000 to buy Toyota’s new luxury cars [but rather] to see what many buyers are trading in: late-model Cadillacs and Lincolns.” He estimated about 10 Cadillacs, several Lincolns and European luxury cars were traded in within the first couple weeks of opening.

Mecum states that “Jack Safro began his association with automobiles by working a night job in high school recapping tires. In his early days, Jack drove modified cars and midget cars at Wisconsin tracks, demonstrating one facet of what was a life-long passion for cars.”

Jack Safro Estate Collection
Safro’s collection put on auction consisted of 50 cars total which included a 1966 Land Cruiser FJ40 which sold for $47,500, a 1966 Corona Sedan with 8,769 original miles which sold for $36,000 and more. The prices stunned Rob Sass at the New York Times, who said, “Until this weekend, there have been few if any large collections of Japanese cars sold en masse in the United States. The Jack Safro Collection … maybe have been the first such collection to sell publicly.”

In any case, we’re not surprised the prices these classics are fetching and we know this will not be the last time someone stumbles on a large Japanese collection.

1966 Toyota Corona Sedan – $4,500
1.9 liter 4 cylinder original engine
3-speed manual transmission
Radio delete

1966 Toyota Land Cruiser Soft Top FJ40 – $47,000
Complete professional restoration
6 cylinder 3-speed manual transmission
6,819 believed to be original miles
Lift kit with Alloy wheels

1968 Toyota Corona Utility Pickup – $11,000
1.5L engine 4-speed manual transmission
Rare LHD pickup version
Complete history and owners manual

1968 Toyota Corona Coupe – $9,250
2.0 liter 18RG twin cam engine
Dual side-drafts
72 Celica 5-speed Manual transmission with bronze clutch
Narrowed ‘79 Supra rear-end with Moser axles
Rebuilt and lowered suspension

1971 Toyota Mark II coupe – $12,000
2.0 liter 4 cylinder SOHC engine
Automatic transmission
Complete rotisserie restoration
Toyota’s first luxury coupe

1973 Toyota Land Cruiser Wagon FJ55 – $19,000
6 cylinder F-series engine
3-speed manual transmission with overdrive
Frame on restoration
8-track stereo
Alloy wheels

1976 Toyota Corolla SR5 coupe – $11,000
1.6 liter 185hp 2T-C engine
5 speed manual transmission
2 racing bucket seats
Full roll-cage
Past SCCA SE region showroom stock
Race prepped for vintage rules
(Apparently) Street legal

1981 Toyota Celica Supra – $22,000
2.8 liter 5M-E straight-6 with electronic fuel injection
automatic transmission
8,774 original miles

1981 Toyota Trekker 4WD pickup – $22,250
Concept approved by Toyota in collaboration with Safro and Winnebago
Frame on restoration for Jack Safro’s 40th anniversary with Toyota
4 cylinder SOHC 5-speed transmission
SR-5 gauge package

1986 Toyota Cressida Limousine – $7,500
2.8 liter 5M-GE straight-6
Armbruster Coachworks in Ft. Smith, AK conversion (1987)
1 of 10 built
Television, 2 radios, cellular phone
Wet bar and wine race

2001 Toyota Prius Hybrid – $13,000
Paul Newman’s personal car personally sold by Jack Safro
1.5L engine with electric drive motor
13,917 actual miles
Automatic transmission

2004 Toyota Tundra Long Bed Truck – $7,750
Customized for “The Benchwarmers” by Picture Car Warehouse of Los Angeles
Modeled after Darrell Waltrip’s Craftsman Tundra
Made streetable with lights, mirrors, etc.
3.4 liter 5VZE V6 engine
Automatic transmission

2006 Lexus RX400h – $55,000
Paul McCartney Signature Edition
Designed by McCartney and Lexus for 2005 US Tour
One and only, 450 original miles
Every available factory option
Mark Levinson custom sound system
Autographed by Paul McCartney

1973 MG Midget Convertible – $16,000
1.6 liter 4AGE 16 valve engine
Toyota 5speed transmission
Toyota rear-end and brakes
Full roll cage, ready for track days!

If anybody happens to know where these cars ended up, please let us know!

Question: Are you surprised that these cars (along with other Japanese classics) are beginning to be considered as collectible and are gaining in price? Give us your opinion below in the comments.

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