It was a sunny yet breezy Saturday morning in Long Beach, California and the only thing better than the weather were the cars that were dock side to the Queen Mary. This year’s 14th annual All Toyotafest brought out more than 350 Toyota, Lexus and Scion badges onto the grass. Even more tantalizing was that over half of the vehicles were Japanese classics and nostalgic models ranging from a 1960’s FJ40 Land Cruiser to multiple late model 1980’s Supra Turbo’s.

The list of cars that were on display is too long to list, but among some of our favorites was the Toyota Crown coupe MS75 “Kujira” which was only available in the United States in 1971 and 1972. The Crown features a 2.6L 4M engine which was shared (in fuel-injection form) with the late 1970’s Celica Supra and Cressida. The 4M engine later evolved into the 2.8L 5M engine and 3.0L 7M engines available in the 1980’s Celica Supra and Cressida.

We’re still keeping our hopes up to see a 7MGTE equipped Kujira in the states but considering how few of these Crowns are even around, it will probably some time before we lay our eyes on one. (Do you know of a Crown coupe worthy of being featured in JDM Origins? Contact us!)

Other favorites of the show were the multitudes of Toyota Corolla’s from the KE10’s to the AE86 Hachi-roku’s. One of America’s favorite Toyota’s since it’s introduction in the late 1960’s, it seemed as if there were as many Corolla’s in the parking lot as in the show!

Last but definitely not least is the always beautiful Toyota 2000GT, more famously known to the common-folks as “the car from that one James Bond movie!” (The movie was actually “You Only Live Twice” which came out about two years after the car’s debut in 1965.) Keeping in mind that there are only about 50 to 60 of these vehicles originally sold in the United States, it is definitely a treat when you see one in person. One kid was even so lucky as to get a photo of himself behind the wheel.

After scoping out all the full scale cars, the show would not be complete without stopping by the HPI sponsored mini race circuit where the little guys were dueling it out. Each competitor had to use a standard Toyota body which made it all the more interesting. Unfortunately, there did not seem to be a lot of old school loving contenders.

If you missed the All Toyotafest this year, you will have to wait until next year to see all the cars for yourself. It was a blast and I think everyone there came home with a free tan and some other tradeshow goodies. If you missed it, check out the full gallery below.

** Special thanks to Michael Foertsch (Toyotageek) for filling in some pictures. It was such a blast, we lost some cars and photos in the mix!

Michael Foertsch, Toyotageek, runs his own website www.toyotageek.com and writes “Toyota Tales” about beloved Toyota’s and their owners. They are what he calls “real stories about real
people and real cars”. He also runs multiple Owners groups and is an active member of Toyota Owners and Restorers Club (TORC).

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