1985 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

Welcome to Down On The Street, where we admire old vehicles found parked on the streets of the Island That Rust Forgot: Alameda, California. Remember when four-door hatch versions of small Japanese cars were commonplace?

As we now know, the 80s were the last gasp for lengthened, four-door hatchback versions of Japanese subcompacts; once the minivans and SUVs took charge, the cold-eyed accountants at Toyota knew they wouldn't be making these things in quantity for much longer. In this case we've got a four-door hatch Corolla, fairly well beat up but still getting the groceries.

Chevrolet sold a badge-engineered version of this car, built about 25 miles south of here and given the Nova name. You could also get a Fremont- built Corolla FX in the mid-to-late 80s.

Nice Price Or Crack Pipe: 1974 Toyota Corolla SR5 For $12,800?

We now know that most of you approve of the $39,900 price tag on the 426 Wedge Sport Fury, so today we're going to change it up a bit with a rare Japanese machine.

While the 1970-74 Corollas sold in huge numbers in North America, the TE27 hardtop coupes weren't quite so common, and they're much in demand nowadays. You need to pay real money for a nice one, but $12,800 for a partially-completed restoration? It appears that this '74 is chock-full-o-NOS JDM goodies, and it's a non-rusty California car, so it's possible that no hubba rocks are needed to accept that price. What do you say?

Toyota Corolla packed with a lil’ action?

Although for most of us the Toyota Corolla has always been viewed as a car without soul, a car which defines the idea of “A->B”, Toyota has begun a new battle to change our perception.

To do this, the Big T has started online, indirectly informing blogs (such as CarAdvice) to promote a series of new car ads that show the Corolla in a different light.

Ninja Kittens, as it’s called, is one of the more interesting car ads we’ve seen in some time. Whilst there has never been a doubt about the marketing genius behind Toyota, the problems have never been in the marketing department!

For us, Toyota can start by releasing a TRD variant, giving the Corolla some more sportiness in the form of a more powerful engine and more agressive styling, then of course there is the need for standard ESC etc. The list goes on.

What we like to know is whether or not this type of marketing will actually change your perception? And if not your perception, do you think it can change the way in which others view the Corolla?