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An Unusual Toyota (possibly first crossover)
Topic Started: Mar 28 2016, 08:39 PM (898 Views)
Matchthebox
Member Avatar
Midsize
It's been a while since I post something here so here's a model I had for a long time and never bothered to check it's actual history. It's written as Toyota MP-1 and I wondered why I never heard of this model before.

Posted Image
Posted Image
Posted Image


Then I found out that this may be a concept vehicle by Toyota but was never released publicly. Correct me if I'm wrong on this. The vehicle is based on the Crown passenger car chassis instead of a commercial vehicle just like the Highlander is based on the Camry. This could have been the first crossover vehicle.
The Crown model is actually the high end car model of Toyota much like the Avalon but never released in the US if I'm not mistaken. This was first shown at the Tokyo Motor Show around 1975. This vehicle was defined as Multi Purpose Wagon. It resembles a van as the rear door slides like a van. The passenger side sliding door also incorporated a lifting step to allow wheelchair access.

Here's a look at the actual model.


Posted Image
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pjedsel
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Muscle Car
Interesting background information on this model. I really don't know anything about it - other than Tomica release that model a number of years ago. I always figured the real one was for the Japan only market thus why it was never heard of.
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Werny
Midsize
strange, @ the rear of the left side,
there is a sort of cut out-panel above the tank
and the right rear side is all smouth...
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cody6268
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Minivan
Wikipedia says that one: this was a limited edition model, and two, the 1/1 was a concept vehicle based on the Crown that was never produced. The way I'm reading seems like to me it was a predecessor of the minivan/MPV, not an SUV. Apparently it had a flip-down ramp that allowed a wheelchair to be loaded into it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_concept_vehicles,_1970%E2%80%9379#MP.E2.80.931

How did you acquire the Tomica? Apparently, by the article, I would presume it was Japan only.
Edited by cody6268, Apr 10 2016, 07:24 AM.
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pjedsel
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Muscle Car
Werny
Apr 10 2016, 04:16 AM
strange, @ the rear of the left side,
there is a sort of cut out-panel above the tank
and the right rear side is all smouth...
Sliding door on the passenger side.
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Matchthebox
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Midsize
cody6268
Apr 10 2016, 06:54 AM
How did you acquire the Tomica? Apparently, by the article, I would presume it was Japan only.
I found this at my parents house and was part of my collections during my growing up years. I don't remember if it was a gift from my mother and I'm sure she did not go to Japan at that time. I don't think this Tomica model is exclusively for Japan only.
The actual car was probably shown in Japan only and could have been a concept car only.
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It *might* have been released here in the Pocket Cars series. I don't know Tomica well, but I do recall there were quite a number of odd to me at the time Japanese cars in that line. If your "growing up years" were late 70s-early 80s, that would make my guess seem more certain.
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RiveraNotario
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Compact
Really interesting model from Tomica. Thanks for sharing its context!

It would be cool if Tomica Limited Vintage Neo started getting into some Japanese concept cars...

By the way, I think Crown were sold in the US, but only at the beginnings of the brand in that country (ca. late 50's early 60's).
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pjedsel
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Muscle Car
juantoo3
Apr 10 2016, 09:01 PM
It *might* have been released here in the Pocket Cars series. I don't know Tomica well, but I do recall there were quite a number of odd to me at the time Japanese cars in that line. If your "growing up years" were late 70s-early 80s, that would make my guess seem more certain.
I don't remember if this one was part of the "Pocket Cars" issues or not - there were a couple of mail order dealers who in those days carried the Tomica range of models (Bob Blum who I think is still in business selling Tomica) and another located in CT. They got these models from sources in Japan and then resold them to collectors via their mimeographed (how many remember those?) sheets.
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toyotageek
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Japanese Minicar Maniac
juantoo3
Apr 10 2016, 09:01 PM
It *might* have been released here in the Pocket Cars series. I don't know Tomica well, but I do recall there were quite a number of odd to me at the time Japanese cars in that line. If your "growing up years" were late 70s-early 80s, that would make my guess seem more certain.
To the best of my knowledge it was not part of the Pocket Cars line.
Will try to dig up more info on the casting variations. Right now I know there is the black box version, an Apita Ambulance version, and a Magnum Rescue version.
Link to some images: http://www.geocities.jp/ryofukasawa/097-02mp1.htm
Edited by toyotageek, Apr 11 2016, 10:23 AM.
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I will certainly defer to your better judgment, I know I don't know Tomica.

I might say though, the first post would seem to be a nice addition to the database.
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toyotageek
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Japanese Minicar Maniac
juantoo3
Apr 11 2016, 11:02 AM
I will certainly defer to your better judgment, I know I don't know Tomica.

Well, truth be told I don't know much either, but I like to use the resources at my disposal to search for info. I usually refer to http://tomypocketcars.freeservers.com/index.html for all my Pocket Cars needs.

Quote:
 
I might say though, the first post would seem to be a nice addition to the database.


I do agree, and invite Matchthebox to add it and any other models. :thumbup:
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Douglas
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SUV
A nice looking Tomica model that might be kind of hard to come by, at least I had never seen one before.
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jurcpa
Fullsize
Douglas
Apr 11 2016, 05:10 PM
A nice looking Tomica model that might be kind of hard to come by, at least I had never seen one before.
:petkitty: :wave: :02: :toy: many thanks for this picture,only tomica made this car,I like it,thanks :blush: :bangles: :fiddle: :1: :flame:
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