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The Toyopet Crown was released
in 1955. Although a number of makers were pursuing technological exchanges with
foreign firms, Toyota was utilizing much of its own technology. From the beginning,
the Crown was designed as a family car. It was the first domestically produced
car to exert a great impact on the motorization movement, instilling confidence
in the Japanese auto industry. In terms of design, it adopted what was appropriate
to Japan at that time. The ride was smooth and the car was durable, making it
a very well-balanced vehicle built entirely in Japan. |
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The Crown Deluxe Model came
equipped with a radio, heater, electric clock, tinted windows, white side wall
tires, fog lights and other amenities, making it Japan's first domestically produced
prestige car. The time had come for the average citizen to own a car of this caliber.
This realization was psychologically uplifting in the post-war years - it was
a sign that Japan had come of age in deluxe car production. |
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At the same time the Crown was
on the market, the Master, a revised and completely restyled edition of the RH
Super, was released with a revamped chassis. Although its features resembled those
of the Crown, the Master was aimed at taxi market. To that end, a frontsuspension
system was implemented with rigid axles increasing the durability and making greater
passenger space possible. The car was given a sensible design. As the RS Model
began to be used as a taxi, this Master disappeared in November 1956.
Thereafter as a commercial model based on this model the Masterline was put on
the market. |
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While assimilating the advanced
foreign technology through domestic production of Austin cars of England, Nissan
Motor Co., Ltd. announced the Datsun Model 110 in 1955. It stood at the pinnacle
of the old generation Datsuns that had steadily evolved since before World War
II. The Model 112, which incorporated minor changes, won the Second Mainichi Industrial
Design Award in 1956 for its novel design, maneuverability, and comfortable interior. |
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Following the success of the
Crown, in 1954 Toyota pursued the development of a car which would also serve
as a taxi. The Publica was planned under the concept of the national people's
car. However, it was the Corona that Toyota quickly put on the market to cope
with the burgeoning small-car market. |
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