Now that Toyota has turned the Crown moniker into a standalone brand that slots above Lexus, some of the earlier models with that name might rise in value. However, an owner didn't want to wait for the market to do its thing and got rid of the magnificent vehicle before it had time to appreciate. But this is no basic Toyota Crown, no. It is, as we like to call it, the "Ghoster" version. It's a hearse that can easily become the last ride ever for kings, queens, samurais, and people like you and me. Here's what you need to know about it.
Stop thinking about that Toyota Supra, Mazda MX-5, or Honda Beat. The Crown is where all the swag is at. This one is absolutely dripping! All kidding aside, you will rarely see such an ornate vehicle on US roads. There are Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Cadillac, and even Tesla hearses in many parts of the country. But you will struggle to find a right-hand-drive Toyota that looks like the emperor's own motorized carriage meant to carry out the final transition to the ethereal world.
The sedan that served as inspiration for the creation of the Lexus LS lost its second row of seats and the trunk in favor of a mini-temple of sorts. What you're seeing is the "miyagata" decoration style for hearses that should resemble Shinto shrines. These are structures meant to house the deities of the Shinto religion, which has a very large following in Japan. Think of it like Protestantism in the US or Catholicism in Western Europe.
The hearse rides on 14-inch wheels, and it's powered by a modest 2.0-liter six-cylinder powerplant that should pump out 107 hp and 119 lb-ft of torque. As expected, it sounds smooth even though it's not very large.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. Since this is a true JDM import, the odometer shows kilometers. It has accrued around 61,400 km (38,200 mi). Some time has passed since it was modified, so some rust spots have appeared. The tires are pretty old, too.
Besides having that beautiful shrine-like addition that increases the maximum height to roughly 103 inches, the dark blue sedan (it's not black!) with a blue interior also boasts chandeliers and a public address system. Inside, Charon the chauffeur (the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology) enjoys automatic air conditioning and an AM radio with a cassette player! They also control the car a bit easier thanks to the column-shifted gearbox.
The hearse has a US title and recently sold for only $8,111. Admittedly, it's no 1999 Lexus LS400. But the Crown denomination might soon help models like this one get pretty pricey. The buyer might have made the right choice, especially if they own a funeral parlor.
Finally, don't worry if you wanted one but didn't have the opportunity to get this particular model. More will surely surface in 2024. Just keep an eye out!
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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