The Toyota Mark II (Japanese: トヨタ・マークII, Toyota Māku II) is a compact, later mid-size sedan manufactured and marketed in Japan by Toyota between 1968 and 2004. Prior to 1984, the model was marketed as the Toyota Corona Mark II. In some export markets, Toyota marketed the vehicle as the Toyota Cressida between 1976 and 1992 across four generations. Toyota replaced the rear-wheel-drive Cressida in North America with the front-wheel-drive Avalon. Every Mark II and Cressida was manufactured at the Motomachi plant at Toyota, Aichi, Japan from September 1968 to October 1993, and later at the Miyata plant at Miyawaka, Fukuoka from December 1992 to October 2000, with some models also assembled in Jakarta, Indonesia as the Cressida.
Second generation: Toyota Corona Mark II (X10, X20; 1972–1976)
The second-generation Corona Mark II was based on a new X series platform abandoning the compact Corona T series chassis. The X10s are sedans and wagons, while the X20 is a two-door coupé. The inline six-cylinder "M" series engine was borrowed from the S60 series Crown, in order to compete better with the Nissan Bluebird / Datsun 610 in North America, and the Nissan Laurel in Japan.
The styling used on the second generation was dramatically different from the first, showing similarities to the S60 series Crown. The appearance reflected a popular styling trend that appeared during the 1960s and 1970s internationally, called "Coke bottle styling" which Toyota adopted for only this generation of the Mark II. The version sold as a wagon in export markets, and was marketed as a van, intended for commercial usage, in the Japanese domestic market. Due to the introduction of the Toyota Hilux pickup truck, the previously offered Mark II pickup was discontinued.
It was originally only available with the smallest 1.7-litre inline-four. All Mark II engines are of an overhead camshaft design, with the sporting GSS even featuring a twin-cam design. The X10 through 13 are sedans, 16- and 17-series numbers were reserved for vans, 20 through 23 for coupés, and 26 through 29 for wagons. The only exception to this scheme is the 18R-U–engined RX15, introduced in June 1976, which received the same chassis code whether fitted in the hardtop or the sedan.
In August 1973, there were minor changes and updates. The basic trim package wagon was offered with a five-speed manual transmission. Electronic fuel injection was introduced on the two-litre four-cylinder (18R) engine to increase power and lower fuel emissions. The four-cylinder 1,707 cc 6R engine was replaced by the 1,808 cc 16R. The 1.8 was discontinued in October 1975, leaving only two-litre engines of four or six cylinders in the Japanese market. Even after the introduction of the next Mark II, production of the second generation continued through November 1976.
North America
The Crown line of cars was no longer marketed in North America due to poor sales. This left a gap in Toyota's North American line up, offering only smaller compact cars. The second-generation Corona Mark II fortunately increased in size. The Corona Mark II would be one of the few sensible options for families transitioning from larger American Detroit cars in the midst of the oil crisis. In 1974 it was marketed in the U.S. as a fully loaded car with few added options. Standard features included a six-cylinder SOHC engine, four-speed manual transmission, front disc brakes, heater defroster, and bucket seats. Some available options were stereo cassette player, power steering, air conditioning, and a three-speed automatic transmission.
North American market cars had the 2.3-litre M-series "six" when they first went on sale in early 1972, but in August of that year this was replaced by the larger 2.6-litre 4M unit. Power, originally at 109 hp (81 kW), increased to 123 hp (92 kW). This was the only engine offered for the Mark II's next four years in the North American markets.
Source: Wikipedia
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