Crown is a longstanding five-seater model manufactured by Toyota. Since the first Toyota Crowns appeared in the market in 1955, 16 generations of Crowns have existed in the market.

In Vietnam, Toyota Crowns have a special history and role. In the early 1990s, Toyota Crowns were chosen by the government and state management agencies for use as public cars. They were imported to serve foreign affairs.

At that time, Toyota Crown was the most luxurious car model at state agencies compared with car models made by the former Soviet Union. They carried high ranking officials such as ministers, municipal and provincial Party Committee secretaries. Deputy ministers and officials of lower rankings used Volga or Nissan Bluebird cars.

That was why Toyota Crown was called ‘the car for ministers’. It was a classic but symbolic car model in Vietnam. The glossy black Toyota Crown, with its yellow crown logo on the bonnet and stately style, always caught admiring glances on the street.

Most of the Toyota Crowns were 9th and 10th generation cars. The 9th generation cars (1991-1994) were equipped with many modern amenities, including digital gauges, global positioning and more safety features than its predecessor. The exterior lines of the front and rear of the car were rounded to look more modern and advanced than the square design of the first-generation cars.

However, the square design returned in the 10th generation cars. They were equipped with a Majesta 140-series monocoque chassis. The Royal Saloon version was the most powerful version of the series, with a 3.0 petrol engine, maximum capacity of 225 horsepower, and other modern equipment.

In 1995, Toyota began making investments in Vietnam. However, Toyota Crowns were not imported at that time to be sold in the market. That was why Crowns became even more valuable to collectors. State agencies still used Toyota Crowns, but most of the cars had been used for 20-30 years.

One of the 10th generation imported Toyota Crowns was one made in 1998, with the number plate 80B-2089, which served the late Party Committee Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong. It was a Super Saloon version.

To date, the Japanese manufacturer has launched 16 generations of Toyota Crowns into the market (2022 version) with a luxurious, modern style and many advanced safety features. Hybrid Crown cars have also been marketed. In general, the cars are priced at VND2-2.5 billion.

While brand new Toyota Crowns are not available in Vietnam, there are many Toyota Crowns in the used car market and are very pricy, valued from hundreds of millions of dong to billions of dong.

In Hanoi, Trinh Ngoc Duc from Hoan Kiem district in Hanoi, who is well known for his hobby of collecting vintage cars, once owned a Toyota Crown 1998 worth over VND1 billion.

According to Duc, Toyota Crowns don’t have a fixed price. Their value varies depending on the quality. The most beautiful and best-quality cars are now in the hands of well-experienced and discreet collectors. 

Do Van Chinh from Ha Dong district is famous as the owner of seven Toyota Crowns, made in 1993-1999. He bought the first Toyota Crown, manufactured in 1999, for VND430 million.

Toyota Crowns never lost their appeal. Collectors hunt for Crowns at state agency auctions. In April 1993, the public was stirred up by news that three Toyota Crowns 3.0 1999 series were sold by the Government Office at surprisingly high prices.

One of them, which was auctioned with the starting price of VND237 million, was finally sold at VND847 million. The figure was 3.5 times higher than the starting price and 2 times higher than cars of the same series in the used car market.

According to one car collector, Toyota Crowns were mostly used by government agencies just to serve leaders so they were maintained well. The drivers who served politicians were also very careful and experienced, so the quality of the Crowns sold by state agencies is very good.

Dinh Quy