Vintage 1st-generation Corolla Enters Collector Car Race

1970 Toyota Corolla enters 2016 Great Race

While we generally like to highlight the new and used vehicles available right here at Go Toyota on the Trail, every once in a while a great story about an older vehicle comes along that we just can’t ignore. Much like the 1,000,000-mile Tundra we looked at last month, today we’re looking at another awesome classic as a 1970 Toyota Corolla entered the 2016 Great Race.

[ READ MORE: Victor Sheppard’s Million-mile 2007 Toyota Tundra ]

“When Toyota first introduced Corolla in 1966, it became a worldwide overnight success not just because of its quality and style, but also because it allowed so many to pursue their personal adventures and create memories in their car. The Great Race provides a perfect opportunity to celebrate the spirit of Corolla, the world’s all-time best-selling car, while also recognizing Toyota’s racing heritage and having some fun along the way.”

– John Myers, Vehicle Marketing and Communications National Manager, Toyota Motor Co.

What is the Great Race?

The Great Race is a long-distance endurance competition filled with over 130 vintage collector cars dating back to 1916. As part of the Corolla’s 50^th anniversary this year, Toyota entered a vehicle into the Great Race for the first time ever, a legendary Toyota Corolla from 1970, in the midst of the car’s first generation. Behind the wheel? 13-time gold medalist in the X-Games BMX Vert and a veteran of the SCORE Baja 1000 – Jamie Bestwick.

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The race kicked off in San Rafael, California on June 17^th and will end on June 26^th in Moline, Illinois. The race weaved through Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota and Iowa along the Lincoln Highway. At the end, the winning team will receive a huge eagle trophy alongside a $50,000 check. We’ll be sure to update this blog as soon as we know how the Toyota team fared!