How Classic ’70s and ’80s Toyota Corollas Stole a Florida Car Show and Sparked Puerto Rican Pride and Retro Nostalgia

The Little Cars That Left a Big Impression

The other night, I wandered into a car show in Kissimmee Florida, expecting the usual spectacle, muscle cars roaring, shiny sports cars glinting under the lights, Corvettes drawing crowds. And yes, they were all impressive, but none of them held my attention like something far more humble.

I found myself spending a heck of a lot of time viewing a broad assortment of classic Toyotas and Datsuns from the '70s and 80's. It was a really nice surprise and not what you’d expect at a car show, right? But these old Corollas and other Toyota models have a story. They were reliable, affordable, economical, and built to last. In my experience, cars like Toyotas and Subarus give you the most bang for your buck, especially if you’re the type of person who holds on to a car for most of its life.

Seeing these old Toyotas brought a flood of memories back to me. It’s funny: cars that were almost invisible in my youth because there were so many of them, suddenly command awe and admiration later in life. I feel the same way about VW buses, VW bugs, and even two-door Mustangs. Back then, they were just part of the background, but now? I’d love to have any of those cars as a toy today.

Now I’m thinking a classic Corolla could make a perfect little hobby car. I learned how to work on cars during two years of mechanic school, and these are the kinds of cars we worked on, 60s to ’80s models of all kinds. The simplicity and engineering on these cars was brilliant, maybe not genius, but engineered with common sense. Owner’s manuals used to teach you preventive maintenance, you had to know a little about your car if you wanted to keep driving it. Practically anyone could work on them and maintain them.

Growing up, so many of my friends had Toyotas, often hand-me-downs from their parents. Later in life, many adult friends still owned them. I remember piling six or seven of us teenagers into a tiny Corolla or Tercel, pooling what we had for gas, 50 cents here, a dollar there, and driving all night long, around town or even to Denver, 60 miles away.

At the car show, I noticed something curious: many of the Toyotas were owned by Puerto Rican families, and a lot of the owners were part of a local car club called 'Club Toyotero'. I talked with a Puerto Rican friend who was with me, and it turns out that Puerto Rico has a strong connection with these little cars as well. Multitudes were imported to the island, and they took everything thrown at them. Mountain roads, long drives, heavy traffic, and still held up. Over time, these reliable little cars created countless memories, which is why the love for them persists. And I could relate to those sentiments. My experiences in Colorado included many drives to the mountains, trips to lakes and rivers, the big city, and driving in extreme temperatures and conditions (albeit opposite of what they experienced on the Island). Coloradan's clock and unreal amount of miles on their cars, but nothing seemed to beat these cars down. They were truly an engineering marvel.

As I wandered among these beautiful little cars, I found myself imagining what it would be like to own one today. Sure, parts might be harder to find now that they’re over 40 years old, but their simplicity makes them incredibly versatile. Many had modifications, aftermarket air conditioning, racing parts, custom interiors. Their electrical systems were still simple enough that even a novice could create a custom gauge cluster. Other owners, similar to the 'Rat Rod' crowd, kept their cars as close to original as possible, even leaving the paint faded, worn and rusted. There’s something magical about seeing a car in its original form, preserved for decades.

Walking away from the show, I realized these cars had given me more than just nostalgia, they had sparked an idea for a possible future project or hobby car. If I can ever afford the time and space, tinkering with a classic Corolla might just be the perfect way to relive those memories while creating new ones.

Do you have memories tied to an old Toyota, or any classic car that still makes you smile today? If you grew up around these cars or you’re part of the Puerto Rican or Kissimmee car scene, drop a comment below. I’d love to hear your stories and see your rides.