Unveiled to the public for the first time in 1983, the first generation of Toyota Camry available as a sedan or a hatchback was designed to replace the rear-wheel-drive Toyota Corona.
Even if the previous model of Toyota Camry was greatly praised for its reliability, the Japanese carmaker didn’t settle and brought a new Camry to the market.
For 1987, the Camry’s exterior was totally redesigned and became available as a wagon body style besides the compact sedan. The hatchback was dropped.
A new engine was offered with the Camry, a more powerful a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit that developed 115 hp and 125 Nm. The unit was mated with a standard 5-speed manual transmission or a three-speed-plus-overdrive automatic that was optional on all trim levels.
Inside, the Toyota Camry featured a simple and functional design, with large round analog gauges and logically placed controls that were easy to use.
Toyota worked to provide an even better insulated cabin with reduced noise and vibration levels.
Other goodies that came with the Camry included a four wheel independent suspension, variable assist rack and pinion steering, and tilt wheel with memory.
One year later, Toyota introduced a small V6 engine that developed 153 hp. The Camrys equipped with a manual gearbox became available with an optional all-wheel-drive system.