WHAT IS IT?
The Toyota Starlet was a subcompact car sold by Toyota through the 1970s and early 1980s but only sold in the US from 1981 to 1984. It appears to have been mostly forgotten as an abandoned nameplate, but it was later replaced in the Toyota lineup by the Echo and Yaris. It was a small affordable car with simple styling focused on being cheap reliable transportation. Sporting a 1.3 Liter 4 cylinder engine with around 58 HP and a 5-speed manual transmission, this sort of simple economy car simply doesn’t exist new in 2025. These were reliable and economical, reporting upwards of 55 mpg in the day (albeit without any of the weight of modern safety equipment).
WHY THIS ONE HAS “BEST ONE ON THE PLANET” CHOPS
First, simply finding one of these in drivable condition is a rarity. This appears to have been well-loved, driven in sunny Arizona and California since new, has pretty low miles at only 84,000 miles (though the listing mentioned it was used as a tow/dinghy vehicle behind an RV) and even had what appears to be a quality repaint in its original refrigerator white at some point in the past. The interior has a bit of flash in its clean two-tone vinyl seats showing that even inexpensive cars could have a bit of style. The three-door hatchback was practical, easy to live with, and even the steel wheels with trim rings look fantastic. We love the placement of the car in the show photo parked next to an original Mazda Cosmo, sharing the love of Japanese cars with the masses.
The three-door hatchback was practical, easy to live with, and even the steel wheels with trim rings look fantastic.
The asking price of $17,500 may be optimistic given what else that would buy on the market, but as the saying goes, “find a better one.”
THE VERDICT
(Delivered by Juror Rob Sass)
I haven’t seen a Starlet in ANY condition probably since Bill Clinton was president. It’s a car that is most certainly on the Automotive Threatened, Endangered, or Extinct list. Yet here is this one, looking impossibly fresh, without a blemish on its wafer-thin sheet metal, and with all of its hard, fragile plastics in impeccable shape, only small, and likely repairable seem split detracts from the interior. The carpeting, spare tire well, and engine compartment are all just lovely. Even the hose clamps look OEM. I can’t imagine that there is a better 1981 Starlet extant.
Best on the Planet March 18, 2024 – Present
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1133091521199472/
I personally love the name, but that’s about it. However, I appreciate the condition it’s in.
The freakishly well-preserved example that’s ready for its close up. Even the owner’s Manual is pristine!
Toyotas answer to the Honda Civic hatchback back in the day that never quite took off especially with sales of the Tercel being as strong as they were. I enjoyed the early 90s design a little more for their Innocenti rears. I’m on board with Rob here- this example is the best one on the planet – and arguably the best name ever for a compact.