Toyota Coaster — New bus, same as the old bus

(February 13, 2014) This Toyota Coaster may look like the minibus that was first introduced back in 1969, but in fact it the paint is barely dry.

A team of Toyota technicians scoured old storehouses and even scavenged scrap metal from around Japan to build this bus. Rusted panels were polished up and damaged parts were reproduced from original drawings to re-make this Coaster prototype.

Why so much love and care over an old bus?

Like the Corolla, Land Cruiser and Hilux, the Coaster is a mainstay of Toyota’s global success, an important part of the company’s heritage. The modern version of the Coaster bus can be seen today all round the world, from Hong Kong and China to Bolivia and Panama, but the one in this picture is unique, new and old at the same time.

Modern version of the Coaster

When the Coaster was introduced in 1969 it was billed as a 17-passenger minibus with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed manual transmission. The engine made 97 horsepower and had a top speed of 68 mph. Subsequent models had a variety of engines including six-cylinder gas and diesel engines.

A second generation of the Coaster was introduced in 1982 and the third generation in 1993. The Coaster received a facelift in 2001 and again in 2007.