Cressida VIN codes

[Killer Squirrel]

I'm going to go junkyarding for the Cressida hubs/calipers for the brake upgrade on a MkII, but I'm not very familiar with Cressidas to be able to spot the different years easily. Any of you have a VIN for an 87/88 Cressida Sedan? I think it will be JT2MX but from there I'm not sure. I've been searching both this site and the general 'net for a bit and have been unable to get the info. Since I won't be able to 100% visual ID them in the yard I'll have to resort to VIN IDs to match what I need.

[CJSREDPRA]

Check any of the Cressida forums yet???

Otherwise, I know there are a few Cressy owners here that will have the answers.

[Killer Squirrel]

Well, I've been roaming around the Cressida forums all morning, and found some VIN codes but still can't find a sure-fire code designation for the years.

How about this, anyone here familiar enough with the Cressidas to be able to tell me some exterior differences between 85/86 and the 87/88? I'm still searching, but haven't had much luck. Maybe I'm just not hitting the right places yet.

[droptopsupra]

The taillights, front grill and parking lights are different. The model numbers are the same, MX73. The wagons, MX72, won't have what you are looking for. Take a look at this Australian parts distributor. On their site, when you look for parts, they have pictures of the car. Look at the 86-88 models (like our 87-88). They're 84-86 models are a little different from ours. They got clear corner lights and a slightly different grill. Focus on the 87-88 grill and corner lights. Anything that doesn't look like that is older. Oh yeah, they australian cars got smaller bumpers too. Hope that helps.

http://www.ozeparts.com.au/

[irott]

All the VINs I find keep giving me Van info...

But as for finding out the year, I hear there is a way to find out using the chasis code (the one stamped on the body right in front of the radiator).

I have yet to find the site that has all that info, but it should be out there.

As for the VINs. The 10th digit gives the year.
A = 1980
Y = 2000

So 87/88 should have an H or a J.

[droptopsupra]

Here are a couple of VINs from cars on Auto Trader.

1987
JT2MX73E6H0130897

1988
JT2MX73E5J0142464

[Killer Squirrel]

Sweet, thanks. At least I'll have some way of finding the right cars. I searched all morning over on the Cressida forums and never found what I was looking for. I just need a simple description of the changes between each year. I know we have that on several of the Supra sites. I'm going to try and hit some local yards this weekend and see what I can dig up.

[droptopsupra]

This Cressida Forum should have everything you need.

The Toyota Cressida Forum (http://www.thermactor.com/forum/)

I see you were there.

Here are a couple of threads:

mx73 differences (http://thermactor.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6231)

Difference between an 86 and an 88... (http://thermactor.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7907)

You have to spend some time searching or the forum members will get pretty upset and tend not to help you. I spend most of my time on the forum searching and reading because most questions have been answered already.

[Killer Squirrel]

Yikes, that's almost funny. I actually used the search terms 'difference between 86 87' in one of my searches and never saw a thing. I'm usually pretty good at searching too, which is why I didn't think much about posting; usually if I can't find it after a few hours of searching it's not going to be easy to find. Well, I feel like a noob all over again! Thanks for the links, I'll check them out and hopefully get what I needed.

[CELICA XX]

But as for finding out the year, I hear there is a way to find out using the chasis code (the one stamped on the body right in front of the radiator).

I have yet to find the site that has all that info, but it should be out there.

We've been searching for this information for years.

If you locate the web site, please PM me.








Killer Squirrel, I would use irott's suggestion about the H and J.

This would be your easiest way of identification.

[SupraWes]

The door will of course have the date information. Only an 87 or 88 model year sedan will have what you need. Anything after 10/86 is a safe bet.