Toyota Crown VIII (S130) gallery (1987–1999)
The eighth generation (1987) was the last mainstream body-on-frame Crown for private buyers, introducing the legendary 1G and 1JZ engine series.
The eighth-generation Toyota Crown (S130 series) was unveiled in autumn 1987, during the height of the Japanese asset price bubble. The body design evolved to become more rounded and elegant while retaining its traditional monumental presence. This generation became iconic and stands as one of the most successful in the model's history, breaking domestic sales records. The S130 was offered as a traditional sedan, a hardtop (with frameless doors), and a station wagon. Production of the wagon and taxi sedan variants continued until 1999, well after subsequent generations had been introduced.
The technical specifications of the S130 were outstanding for its time. This generation marked the transition from the M-series engines to the legendary JZ series, notably the 2.5-liter 1JZ-GE. It also featured the iconic supercharged 1G-GZE engine, while the pinnacle of the lineup was crowned by a 4.0-liter V8 (1UZ-FE) in the flagship Crown Majesta (introduced late in the cycle). The vehicle offered advanced traction control (TRC), electronically controlled air suspension, and a color navigation display.