Toyota Crown IV (S60) gallery (1971–1974)

Debuting in 1971, the fourth-generation Crown (S60) is best remembered for its futuristic and highly unconventional design, earning it the nickname 'Whale'.

All photos 79 I (S10) 0 1955–1962 II (S40) 0 1962–1967 III (S50) 0 1967–1971 IV (S60) 0 1971–1974 V (S80) 0 1974–1979 VI (S110) 0 1979–1983 VII (S120) 0 1983–1987 VIII (S130) 0 1987–1999 IX (S140) 0 1991–1995 X (S150) 0 1995–2001 XI (S170) 0 1999–2007 XII (S180) 12 2003–2008 XIII (S200) 0 2008–2012 XIV (S210) 8 2012–2018 XV (S220) 0 2018–2022 XVI (S235) 41 2022

The fourth-generation Toyota Crown (S60/S70 series) was unveiled in 1971. The model became famous for its radical and highly unconventional design for the era, featuring complex, rounded forms and turn signals integrated into the front bumper. Due to its distinctive appearance, the car earned the unofficial nickname 'Kujira' (Whale) in Japan. It was the first Crown to feature body-colored bumpers on select trims. The platform remained traditional, utilizing a body-on-frame layout and rear-wheel drive.

Under the hood, the Crown offered 4-cylinder and inline-6 gasoline engines ranging from 2.0 to 2.6 liters in displacement. Top-tier versions were equipped with electronic fuel injection and an electronically controlled automatic transmission (EAT). Despite these advanced technological features, the bold styling alienated conservative Japanese buyers—particularly corporate fleet customers—leading to a drop in sales and prompting Toyota to accelerate the development of a more traditional successor.