The 1990 Toyota Century Is a Japanese Rolls-Royce

CHECK OUT CARS & BIDS

The Toyota Century is an ultra-luxurious Japanese car. Today I'm reviewing a 1990 Toyota Century to show you why the Toyota Century is a Japanese Rolls-Royce -- and why the Century is one of the best, most distinguished luxury sedans of its time.

FOLLOW ME!

[waltermercado]

Its weird saying 1990 was 30 years ago. I can't believe time passed by so fast.

[laowhy]

Please find a way to drive a new one. This was a great episode.

[Rog]

The front vents don't just swivel, you can set the timing of the swivel.
The Century does not have cigarette lighters, it has cigar enabling devices.

[TheBaneblade]

The most impressive feature of this car is that the rear seat motor still works after 30 years..amazing

[malcolmtoney]

19:50 Actually that's not a flag holder, it's a parking pole that's used to help people who are parking in Japan's congested cities have a better idea where the front of their car is. The little amber part lights up when you press the button labeled "A/C" that is between the steering column and the right hand door. You still see a ton of these in big cities in Japan and a lot of the dealer installed ones extend out of the bumper like old school intena.

[RyoWatanabee]

Hey Doug, the red button says “shift lock” on it. Love your vids :)

[VinayKapoor]

Even after 30 years all the electronics are working just fine... That's #Toyota

[Cygra_]

the red button 05:49: シフトロック shifutorokku is "shift lock" in Japanese and the two white characters on the button 解除 means "release"

[tom.]

Doug the type of guy to call a Phoenix The Majestic Chicken

[TheLewisw]

This vehicle has no flag holder. The stick is a corner marker which illuminates from the headlight at night. Pretty standard across all large Japanese cars of this era.

[SwegMastah]

Oscillating air vents needs to make a comeback, they're so cool

[johnmoore]

_Doug pushes the red button_

*_Passenger door opens and seat flies out_*

[drunacres]

As someone who lives in Japan, allow me to clear up some things that seem to have mystified you Doug: 1) Nobody buying one of these things would ever consider driving it themselves - so they are designed around a very servile driver (actually chauffeur is a better word) - which explains many things. 2) The windows make sense that the larger windows in the back would be only under the control of the passenger, lest they mess up their coiffed hair, so the driver can only change the attitude of the smaller windows. 3) The "fabric" on the seats is Merino wool - which is actually more comfortable than leather and is still available as standard in the current model of Toyota Century in Japan - and is on the vast majority of delivered cars. There are so many little things that are only there for the very specific needs of the market the car is designed for - geriatric, wealthy Japanese. Oh, fun fact, it comes in ONLY 2 colors - Black and a sort of Battleship Grey. The vast majority sold are in Black.

[DanielLopez-upos]

FYI you could use Google Translate app with the camera feature to translate the Japanese buttons.

[ryanritchings]

6:12 is mind blowing and more cars should have this! It’s annoying when the a/c is direct on you and turns parts of your body into frozen slabs of meat!

[trunksbriefs]

It is a Toyota from the 90s, the hood latch is not broken. You just do not need to ever open the hood because it never breaks.

[OkiePackRat]

Toyota has been making this car for a LONG time, and in 1978 I had one of the most terrifying rides in my life in one. Actually, the ride was supurb, it was the circumstances that were scary. In 1978 I was a dirt poor airman in the Air Force and had just been assigned to Yokota air base, right outside of Tokyo. For some reason the Air Force flew me to Japan commercially, and the airport was like an hour and a half drive from the base. So I get my bags, and I see this Japanese guy in a chauffeur's uniform holding a sign with my name on it. He takes me to one of these Toyota Century's, loads my bags and holds the door for me. Then I spent the next almost two hours worrying about how in the world I was going to pay for a two hour chauffeured ride. Turns out that it was contracted by the Air Force, so it didn't cost me anything, but forever after when I see one of these Century's I'm transported back to that night. Wonderful car, terrible memory.

[Mike]

The Toyota Century does not accelerate.



It advances.

[centurybug]

11:57 Technics branding! Technics was a super high end and respected audio brand in the 70s through to the 90s. They were Panasonic's upscale nameplate, sort of like Lexus is to Toyota. It has no real bearing on the video, but it's pretty awesome to see that Toyota partnered with them to put their name on a car stereo as I've never known them to do that with any other car.

[maprow]

No blood stains in the trunk? Disappointed.