Toyota Century Type-A
Toyota designed a stately flagship from scratch and gave its rear passengers a remarkably smooth ride.
1967 Toyota Century VG20 · Ghostofakina · CC BY-SA 4.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
The Century replaced the Crown Eight in November 1967. Toyota wanted a world-class luxury car with a distinctly Japanese character rather than an imitation of an American limousine. Its name marked one hundred years since the birth of Sakichi Toyoda, founder of the Toyota group.
Look a little closer.
The first generation kept the same basic platform for about 30 years, even as its engine and details changed.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A clean-sheet flagship
Toyota says every part was designed afresh for the aim of building a world-class luxury car. The body was longer, wider and lower than the Crown Eight it replaced, while conservative Japanese-influenced styling was intended to age slowly.
Source: Toyota 75 Years · first-generation Century ↗Air springs for a quiet rear seat
Toyota records the Century as the first Japanese passenger car to use air suspension. Air springs can change pressure to support the body while smoothing bumps, which suited a car designed around passenger comfort. Automated equipment and careful craftsmanship completed the idea.
Source: Toyota 75 Years · first-generation Century ↗Where these facts come from
- Toyota 75 Years · first-generation Century
- Toyota Global Newsroom · 1967 Century VG20-D image archive
- Toyota Global Newsroom · original September 1967 Century announcement scan
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.