The other day, someone pointed out that restoring a 1966 Mustang in 1996 is like restoring a 1996 Mustang today, and it broke my brain a little. The 1990s were a long time ago, and that’s starting to show its face in some of the cars that are inconspicuous nostalgia bait. It seems wild that Toyota once felt the need to compete with Buick, but three decades ago, full-size sedans were still a thing. Seeking to replace the rear-wheel-drive Cressida with something substantially roomier, Toyota took the wildly successful new-for-1992 XV10 Camry and stretched it like taffy to create the original Avalon.
Overall length was only up by two inches, but Toyota managed a four-inch wheelbase stretch that went a long way to improving cabin space. The result was the roomiest Japanese six-passenger car of 1995, marrying golden-era Toyota build quality with nearly the interior volume you’d expect from a Dodge Intrepid or Buick LeSabre. Something spacious that could go the distance.
Understandably, when a 1996 Avalon XL appeared for sale on Bring A Trailer, it piqued my interest. It wasn’t that long ago when there was serious debate on whether Japanese cars could become classics, and here’s a fairly normal Toyota on a fancy internet car auction platform. One look at the photos reveals why: other than a mirror scuff from where it likely just tagged a stationary object, this Avalon is squeaky-clean.
While white paint on many 1990s cars didn’t enjoy the best reputation, this Avalon gleams despite residing in the Sunshine State. From the gold pinstriping to the factory hubcaps to the interior-protecting window tint, this thing’s remarkably clean for a 30-year-old everyday car. Forget breaking out the rotary buffer – a little touch-up paint and this thing’s ready for Radwood.
Under the hood, the 192-horsepower three-liter V6 looks remarkably tidy, with just some pitting on the front bank valve cover and surface corrosion on a piece of plumbing as the only flies in the ointment. More importantly, the strut towers look to be in solid condition, and general engine bay dirt is minimal. The only unknown is when the timing belt was last done, if ever. Probably a job worth knocking out sooner rather than later.
Inside, the rich velour upholstery barely looks broken-in, the carpets look almost factory-fresh, and even the flimsy little factory cup holders are all there. Likewise, the dash pad isn’t cracked, the urethane steering wheel still looks appetizingly chewable, and everything from the pillar trims to the carpets is just incredibly beige. Between the color scheme and the bench front seat, they don’t make cars like this anymore. In some ways, that’s a shame, because there’s a lesson to be learned here.
Despite the lack of a leather-wrapped steering wheel or synthetic leather seats, the cabin of this Avalon doesn’t look cheap. There’s a luxurious depth and texture to the cloth carried from the seats to the door cards, while the tight-grained, well-padded vinyl-wrapped dashboard with its satin sheen almost looks a bit more expensive than injection-molded soft-touch plastics. Then there are the floor mats, with carpet pile deep enough to lose small items in. Sumptuous, so long as you aren’t a dropped bobby pin hoping to be found.
What do all of those things have in common? You simply won’t find them in most mainstream cars today. While reasonably smooth vinyl-wrapped dashboards are slowly making a return in some segments, most floor mats feel comparatively low-density, and velour’s nowhere to be found. That last point’s a shame because even though velour contains synthetic fibers, there are things it simply does better than synthetic leather. It’s reasonably cool in the summer heat, nice and warm in the winter, and almost grips like Alcantara.
Fortunately, if you miss these features, you can just buy a first-generation Avalon and keep it forever. The three-liter 1MZ-FE V6 is a reasonably durable engine, so long as you replace the timing belt on schedule and perform frequent oil changes, the body electronics are hammer-and-nail-simple compared to those in a modern car, and even the four-speed automatic transmission has a reputation for holding up well. At 66,000 miles, this Avalon is only starting its life. That’s probably why someone paid $6,500 for it.
Top graphic image: Bring A Trailer
Fifteen years ago I had a friend with an almost identical Avalon, but with nearly 400,000 miles on it. Shockingly, the interior had held up to the miles without any tears and with seats that were still supportive and comfy. The only indication of the mileage was some cracking on the dash and a steering wheel needing the sewn-on leatherette cover I helped install. I never thought much of the Avalon until I experienced his, but now I get it.
Nice. Wool seats please.
I knew so many good old guys that drove those. Nice to see one still in the condition they had them in. I still see them but probably on their 8th owner trashed but still chugging along. Such a solid comfortable car. $6500 seems like a decent price for a fairly low mile clean one. You would be into a Japanese equivalent import for that.
oooooooooooo a front bench seat 😀
I miss velour seats from the 90s. Heck I miss Japanese cars from the 90s.
Avalon was a Camry for Steve and Barbara, who were approaching retirement and thought the Lexus ES was “too vulgar” for the Elks Lodge parking lot. Toyota even named it after the downtown picture palace where they met.
Wasn’t velour easier to tear than the cloth used for the seats on a similar model year 4Runner?
When new, the concensus was that Toyota had built a better Buick than GM had in decades. A luxury car for those who did not need a badge.
They certainly all drove like Buicks. Vaguely nautical.
I miss good cloth seats, though I much prefer the tweed that VW was fond of to velour.
The Zap Brannigan edition.
My high school girlfriend had a 96 Avalon.
I do not wonder at all why automakers ditched velour.
I’d bitch about the touchscreen head unit, but the backup camera is a nice addition. I’d maybe try to find a set of 16″ BBS wheels (gold centers, of course) and definitely fix the droopy headliner, but other than that it’s perfect.
The thing about ’90s cars is that you don’t really need a backup camera, because you can usually see out of them just fine. I prefer the ones that use the rearview mirror as the display though.
This is the car that seriously casts the entire business case for all of Lexus into a questioning light. If you can have this, why bother with the Lexus for thousands more?
Because with Lexus you get free loaners, free coffee, and that sweet “I own a Lexus” feeling that can’t be had at the Toyota store.
My mom briefly worked at a mitsu dealership. They had a popcorn machine on the floor and it absolutely blew my mind.
Oh yeah, they should have put it on a table or countertop!
The Jeep dealership by me has essentially a small free convenience store inside. Slushies, soda, coffee, chips, etc. It’s crazy.
Yes and…Avalon was a special case. It was a fancy Toyota. As was/is Lexus. While there was nothing wrong with the Avalon, it’s a surprise that it existed. Maybe for certain folks (local officials, school principals) that don’t want to raise eyebrows driving a “luxury” car.
Until quite recently, anything sold as a Lexus was just a Toyota just about everywhere else in the world. Americans are a gullible lot who will pay more for a name.
In today’s world that’s an acceptable price, if you really dig on Avalons. There’s a BHPH lot near me selling a 2000 Sienna LE, with 160k miles, for $5000. Now that’s an insane price for a 26 year old minivan (it is quite clean I suppose): https://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/d/denver-2000-toyota-sienna-le/7923777389.html
No matter to me if the buyer thinks it is collectible or if they want a good daily driver. This is a steal of a deal. Add a few thou for a timing belt/water pump service and maybe some tires, if all that hasn’t been done, and you have a car you can daily drive for 10-15 years for under ten grand. Well bought!
Many years ago the automotive columnist for my city’s newspaper called this “The best Buick Toyota ever made.”
“Automotive columnist” and “city newspaper” are enough for us to know this was many years ago, sadly.