“Reborn for 1984”
Toyota’s Corolla was all new for 1984, marking its fifth generation. Confusingly, Corollas were both front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive. If you wanted the notchback coupe, the only way to get it was as a rear-wheel-drive SR5 Sport Coupe, which had an AE86 internal development code.
The SR5 name originally stood for Sport Rally 5-speed. The designation was originally SR-5 and first appeared in 1973 on the second-generation Corolla notchback coupe and the Hilux pickup truck. The SR5 name remains as a trim even in today’s Toyotas, though the five-speed manuals are long gone.
The standard powertrain for 1984 was carried over from the previous generation. It was the 4A-C 70 bhp 1.6 liter/97 ci inline four with a two-barrel carburetor paired with (of course) a five-speed manual. A four-speed automatic was optional. Motor Trend clocked a 0-60 time of 12.9 seconds with the manual. Fuel mileage was rated at 32 city/43 highway by the day’s standards (25/31 by today’s measures). With a 13.2-gallon fuel tank, an SR5 driver could expect a range of 335 to 445 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.
Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $9,381 SR5 Sport Coupe (about $29,800 in today’s dollars or almost exactly what a 2025 Corolla XSE sedan goes for) included tinted glass, retractable halogen headlamps, rack and pinion steering, vented power front disc brakes, and 185/70SR13 steel-belted radial-ply tires (a size still available) on 13-inch wheels. Inside, all SR5s included reclining lo-back front bucket seats, a split-back fold-down rear seat, a center console with storage compartment, dual power remote mirrors, an electric rear window defogger, tilt steering, a tachometer, a digital quartz clock, and an AM/FM/MPX radio.
Options & Period Reviews
Options included a power sunroof, variable assist power steering ($190), dual-stage air conditioning ($1,000!), and a cassette player with Dolby ($173). A Sport Package—yes, you could get a Sport Package on the Sport Coupe—included Sport Seats, special interior trim, and aluminum alloy wheels.
Motor Trend generally liked the SR5, but did gently hint that it was truly all show and no go, mentioning that the front-wheel-drive “civilian” versions were actually slightly faster. They finished by calling the SR5 “affordable, handsome, and pleasant to drive.”
The View From 2025
Fifth-generation Corollas are being saved—especially the sporty ones. You see Corolla SR5s for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer.
Make mine Silver Metallic on Black, please—just like in the brochure.
Other Toyotas I have written about include the 1980 Corolla Tercel Liftback, the 1981 Celica Sport Coupe, the 1982 Celica Supra hatchback coupe, the 1983 Camry sedan, and the 1985 MR2 coupe.
Last updated June 2025.
Eighties Cars 