I did happen to read a review of a 1983 Toyota Carina DX TA60 some time ago on the website of the Dutch car magazine Autoweek. This review spoke fondly about the car and how well it pulled their caravan. That reminded me of the many vacations I spent in my father’s Carina DX TA60 wagon with the same colour.

1983 Toyota Carina DX TA60 - You got to love that dog sitting next to it!
1983 Toyota Carina DX TA60 – You got to love that dog sitting next to it!

This is the full (translated) review:
Used the Carina for over 11 years. Never had any issues.
Spent many vacations with the caravan in hot climates. Never budged. As it’s rear-wheel-drive it’s ideal for pulling caravans. In my memory one of the best cars I’ve owned. Already 20 years have passed since I sold the car. Not because it didn’t run anymore, but because the inner wheel wells were rusted through. Water was entering the cabin through that.

1983 Toyota Carina DX TA60 - Perfect tow car
1983 Toyota Carina DX TA60 – Perfect tow car

I can fully support that review. I never had any issues with mine until I stopped using it for a couple of years. Then it developed engine issues and blew a head gasket. Also, the rust issues of the wheel wells are well-known to me. I also had to replace the inner and outer wheel wells in mine.

My Carina: Right inner fender more rust found
My Carina: Right inner fender more rust found

I remember attending a car meeting somewhere in 2011 or 2012 with my Carina. As usual, I walked around to see all the other cars attending. When I returned to pick up some gear, I found an elderly gentleman with his arm (up to his armpit) inside my wheel well. He was quite embarrassed when I noticed me being the owner and he told me his Carina had its wheel wells rusted through. So he just wanted to check if mine had the same issue. I told him of my costly repairs and we both agreed all Carinas suffer from the same fate: rusted through wheel wells. So perhaps this elderly gentleman was the very same person as the one who wrote this review. Who knows!

1983 Toyota Carina DX TA60 - Somewhere in the Alps
1983 Toyota Carina DX TA60 – Somewhere in the Alps

Conclusion

Looking at these photos really makes me appreciate the Carina. Its 2T engine may not make huge power numbers, but it has enough torque to haul a caravan through the Alps. I personally wouldn’t use mine for that purpose, but I’m glad that I can!