Toyota Tercel 4WD

Rugged and with cult appeal, this rare Japanese wagon is surprisingly sought-after

- Matthew Hayward

THIS WOULDN'T BE the first time a car had appeared in this slot because it had caught someone's attention while re-watching old episodes of Breaking Bad. The Tercel 4WD was always something of a cult car in the USA but, after frequent appearances throughout the series as Jesse Pinkman’s main vehicle, a new generation of enthusiasts followed. Yet the real reason it’s here is because a couple of particularly nice examples at Festival Of The Unexceptional events had a few of the Octane team admiring what was (even when new) a relatively uncommon sight on UK roads.

Launched in 1978, the first-generation Tercel was a compact two- or four-door saloon, with a hatchback following soon after. It was significant for Toyota as the company’s first front-wheel-drive car, although it retained a longitudinally mounted four-cylinder engine up front - with the gearbox mounted on the back of the engine, much like a traditional rear-wheel-drive car.