Toyota Crown · S170 Athlete V · Texas

Toyota Crown import: the Athlete V and other JDM Crowns

Big-body four doors are some of the most requested cars Andre gets right now, and the Crown leads the list. The S170 Crown Athlete V pairs a luxury sedan with the turbocharged 1JZ, and it's quiet, comfortable and reliable. Walltap Garage finds the right one in Japan and brings it to Houston or anywhere in the US.

Find my Crown Call or text Andre · (281) 745-8884

Updated November 2026 · Walltap Garage, Houston

Which Crown to look for

GenerationYearsWhat to know
S1701999–2003The Athlete V trim uses the turbocharged 2.5-litre 1JZ-GTE. Royal Saloon trims are the comfort-first version. Cars become eligible by build month, so later ones open up through 2028.
S1501995–1999The generation before, all past 25 years. Mostly naturally aspirated inline-sixes, very comfortable cruisers.

Every car must be at least 25 years old from its build month to come in, so we check the build date before you commit. How the 25-year rule works.

What to check on a Crown

  • Trim and engine. Confirm an Athlete V from the documents and chassis, not the badges.
  • Rust underneath. Sills, jacking points and the rear subframe area. This is where Andre's in-person inspection matters most.
  • Interior and electronics. Crowns came loaded. Make sure the screens, seats and climate controls all work.
  • Auction grade and notes. Our auction sheet guide explains the codes.

How Andre buys your Crown

  • Inspected in person in Japan before any bid. Andre's exporter checks the car himself, looking for rust and the things an auction inspector skips. It's included with your deposit. Many importers buy off the auction sheet alone.
  • No rust. Ever. Andre walks away from any sign of corrosion, even on a high-grade car, unless you tell him it doesn't matter to you.
  • Refundable deposit. It goes toward your car if he wins it, and comes back if he doesn't or if you change your mind before bidding.
  • Honest about age. Every car is 25+ years old and sold as-is with no warranty, same as the contract says. Anything Andre finds, you hear about right away.

Have a car in mind? Andre will price it with you.

Find my Crown

Questions buyers ask

Is the Toyota Crown legal to import to Texas?

Yes, once the specific car is at least 25 years old from its build month and clears EPA and customs. All S150s qualify. S170s qualify month by month as they turn 25.

What is the Crown Athlete V?

The sporty S170 Crown with the turbocharged 2.5-litre 1JZ-GTE inline-six. It's the Crown most of our buyers ask for.

Is a Crown a good daily driver?

It's one of the most comfortable, reliable JDM sedans you can import. It's still a 25+ year old car, so budget for age-related parts like hoses and bushings.

Do you have Crowns in stock?

We source to order. Tell us the generation, trim, colour and budget and Andre will search Japan for it.

Keep reading

Nissan Cedric, Gloria and CimaNissan's big-body sedans.Toyota ChaserThe sportier 1JZ four door.All JDM modelsEvery car we source.

Your next step

Find your Crown

Tell us the generation, trim, colour and all-in budget. Andre will tell you what's realistic and start the search.

Find my next car

Or reach Andre directly: Call · Text · WhatsApp · (281) 745-8884