Toyota Starlet is a Japanese subcompact car, which debuted on the market in 1973, and its serial production lasted until 1999. In the chronologically latest version, produced in 1996-1999, the car was 375 cm long, 162.5 cm wide, with a wheelbase of 230 centimeters. The Starlet model was introduced to the market to replace the Publica model in the Toyota Motor Corporation offer. At the same time, the new vehicle fit very well with the demand for low-consumption cars, which had been growing since the beginning of the 1970s. Obviously, this demand was closely related to the oil crisis of 1973, which caused a marked economic slowdown in the countries of Western Europe and the USA. Interestingly, however, the manufacturer initially assumed that the Starlet model would be offered primarily on the domestic market. Over time, however, this point of view has changed, and the presented car has gained considerable popularity in the world. In total, five generations of Toyota Starlet were created. Chronologically, the first one was produced in the years 1973-1978 and was powered by engines with a capacity of 993 cm3 and 1.2 liters. The last one, chronologically, was produced in the period 1996-1999, and engines with a capacity of 1.3 and 1.5 liters were used as power units. All generations of Toyota Starlet were characterized by very high reliability, great quality of workmanship, low operating costs and a well-developed drive transmission system. On the other hand, the undoubted disadvantages of the first generations of the car were relatively loud engine operation, poor standard equipment and average suspension comfort. However, from the end of the 1980s, attempts were made to systematically remove these disadvantages.
