The Toyota 1JZ engine is best known for its role in the 1990s Japanese performance scene, but one unusual Crown Estate Athlete V is putting the turbocharged powerplant in a very different setting: a hearse listed for about $15,000 on Facebook Marketplace.
The Toyota 1JZ Engine’s Performance Legacy
The JZ engine family became closely associated with the MK.IV Supra and developed a strong following in the aftermarket scene. In standard form, however, the engines were smooth, refined powerplants used in several of Toyota’s rear-wheel-drive midsize sedans and the Soarer, better known elsewhere as the first Lexus SC.
The JZ family is primarily divided between the 2.5-liter 1JZ and 3.0-liter 2JZ. The naturally aspirated versions were regarded as good engines, while the powertrains were also known for their reliability.
The turbocharged versions eventually became legendary. While the 2JZ-FTE receives much of the attention, the 1JZ-GTE was also a stout engine.
Where the 1JZ-GTE Was Used
For those familiar with the 1990s JDM scene, the Toyota 1JZ engine appeared in several notable sports sedans. Applications included the Toyota Chaser, Cresta and Mark II, as well as the Crown Athlete.
The engine was also used in Japan-only models that would typically be recognized elsewhere as Lexus vehicles. The Toyota Soarer was the Japanese-market Lexus SC and was offered with the engine paired with a manual transmission.
The 1JZ was also used in two wagons: the Mark II Blit and Crown Estate Athlete V.
A Turbocharged Toyota Hearse
That brings the engine to the unusual Crown Athlete V wagon spotted by The Drive. The vehicle was listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace at the time of writing for about $15,000, provided the buyer does not mind its aftermarket conversion.
The conversion turned the wagon into a hearse, creating an unusual combination of a vehicle designed for that purpose and a turbocharged performance engine.
The 1JZ-FTE was rated at 276 hp on paper. The source notes that the engine was intentionally underrated as part of a gentleman’s agreement among Japanese automakers that lasted until the mid-2000s.
The history behind why this particular Crown Estate Athlete was selected for conversion into a hearse is unknown. Standard Crown Estates would also have been capable of serving the same purpose.
An Unusual Marketplace Find
The modified Crown Estate Athlete V stands out as an unusual Facebook Marketplace listing, combining the practicality of a wagon and hearse conversion with the appeal of a turbocharged 1JZ.
For buyers willing to spend about $15,000 on a 25-year-old hearse, the vehicle offers considerable potential. A manual swap would be needed for the idea of turning the car into a drift hearse, but that remains only a thought rather than a confirmed plan for the vehicle.
