The debut of the Crown in January 1955 marked the dawn of motorization by Japanese-made automobiles. The Crown was an epoch-making model that served as an inspiration to the Japanese auto industry as a whole. At the time, Japanese carmakers were struggling to catch up with their Western counterparts after suffering a severe setback during and after WWII. Isuzu, Nissan, and Hino formed alliances with Hillman, Austin, and Renault, respectively, assembling imported knockdown kits in Japan. Toyota did not choose this path, however, deciding instead to develop the Crown as a purely Japanese-made sedan. The styling and mechanisms were tailored to meet the contemporary needs and road conditions in Japan. Since its principal features ranging from ride comfort to durability were so well-balanced, the Crown was enthusiastically received by wealthy individuals, companies, government agencies, and taxi firms. Characteristically, its rear doors were rear-hinged, which gave it the nickname "double-doored Crown."

It was equipped with a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder OHV Type R engine that produced 48 hp, with a 3-speed manual transmission and a column shifter. The front and rear bench seating could accommodate six passengers. To secure ride comfort that would satisfy discerning private owners, the independent front suspension featured a double wishbone and coil spring system, whereas the rear suspension used three semi-oval leaf springs.