Thursday 1st December 2011

PH Blog: Editor in a Corolla

Dan goes all 'black gold' in Toyota's pristine AE86 heritage car

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So, December is here. Season's greetings and all that. And time to dust off my not-exactly-flash tux for the annual round of dinners and balls. Having learned how to tie my own proper bow tie - with a little help from Garlick and Stuart - I'm now off to central London for the Guild Of Motoring Writers annual dinner and awards.

Thing is, I appear to be doing it in 80s fancy dress. Yes, my tux is cheap, shiny and a bit too big. And just check out my ride. No fancy limo for PistonHeads - it's retro Jap coupe action all the way. If I'd grown a Movember 'tache I'd be the personification of that dude from the Datsun 'black gold' advert we posted the other day as a 'Time For Tea?'...

So off I go. I'm a little concerned, to be frank. The static electricity potential of my combination of cheap tux, velour seats and flammable liquids may not end well.

[dave stew]

Ah yes, Per Eklund on the Manx in 85 - usually a giant killer.

[sparkster8]

If only those Toyotas were still around at sensible money......

[Tib]

Agreed Sparkster.

Either way that aerial is pretty hench.

[Garlick]

A glimmer of the mighty Lexus in the background.

Have a great night....don't 'do an Ollie' with my tie

[EDLT]

That aerial is enormous.

[Garlick]

EDLT said:

That aerial is enormous.

Dan's just pleased to see you.

[anything fast]

looks like an RC car!

[s m]

sparkster8 said:

If only those Toyotas were still around at sensible money......

They were back in the mid/late 80s.....then a lot went to Ireland/club rallying and a few years after they became in demand. ( See also rwd Escorts )

[PascalBuyens]

Make sure you put it sideways at least

[dinkel]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4FoxpxNZ9A&fea...

Beng!

[Perra]

Tib said:

Agreed Sparkster.

Either way that aerial is pretty hench.

I like the necessary use of the word hench.

[JamesHayward]

Ahhh I wondered who had that in the carpark. If its still about tomorrow il come have a proper look!

[sc4589]

s m said:

sparkster8 said:

If only those Toyotas were still around at sensible money......

They were back in the mid/late 80s.....then a lot went to Ireland/club rallying and a few years after they became in demand. ( See also rwd Escorts )

Also, the Initial D cult thing made them very popular with a younger generation...

(The film's actually quite good, a helluva lot better than any of the Fast & Furious films!)

[Garlick]

JamesHayward said:

Ahhh I wondered who had that in the carpark. If its still about tomorrow il come have a proper look!

Sadly not as we're out in it all day tomorrow

for you for me

[Vilhelm]

Garlick said:

Sadly not as we're out in it all day tomorrow

for you for me

That's not a job.

[sc4589]

Vilhelm said:

Garlick said:

Sadly not as we're out in it all day tomorrow

for you for me

That's not a job.

His paycheque would like to argue otherwise, no doubt..!

[loud n low]

Yes as has been said most (unfortunately) live here in Ireland,its amazeing really they have been popular here for well over 20 years,99% are modified the same ie;Mini lites,bilsteins,cibie, obligatory c.b ariel and full janspeed.....they are a complete dose and ALWAYS owned by what can only be described as apes....(think tyre-fitter haircut,tight levis,sandy caterpiller boots and TRD raceing polo shirt,if they are really flash a subaru jacket if its chilly)

[s m]

loud n low said:

Yes as has been said most (unfortunately) live here in Ireland,its amazeing really they have been popular here for well over 20 years,

A lot of old rwd cars disappeared over to Ireland early 90s. My Manta GTE was bought and went over there - at the time there was a black C-reg Corolla GT always parked down the road. I can remember the 2 Irish guys turning up for my car and asking me who owned the 'black Corolla'. Carlton GSis, Mantas, cheap rwd Escorts, E30 325is, old rwd Celica Supras.....all disappearing up the A5 to Holyhead and the ferry home on a Friday night/Saturday morning. The whole drifting scene had started over there way before it happened here

[dapprman]

sc4589 said:

Also, the Initial D cult thing made them very popular with a younger generation...

(The film's actually quite good, a helluva lot better than any of the Fast & Furious films!)

The movie is a horrendous travesty that makes even the Viz screwing of the anime seem good.

See a fan sub of the original anime, you won't regret it.

[irish boy]

These corolla gt coupes really are big money over here...£6k for a rot box....£10-15k for something nice-mint. Similar to mk2 rs2000 prices really.