Toyota Trueno AE 86: You Know You Want To

Live out your Initial D fantasties in the UK!

Only last week the value in Japanese imports was discussed around PH when this gorgeous R32 GT-R popped up at £13,995. Standard bar the exhaust with low miles and in magnificent condition, it's enough to make Integrales and M3s look just a little pricey.

How can bronze wheels look that good?

Then there's this Trueno AE 86. It's advertised at £11K. Which seems rather a lot in the context of that Skyline. It's probably a bit much anyway for a 30 year-old Corolla. And the owner has admitted to paying £7K for it last year. Ooops. But there's still something incredibly exciting about an Initial D-spec AE 86. With the money I'd have one in a shot.

We've celebrated the UK Corolla GT as a PH Hero but this is a Japanese Domestic Market AE 86 Trueno. Look, it's got pop-up headlights and everything. More cool points there. To an exceptionally large number of people it's a crappy old Japanese coupe with a silly paint job. To the (very) select few though it's Takumi Fujiwara's AE 86. And to a slightly bigger group it's the GT86's predecessor. To some JDM nuts (myself included), it's one of the most covetable Toyotas ever.

Going off the advert it's a superb one too. Of course there's only so much that can be gleaned from here but seeing parts like brand new suspension, a recent service and dedication to the AE86 cause that includes shipping a new OEM steering wheel must be good news. To spend £3K on an Initial D paint job is bordering on the obsessive though. Good obsessive.

Mmm, 80s Japanese

Moreover, it looks great in the pictures. The refurbed bronze wheels are pristine, the velour looks pretty fresh for 30 years old and that paint job appears pretty flawless. But with 93,000 miles on it you wouldn't have to be too precious. It could be driven (drifted?) and enjoyed, perhaps after that paint has been protected and it's properly undersealed. Should be hilarious.

It's difficult to know what to compare the AE 86 too. For fans it's a hugely special car and there aren't really any alternatives. You could go more modern with a drift toy by opting for a 200SX or maybe even a Supra but they're not quite the same. Heck, it's not a million miles off used GT86s. There will surely be many "you could have a M3 for that money!!!" comments but it would be boring if we all lusted after the same thing. I think it's fantastic.

TOYOTA SPRINTER TRUENO AE 86 (1985)
Price: £11,000
Why you should: Because drift
Why you shouldn't: Because it's, er, a little expensive?

See the original advert here.

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bob1179

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