RE: Toyota Corolla Levin AE86: Spotted

RE: Toyota Corolla Levin AE86: Spotted

Tuesday 17th April 2018

Toyota Corolla Levin AE86: Spotted

A 31 year-old Toyota Corolla shouldn't have any appeal, but when it's an '86...



If you think about it, not a great deal has changed since the AE86 was last discussed in PH editorial. Well, apart from them becoming more valuable, but we'll deal with that. It's still the hero car from Initial D, it's still one of the early drifting icons and it's still the car the GT86 wants to be. The latter car's emulation of its illustrious predecessor is laudable, but it's hard to imagine the 21st century '86 ever acquiring quite the same following. Finally, the rear-wheel drive Corolla is still much in demand from those who drive predominantly sideways, be they on a stage or a drift arena.

In fact, perhaps that's what's changed: AE86s are scarcer than they've ever been. If they haven't been sacrificed for a motorsport project of some kind, they've succumbed to the ravages of too many English winters and rusted away. Let's be honest, the appeal is pretty niche: the Corolla doesn't have the broad, classless cachet of a Golf GTI, or the endearing charm over here of the classic British roadsters. You've got to be a bit of a dork, put simply. Fortunately, this is PistonHeads...


And wouldn't you know, there's an AE86 for sale on PH. Furthermore, as tends to happen as classics become rarer, it's perhaps one of the best still remaining. It's not fettled, it's not tampered with, and it does look to have been very well cared for. The only non-standard items are a Fujitsubo exhaust and header; otherwise only genuine Toyota parts have been used in its upkeep, and they include a recent cambelt, brake overhaul and distributor.

Even more encouragingly than that is the studious rustproofing that has taken place for this Corolla, with the whole thing waxoyled and the cavities injected. The owner claims it's rust-free, and certainly the AE86 looks very clean from here. Of course you have to be realistic with a Japanese import that's more than 30 years old, although the signs are good.

Now we're getting to the crux of why this AE86 appeals so much. Because while it is a very presentable version, it isn't a garage queen; with more than 130,000 miles recorded, you shouldn't have any fear about continuing to drive and enjoy it. Keep on top of the maintenance and it will continue to be coveted in future, too.


What a joy it surely would be to drive, too, weighing less than a tonne and revving to more than 7,000rpm. Our PH Hero story said "its charisma and sense of fun mean any journey, sideways or not, is an absolute hoot", and if that doesn't like a good car to you then you're probably on the wrong website.

The one problem we can see with this AE86 is that the price is listed as POA, which means you're going to have to ask if you're interested. Given the modified Hachi Roku we featured three years ago was £11,000, you would have to safely assume a decent chunk more than that. For about 98 per cent of the population that's going to sound silly, but for the remaining two per cent the condition of this Corolla, plus its hallowed status, means they'll likely pay what's being asked - you would if you could, wouldn't you?


SPECIFICATION - TOYOTA COROLLA LEVIN AE86

Engine: 1,587cc, 4-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 123@6,600rpm
Torque (lb ft): 107@5,200rpm
MPG: Er
CO2: Ah
Recorded mileage: 217,000km (134,838 miles)
Year registered: 1987
Price new: Pass
Yours for: POA...

See the original advert here.

 

Author
Discussion

Al U

Original Poster:

2,311 posts

130 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
POA?! - I'm thinking like £3-4k max...

Rod200SX

8,086 posts

175 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
Al U said:
POA?! - I'm thinking like £3-4k max...
I'd be guessing around 7-10k. Prices have gone a bit mad.

eybic

9,212 posts

173 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
Al U said:
POA?! - I'm thinking like £3-4k max...
At least double the lower end of that estimate I reckon.

Al U

Original Poster:

2,311 posts

130 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
After reading the article again I think I am firmly in the 98%.

Turbobanana

6,160 posts

200 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
Ad claims 112bhp.

No doubt someone will be along soon bemoaning the output, velour interior and long, 1980's overhangs smile

I was working as a car valet in 1984, while still at school, and remember these when new. We had a couple through and ran them if they had tax / MoT on: they didn't seem remarkable at the time, but neither did Golfs or Escorts...

Glasgowrob

3,232 posts

120 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
frightening thing is I would wager the seller will be expecting into 5 figures for this and will probably get it if its solid.

Murphy16

254 posts

81 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
As a bit of an 80's/90's car fetishist, i have so much want for this.

rastapasta

1,846 posts

137 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
Glasgowrob said:
frightening thing is I would wager the seller will be expecting into 5 figures for this and will probably get it if its solid.
yeah this is correct. drifter racers fall over themselves for the AE86

DBRacingGod

609 posts

191 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
rastapasta said:
Glasgowrob said:
frightening thing is I would wager the seller will be expecting into 5 figures for this and will probably get it if its solid.
yeah this is correct. drifter racers fall over themselves for the AE86
https://youtu.be/-GeBRZ-8tMc

JMF894

5,478 posts

154 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
Al U said:
POA?! - I'm thinking like £3-4k max...
What planet are you on? 10K wouldn't surprise me in the current climate. Not suggesting that's sensible but if the right person comes along...........

These have a cult following. Mate had one back in the day and it was lovely. Balanced and very driftable whilst remaining easy to control. Plus you can indicate and change gear at the same time I remember! I imagine now he wished he had looked after it. last time I saw it (years ago mind) it was rotting away in the garden.

I'd love one but they're very pricey for good ones.

DBRacingGod

609 posts

191 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
...and a helpful guide as to what makes the 86 “...so great.”

https://youtu.be/uXbEeNGFUmo

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
This is my favourite AE86 video


The AE86

chappardababbar

409 posts

142 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
Isn't this comparable to an E30 M3 / Integrale / 190E 2.3 in terms of driving experience / handling / provenance?

Zinyzang

1 posts

71 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
To me that looks like a 85 not a 86

Notanotherturbo

494 posts

206 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
I like them but definitely a rose tinted spectacle car IMO. Was going to buy one in the late 80s but after a test drive was thoroughly underwhelmed . Most of the time it's not really practical to drive a car sideways which was pretty much this cars selling point. I like the looks and the old Toyota interior has a certain charm , the engine is sweet and revvy but was slow even then.

Paddy78

208 posts

145 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
I'd never seen one of these in the wild before until I went to Japan a few weeks ago. One (In proper Initial D livery) randomly drove past in the suburbs of Tokyo. It was gone before I could get my camera out. Outside of drifting, togue and Anime, there probably isn't much to this car, but to me it just oozes cool.

DanielSan

18,748 posts

166 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
I like the AE86 a lot, but a standard one doesn’t massively interest me. These need to be modified to be the legendary car everyone thinks they are. Fortunately choice of mods for them goes from basics through to outright batst mental!

Personally I’d like one lowered with some suitably period JDM wheels, can’t decide which but probably RS Watanabe’s, TRD N2 kit and a Honda S2000 engine and gearbox.

Something like this

Ultrafunkula

996 posts

104 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
yes

To a lot of people, this is as iconic as a DeLorean.

Jon_S_Rally

3,385 posts

87 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
It's a car I sort of understand, but you'd have to be a serious fanboy to spend the kind of money they command, especially considering what else you could get for the money. An interesting bit of history, but not something I could ever spend my hard-earned on.

J4CKO

41,287 posts

199 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
Do like these but they do seem to spend a hell of a lot of time being spun round in circles, which is fun but gets a bit predictable, dont think I have seen a MK2 Escort go in straight line in a video in years.