If you wish to construct the last word mid-’80s rear-wheel drive Toyota, it seems you don’t want to start out with an AE86.
Because it sits in the present day, this 1987 Toyota Sprinter Trueno SR is about as far faraway from the base-model AE85 econobox it rolled off Toyota’s manufacturing line as, as you can get, and proprietor Eiji Daito of Hiroshima-based tuning store Whole Create E.Prime wouldn’t have it another means.
This wide-fendered Trueno is painted in Photo voltaic Orange, an unique color used on restricted version Toyota 86s. It’s a becoming hue actually, contemplating the it’s distinctive to a automobile that’s itself a rebirth of an ’80s legend. Daito-san too, has given new life to a really primary three-door hatchback.
Contemplating the quantity of chopping up, chopping out, grinding and spot seam-welding that has gone on with this Trueno, the truth that the construct began with a (comparatively) cheap base mannequin AE85 makes whole sense. As a result of in the event you didn’t know, as with all different well-liked Japanese efficiency vehicles from the ’80s and ’90s, real AE86s are price a fairly penny as of late.
Just like the AE86, the AE85 hit the streets of Japan again in 1983. It shared the identical chassis and primary physique work of its sports-grade sibling, however as an alternative of a 4A-GE underneath the hood the AE85 was fitted with a vanilla 1.5L 3A-U SOHC engine that returned nice gas financial system – excellent for retirees and cash-conscious college students on the time.
Regardless of its humble underpinnings, does the chassis quantity make Daito-san’s creation any much less of a race-ready, show-stopper? Completely not. Neglect in regards to the numbers and prefixes; what Daito-san has constructed is his model of final rear-wheel drive AE-chassis Toyota.
And like most of Daito-san’s AE-chassis builds, this one is about up for grip. In and out, it’s superbly easy.
Whereas chatting to Daito-san about his love for the Toyota platform, he informed me firmly that he hates factory-standard vehicles. Understandably then, he’s used an ultra-wide Pandem entrance bumper, over-fenders, facet skirts, rear underneath spoiler and duck tail, together with J Blood carbon door panels, rear hatch, bonnet and rear bumper spoilers to beef up the Trueno’s manufacturing unit traces.
There’s additionally a Work Store Takumi dry carbon roof and wiper cowl, plus HPI facet and rear acrylic window, and Craft Sq. carbon door mirrors.
To fill these super-wide FRP arches, Daito-san is operating a set of RAYS Volk Racing TE37V SL 2021 Restricted wheels in a 15×10-inch (-25 offset) fitment, which coupled with 225/50R15 Yokohama Advan A050 semi-slicks interprets to grip for days.
A light-weight and completely balanced rear-wheel drive chassis made the AE86 a favorite amongst beginner drifters and professional racing groups again in ’80s, and 40-odd years later it’s nonetheless appreciated, solely now as a traditional. The opposite factor that individuals have at all times cherished in regards to the Hachiroku is the high-revving, 1.6L twin cam 16-valve 4A-GE energy plant up entrance. So let’s pop that hood and see what Daito-san has put in in his dream machine…
Clearly it’s not a 4A-GE, however Daito-san has stayed true to the Toyota lineage by becoming a 3S-GE BEAMS Twin VVT-i engine from an SXE10 Altezza RS200. Similar to the 4A-GE, this engine had its cylinder head developed by Yamaha.
Becoming the two.0L motor within the Trueno’s now wire-tucked and detailed bay was made an entire lot simpler due to JSP Fab billet engine mounts and an SQ Engineering slimline rear housing for further firewall clearance.
In inventory kind the Altezza engine made 200hp, however thanks to a couple choose modifications, Daito-san’s is unquestionably making a number of extra ponies now. On the consumption facet, the engine contains a Weldspeed billet consumption manifold with Bosch Motorsport digital throttle physique, and a JSP Fab billet gas rail.
On the exhaust facet you’ll discover a one-off, and really lovely, E.Prime 4-2-1 stainless-steel header. The un-silenced stainless exhaust system exits underneath the passenger facet door with a neat flat-bottom outlet.
Different upgrades embrace a Ross Efficiency harmonic damper, flat-mounted GReddy aluminium radiator and a Hyperlink G4+ plug ‘n’ play Altezza engine administration system.
What goes properly with a 3S-GE BEAMS engine? The corresponding J160 6-speed guide gearbox in fact. As with the engine, JSP Fab’s billet transmission mount – together with their 3S-GE-to-AE86 shifter relocation package – made becoming the gearbox a simple affair. An ATS carbon clutch transfers the facility.
In the end, Daito-san wish to match an Altezza RS200 rear finish in his Trueno, however for now a kouki T-series stable axle suffices with a TRD restricted slip differential.
In addition to constructing vehicles like this, E.Prime additionally has a line of Levin/Trueno tuning elements. The coilover set fitted to Daito-san’s Trueno is an effective instance of a lifetime’s price of R&R distilled into elements that bolt proper in. As for the brakes, the entrance finish now advantages from a pair of Infinite 4-pot monoblock callipers and 270mm Mazda FC3S RX-7 rotors, and the rear a 258mm setup.
There’s no mistaking the Trueno’s goal while you open a door. Creature comforts have given strategy to a full race inside that includes a welded and gusseted E.Prime 14-point chromoly roll cage, customized carbon fibre dashboard, a Buddyclub bucket seat, Nardi steering wheel, TRD shift knob and a Hyperlink MXS 1.2 Strata Race Version digital show. A Nissan accelerator pedal for the digital throttle physique can be used.
Coincidently, the cabin is painted in the identical Subaru Legacy blue as the outside of Daito-san’s turbocharged AE86 Levin 2-door coupe that we featured on 86 Day earlier within the month.
It’s superb what you are able to do with a primary Toyota ’80s shell and 20 years of trade know-how. The match and end is great, the paintwork flawless, the fabrication world class, and the sound this factor makes is rowdy. Have a pay attention for your self.
So as to maintain his enterprise booming, sadly Daito-san doesn’t simply completely construct Levins and Truenos (his blue S13 Silvia pictured above is a standout), however given the selection, I feel that’s precisely what he would do. Daito-san’s definitely bought sufficient of them peppered throughout his property, so I’m certain this gained’t be the final AE demo automobile creation we see from E.Prime.
