Who would’ve thought a Toyota Corolla would be the ultimate junkyard drift missile find? But all that changes when you’re talking about the fifth-generation Corolla, otherwise known as the Toyota Corolla Levin, or the Toyota Sprinter Trueno. Or simply, the Toyota AE86. That being the internal designation code, which gave it the name Hachi-Roku, or eighty-six in Japanese.
The Trueno is an icon. A cult classic. And a small-time YouTuber in Japan, KrYpto VFX, managed to find an abandoned 1985 Toyota AE86 GT-V in a junkyard! With the car not running, and missing vital parts, not to mention with rust holes in the body panels, the YouTuber brought it back to life.
This was just the start of an incredible junkyard restoration story, which sees the car restored almost single-handedly. The story then crosses continents, when another YouTuber (this one with 3.5M+ subscribers) and pro-drifter Adam LZ bought the car from an auction site. It appears Adam didn’t know the history of the car, and it took keen eyed viewers to put two and two together. Comments on both videos show that Adam LZ and the original owner reconnected. Both videos are definitely worth a watch to see how this Toyota AE86 went from dead and neglected in a Japanese junkyard, to one of the most famous YouTuber’s garages on the other side of the world.
This is the story of how one man’s trash became two others' treasure. And we really hope the story of this incredible little Toyota AE86 has a happy ending!
This Toyota AE86 Was Restored In Three Months
The Toyota AE86 was definitely a sight for sore eyes at the start. It was missing bumpers, it had rusty body panels, mismatched wheels, and a non-running engine. The timelapse video of its restoration shows just how much can be done on a tight budget, and with limited tools. The owner did all the restoration work himself, right in the junkyard. He even used a crane to help lift the car up in the air while he worked on replacing the gas tank, clearing the fuel lines, and refurbishing the car’s 5-speed manual gearbox!
In particular, the work done on fixing the rusted through parts of the Trueno’s signature tailgate is noteworthy. While some comments call it out as a shoddy job, the owner has pointed out that both tools and know-how was limited. In this case, he used a lattice of copper wire under the areas eaten through by rust, and then laid down solder over it. Then he ground the high edges down for a smooth finish. This isn’t as great in the long run compared to cutting out the affected areas and replacing it with fresh metal. But in this case, it’s still rust-proof and a better option than bondo, or body filler.
With all the mechanical work done, including a new clutch and gearbox refresh, the wheels freed from rusted out brakes, and a fresh coat of paint, this Toyota AE86 gave the owner a taste of the JDM drift life. On a strict budget.
Adam LZ Bought It Sight Unseen In An Online Auction
It isn’t clear why the owner decided to part ways with the car, but it caught the eye of famous YouTuber Adam LZ for being listed on an auction site with no reserve. While most clean Toyota AE86 models of this vintage with the desirable pop-up headlights can go for over $30-35,000, Adam put in a bid for $20,000 as a hail mary. He woke the next morning to learn he’d won the auction with that low bid!
Later, with the AE86 landed in the USA and in his possession, he took a look under the hood for the first time. While it was clearly not a high-dollar build, Adam appreciated that the AE86’s 1.6-liter engine sounded good, seemed to run well, and offered a great gearshift quality. In particular, the interior had all the required parts in place, and was actually quite clean. Adam and his team did take note of the less-than-showroom paint finish from the hurried respray the previous owner had made.
Junkyard AE86 Was As Quick As An Evo-Swapped BMW E36
The Toyota AE86 was only offered with a 1.6-liter NA motor, which in JDM cars put out about 130 hp, channeled to the rear wheels. While it doesn’t sound like much, the AE86’s low weight and excellent balance, not to mention the snappy throttle response, make it a beginner drifter’s favorite.
On his first drive of the AE86, Adam realizes it doesn’t have a lot of power. Especially when compared to his BMW E36 build with a Mitsubishi Evo 4G63 motor in it. But what the little Trueno lacks in power, it makes up with handling. This only made it a second slower around a makeshift autocross course.
This of course is what made the Toyota AE86 in the animated series Initial D so famous. With a regular tofu shop delivery boy behind the wheel, the Hachi-Roku shot to legend status by beating out cars with double the horsepower. We can only hope Adam LZ keeps the car’s story going, though by some unverified comments we see, he might have sold it after he learned its true history.