AE86 COROLLA LEVIN and SPRINTER TRUENO - Part 2

I am writing about AE86, as the view count is higher for the previous blog post on AE86.
AE86 was manufactured during the year 1983 ~ 1987.
 
Until the time AE86 was created, the trend was to say “It is good to have a car with great engine power”. The concern was only with the engine power at the peak. It was the time when they showed off only the maximum speed and the horsepower.
 
During this period the AE86 with small engine displacement (1600cc) appeared in the market.
The youngsters noticed that the car pursued to surpass the engine power. It made us to understand that the car will not give happiness if it has only the power and not the ability to make complete or total tuning.
 
AE86 is the car that taught us the happiness of drifting (or taking a sharp turn) in the curve.

[As per wikipedia - "Drifting is a driving technique where the driver intentionally or unintentionally over steers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels or all tires, while maintaining control from entry to exit of a corner." ]

This car was inexpensive, and there was lot of elements in the car to refine the driving technique. The fact is that the people had the sensation to buy the AE86 again even if it is scrapped.

A lot of remodeled parts have appeared in the market from the time of launch, and 30 years has passed, and even now new parts are being released. This can never be the case for other cars. It is a car that is continued being loved by people for a very long time. 

At that time of AE86 launch, the given name and formal name was called as LEVIN and TRUENO. The previous TE71 model and post AE92 model had inherited the same name of LEVIN and TRUENO. 

If you pronounce the number ‘86’ of the AE86 in Japanese language, it will be ‘HACHIROKU’, and till now this car is often called as HACHIROKU, that combines the affection and distinction.

TOYOTA launched the car "TOYOTA86" in 2012, and the source for the name is from this AE86.

The way this AE86 differs from other sports cars is that it is not the car that was produced as a sports car starting from the development stage like the Lotus Exige and Super 7, but is a general public car that takes over the name of LEVIN and TRUENO.

However as an unexpected result, the balance between the engine and chassis was perfect.

 

4AG (4-valve) AE86 Engine

4AG (5-valve) AE111 Engine

The structure of the car is simple with the following element

-The car can be maintained and tuned by the individual,

-Happiness as it was FR drive (rear-wheel-drive)

-It is light as the body and the engine are small.

-Inexpensive etc. 

All the above features combine, and even now it is called as the high value car.

It is interesting that all these are not the result based on some calculation, but the unexpected result.

From the above things, and also taking into account the Japan is a country with heavy rainfall, there are very few AE86 cars in good condition. This car cannot be easily purchased by the youngster like the past.

The sales volume was high because it was originally a general public car. This car was cheap, and was not properly handled compared to other sports car, the number of cars in good condition has reduced, and hence this car has become a highly valuable car like the other high-class sports car.

Total production:              315,294 cars

LEVIN for domestic:         66, 105 cars

TRUENO for domestic:    35, 469 cars

For overseas:                  213,720 cars

What do you think about the number of cars these carts that are available at present?

If you have an AE86 then you will be driving it with great care.

The AE86 has got a very good name in the Japanese market, and when TOYOTA launched the car TOYOTA86, that inherits the name of AE86,  it had put considerable effort right from the development of the car. The TOYOTA86 was the car launched with confidence on the market.

It is the one car that I wish all the car lovers all over the world to drive.

I would like you to actually feel the goodness of the Japanese sports car and the happiness of driving. I recommend this with confidence. 

You can check some of these youtube videos of AE86.

I would still like to write more on AE86.

[AE86] COROLLA-LEVIN and SPRINTER-TRUENO

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

You can support this blog by purchasing items from our webshop in the below link

http://tomochandru.ocnk.net/

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Let us see a little more in detail about the AE86 car, the prototype of TOYOTA-86 and SUBARU-BRZ introduced in the previous blog post.

AE86 was launched in the market as a successor to the TE71 model in 1983.Most of the parts of the previous model TE71 were diverted, and one thing that greatly evolved was the engine.

It was remodeled from the 2T-G, and newly developed as 4A-G

2T-G engine

4A-G engine

Nevertheless, there was neither dramatic improvement in horse power, nor was a novel vehicle, and it was not a car that came up in the news even during its sales.

However, just before the end of sale, the manufacturer announced that this will be their final FR layout, and the next cars will be FF layout!

While coinciding with the end of sale, this reached the popularity to the extent that it was traded at a higher price that exceeded that of a new car.

(FR is the car with engine mounted in the front, and drive is from rear wheel.

FF is the car with engine mounted in the front, and drive is from front wheel.)

Traditionally, most of the racing and sports car are rear wheel drive cars, but recently, most of cars launched in the market from the aspect of cost and safety are in general with FF layout.

The real thrill of FR is that the excessive power of the drift running, the race car will hold you down while shaking your butt, and yet keep running.

From the second half of the 1990’s it appeared as the car used by the main character of the cartoon "Initial D", and was popular among young people influenced by the cartoon.

The engine displacement of AE86 at 1600cc was small, it is relatively inexpensive during the time of sale, and this car messily treated as the practice car by the car lovers.The number of cars decreased rapidly due to the convenience and happiness

At present, the popularity continues to the extent, that a good condition car is sold for a price more than that of a new car.

AE86 specification
Total height -   4180 mm
Total width -    1625 mm
Total length -   1335 mm

Max power -   130 HP
Body weight - 940 kg
FR drive

It is a usual car when you see the output, but by just improving the grade surrounding the suspension, it runs smoothly over the mountain road at full throttle, and evolves as a cheap racing car.

This was not even imagined by the manufacturer who produced the car. It is a product that gave the good aspect of lightness at 940kg, 4AG engine, and unexpected balance of suspension. In addition to the simple structure, one of the fascination is that all the repair and tuning can be done by the individual. One can drive the car after repairing by himself.

Some of the other cars with this function are...

Super Seven

LOTUS Exige

EUNOS Rordster

All the cars have the benefit of being light body weight, simple structure, and have a high rating.

Recently, various items like the airbag are made as mandatory equipment due to the strengthening of collision safety standards. As more and more luxury equipments are added, the weight of the car is increasing, and it becomes necessary to increase the engine capacity. It seems that this cycle goes on and on.

Actually, the things that are necessary to be happy when driving a car is the smooth engine that runs in a light weight body with FR drive. If these are available then it is good car, and that is the reason for the popularity of AE86 even now.

The new cars of TOYOTA-86 and SUBARU-BRZ are sold with confidence by reviewing these points by TOYOTA and SUBARU.

Specification

Total height - 4240 mm, Total width - 1775 mm, and Total length - 1300 mm

Max power - 200 HP, Body weight - 1200kg, FR drive

Though this is the limit for lightness with the present standards, it is 260 kg heavier than AE86. Horsepower has been improved for that weight from 130→200 HP

In any case, the purchase of a high priced Ferrari or Benz as the reward for the individual success at work often becomes the news. It is a more familiar item, and a costly toy enjoyed by the adult.

You can enjoy the driving while doing the tuning by yourself even in a small and cheap car.

Isn’t a true adult play!

I am having two AE86 and enjoying the driving.

My AE86

I don’t think that there is any other car which gives more pleasure than this AE86.

Well, is the old cars of TOYOTA-86 & SUBARU-BRZ sold in your country?

If it is sold in the market, I wish you buy this and drive by all means.

I am (Tomo) well versed in this AE86 (JDM - Japanese Domestic Model).
If you would like to procure any old and new spares from Japan, technical queries, or tuning for AE86, kindly mail me (kou-hiro@ma.medias.ne.jp) or write here in the comments.

Kindly share the information of your AE86 in the comments.

You can support this blog by purchasing items from our webshop in the below link

http://tomochandru.ocnk.net/