It’s that time of year again, August 6 or 8/6, the day on which we celebrate the hachiroku. It’s the drift king, the touge master, the car both Keiichi Tsuchiya and Takumi Fujiwara cut their teeth on, or to paraphrase Mad Max — last of the rear-drive Corollas.
To commemorate this day, take a gander at the original Japanese brochure and its Bubble Era naming excesses. It’s not just a 4A-GE, it’s a Lasre α. And did you know, that as you sling your AE86 around your canyon roads, you’re riding on a Pegasus? No, not the winged horse, Toyota’s Precision Engineered Geometrically Advanced SUSpension!
There’s even a female-oriented SOHC version with floral upholstery called the Corolla Levin Lime. With all the focus on the top-spec twin-cams, are there even any Levin Limes left in the world? Ponder these eternal questions and many more on this day, our day of 86es. Happy 8/6 Day!
Yes fellow 86’s, enjoy this day! Also, check out my nearly stock Zenki coupe.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62701002@N05/sets/72157638131049595/
Hi Russ, that is one really sweet car. I love how you took some arty photos of it too.
So do you really live in Japan, or are those plates just for show?
I love the chunky tyres on the Advans too!
Thanks. I’m military in Okinawa and I’ve had this Hachi for about two yrs. now. It’s a mainland car that came with all service records since new!
Aren’t the lower spec versions supposed to be AE85?
Yes, but when talking about the chassis in general you go by the top Japanese spec. We weren’t about to devote all of yesterday talking about the AE85, though upon reflection on the shady Civic we probably should have.
Gotta love those perms.
😀
I think Tsuchiya had the same hair at one point.
(Happy 86 day to all !!!).
omg! i’d kill to have a levin lime interior! HAPPY 8/6 DAY!
At least the Fem version wasn’t as “obvious” as the “Pretty Pink” Dodge La Femme! It even had an extra makeup mirror on the driver’s side visor.
Oh the ’80s… That guy kinda reminds me of John Cusack. And that digital dashboard…I love it, I think. The Sprinter brochure is pretty good, too (http://www.wald-licht.com/~oldcar/gazou/83_t_sprinter/sprinter_01l.jpg) but unfortunately it has the AE80 on the cover. Still, it’s *sexy.*
Isn’t is the 6/8? As in the 6th August?
I know, we Americans put the month first unlike most every other country in the world, but a couple of years ago Toyota put on an official 8/6 Day event in Japan, and it was in August, so….
Happy 8/6 Day guys! I was supposed to comment yesterday(it was the already the 6th here yesterday…) But I decided to celebrate it with you guys 🙂
I didn’t know that Go Hiromi was selling those cars. lol
Ah, this is cool! Thanks Ben.
Has anyone ever seen a brochure for the Black Edition?
I was wondering if anybody had a link or knew of a road test from back in the 80s, or better yet, a car comparison from Road and Track or Car and Driver.
There was a comparison done by the British Motor magazine in the mid 80s between the Corolla GT AE86, Corolla FX AE82 and the MR2. The AE86 was considered to be the worst of the lot: lowest output in power (10% drive-train loss), lowest agility during the slalom and least attractive body style (FWD hatchbacks were the future!).
Their conclusion was first FX, then MR2 and last place for the AE86. Yes, the enthusiasts had a reversed conclusion 20 years later…