Toyota GR Garage acquires a clapped out AE86

Here’s a good one for Toyotafest Eve. Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division has picked up a decrepit AE86. They say it’s the start of a new restoration project, but why begin with something so far gone? Surely Toyota has the resources to find a better starting point. Well, the selection appears to be intentional because the plan is to show what is possible using Toyota GR Heritage Parts.

According to Toyota, the AE86 was left abandoned and in pieces in a not-quite-weathertight warehouse for five years. It shows. There’s rust on the common problem areas of rear fender arches and hatch. Much of it has been disassembled, but it does come with many spare parts, including entire doors and other assorted body panels.

It must be nice to be able to roll up to a barn with an entire Toyota Dyna flatbed for the car and a Hiace for the spares. Toyota says that this is the second restoration project that GR Garage will undertake, after the recent restoration of an A70 Supra. Curiously, the Sprinter Trueno logo at the end is that of an AE92. Perhaps it’s a clue and they’ll install a high-comp 4AG under the hood. This should be an interesting journey.