Nowadays, speaking about high-performance Toyota Corollas usually entails a dialogue of the brand new GR Corolla. Its overachieving three-cylinder engine delivers at least 300 horsepower, courtesy of an enormous ol’ turbocharger below the hood. The marginally older Corolla featured within the above video additionally has a turbocharger, however you will not discover it below the hood. And it has significantly greater than 300 hp.
On this occasion, barely older takes us all the best way again to the early Eighties. It is a late-run E70 sequence ‘rolla, again when the engine despatched energy to the rear wheels versus the GR Corolla’s all-paw association. It began life as a standard four-cylinder automotive for Jason, the son of this father-son construct group. Piet is the daddy, and because the video from Automobiles.co.za explains, they’re identified in South Africa for customized billet manufacturing. In addition they have a factor for automobiles, and Jason determined he wished one thing totally different to drive.
Swapping the inventory four-cylinder for a 1UZ V8 from a Lexus LS400 actually qualifies as totally different, however that is simply the tip of the iceberg on this construct. The engine options upgraded internals, and a T76 turbocharger force-feeds the mill to the tune of round 470 horsepower (350 kilowatts). Wanting below the hood, the engine swap is among the cleanest we have seen … too clear if we’re sincere. The turbocharger and all its piping are nowhere to be seen.
That is as a result of Jason wished this sleeper construct to be very sleepy. The turbo is definitely mounted in the back of the automotive, with customized piping connecting it to the engine. To maintain up the looks of a naturally aspirated engine, there’s even a faux air filter and consumption mounted below the hood. Creating the customized turbo setup was a nine-month undertaking by itself, however the result’s a stealthy Toyota that makes wholesome energy with nearly no lag. And with out the turbo below the hood, engine temperatures keep cooler.
A four-speed Lexus automated transmission sends energy to the rear wheels. BMW E36 springs are used on the again, with Brembo brakes in any respect 4 corners. The entrance suspension is inventory, and the Corolla’s easy inside can be largely inventory. The seats have been recovered in leather-based, and there is new carpeting. Every little thing else is OG Corolla, proper right down to the gauges.
Jason did almost the entire work himself and the attention-to-detail actually captured our consideration. Okay, billowing clouds of tire smoke additionally caught our consideration, however in a world of customized automobiles, this previous Corolla is a decidedly cool, distinctive machine.
