Classic Clips: The AE86

Jeff Glucker

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I was flipping through my latest issue of 0-60 yesterday, and they had a full-page spread talking about the Toyota Corolla AE86. I have always known that people are in love with these lightweight Japanese Hoonmobiles but I have never really known much about them. A quick search on Youtube has turned into a clock-smashing morning. My coffee is cold and my eggs are rubbery… hop the jump for an awesome clip of Keiichi Tsuchiya showing us all how these cars are meant to be driven.

[Image found on: Banpei.net]

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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18 responses to “Classic Clips: The AE86”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    Why isn't the driver wearing a helmet?

    Reply
    1. Alan Avatar
      Alan

      For the same reason the Top Gear presenters don't wear helmets.

      Reply
  2. DrOOpieS Avatar
    DrOOpieS

    ABS is for pansy's. Awesome heel-toeage.

    Reply
  3. Dr_Dangerously Avatar
    Dr_Dangerously

    I like this one, AE86 eating an R34[youtube rQdHLM1EmJY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQdHLM1EmJY youtube]

    Reply
    1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      Jeff Glucker

      holy
      shit
      balls

      Reply
      1. Dr_Dangerously Avatar
        Dr_Dangerously

        shit-balls indeed

        Reply
        1. Ambersand Avatar
          Ambersand

          Seeing this out of context in the comments string on the right side of the page made me absolutely guffaw at my desk. Seeing it in context made me laugh just as hard. It's been a long day.

          Reply
  4. Dr_Dangerously Avatar
    Dr_Dangerously

    Yeah, I see what you mean Jeff. My productivity for the day has been just shot to zero.[youtube stJPiuNcDn4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stJPiuNcDn4 youtube]

    Reply
  5. dwegmull Avatar
    dwegmull

    So, all I need to be a race car driver is a pair of green gloves and shoes with red laces? No problem!
    Great movie by the way!

    Reply
  6. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    I feel like that clip should be pulled out anytime someone uses the "Asian people can't drive" stereotype.
    One of my fiancee's friends drove an AE86 in high school, but probably wouldn't get the car geek fawning over it – it was a rusty slushbox beater rather than a Tofu-delivering hoonmobile. I still admired it a little.

    Reply
  7. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    When I was car shopping in late '83, I gave the then-new AE86 a good look-over and a test drive. I liked it a lot, but it wasn't quite enough to tempt me away from what I really wanted – a CRX. The Honda wasn't quite as fast (though it was very close), but it was sweeter-feeling overall plus it had kart-like reflexes. I bought the CRX and absolutely loved it, so I have no regrets of passing over the Toyota. No question that the AEs are good cars, though.

    Reply
    1. Porkchops! Avatar
      Porkchops!

      My first car was a 1985 AE86, and at first I hated it because it wasn't considered 'cool' at the time, but I fell in love with it completely shortly after driving it for the first time. It was lost in an unfortunate accident, at which point they had become cool. Unfortunately I've never been able to find another one since. I did however, buy a 1990 CRX Si last year. While I absolutely love my CRX, if given the choice I would ditch it in favour of another AE86 in a heartbeat!

      Reply
  8. Jeff Glucker Avatar
    Jeff Glucker

    I agree that it is hard to go with the AE86 when a Fox Body Mustang can provide cheap thrills…
    However, the Japanese cars are aging quite well. This is a wonderful example of how driving something slow – fast takes great skill… also, these cars are just WAITING for bolt-on upgrades.
    According to what I read in 0-60, it was not unheard of to tweak the engine under the hood of an AE86 to rev to 15,000 rpms. That is wild…

    Reply
    1. name_too_long Avatar
      name_too_long

      The Formula Atlantic 4AGE is a drop in replacement.

      Reply
  9. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    I think if you got the GT-S and thrashed the hell out of it, highway speed would come up in the 8 second range – not bad for the time, but certainly not quick.

    Reply
  10. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    Remember that back then 16-valve DOHC and EFI were still pretty advanced stuff. The 1990 I drove had 130 horses and 105 lb-ft, and was good for about 8-sec 0-60 times. That was teh hot back in 1991 and it probably could keep this old man entertained today.

    Reply
  11. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Avatar
    Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

    This is absolutely so cool Thanks for posting this.

    Reply
  12. dsafds Avatar
    dsafds

    hi

    Reply