Julian recounts, “ Joel Tan helped us source the motor, which had been owned by racing legend Pablo Ko. For those readers that have experience in importing a JDM engine, forget everything you know about logistics. The Toyota’s original 4K was pulled and replaced with a TRD 4K Upright motor, sourced from the Philippines. For Julian, though, doubling the power was a good goal. In a world populated by Hellcats and Cobras, power numbers that barely tick three digits can seem downright historic. With the widened fenders framing the 14-inch Watanabe wheels, the effect is just perfect period-correct JDM nostalgia.įor a small car like the Starlet, every bump in horsepower and torque makes a notable difference. The body kit is a replica of the TRD N2 kit. Whichever side someone falls on, one can be sure that it won’t be mistaken for another Starlet build. The Starlet was repainted in a love-it-or-hate-it House of Kolors Pavo Purple. While the recipe for many vintage Japanese builds is the OEM+ or shakotan route, Julian wanted to push the little hatchback’s visual impact a little further. Despite those conditions, the body was straight with zero rust - a rare find for Toyotas of this vintage. The Starlet had spent its life in the Vegas sun before Julian’s ownership, so honestly, it needed a little help in the aesthetic department as well. Really, the little Toyota just needed more power. For Julian, the basic recipe was there: lightweight, manual, rear-wheel drive. While those specs certainly won’t set the world on fire, all of that power was sent to the rear wheels. The three-door KP61 was the first Starlet to make it to US shores and was motivated by a 1.3-liter four-cylinder that mustered a whopping 58 horsepower through a five-speed transmission. My dad would cruise around Little Tokyo, and I would hear the little burbles and pops as we bumped ‘Regulate’ by Warren G and Nate Dogg.” He remembers, “My favorite memory in this car was around 2009. His father owned the car for years before it was passed to Julian, and he couldn’t help but fall for the little econobox. Julian Angeles’ passion for the Toyota Starlet started in a familiar place for many enthusiasts. There’s also an element of tragedy because dozens of models will seemingly be lost to infrequently visited Wikipedia articles if not for a devoted few. While there are certainly pockets of enthusiasts for every Toyota model, online car auctions have convinced me that there’s a passionate fanbase for every car, no matter how forgettable. Even outside the sports car realm, the Toyota truck and early 4Runners have their devoted followings, and the JDM-only 1JZ sedans and wagons have begun to make regular appearances at Cars and Coffee and drift events alike. Finally, the AE86 Corolla is the ’80s paradigm of the “slow car fast” philosophy. The Supra is perhaps most notable as the icon of Toyota performance, followed by the Celica and its American muscle car-emulating roots. When the subject of vintage Toyota arises, a few usual suspects will dominate the conversation. Widened fenders dressed in House of Kolors Pavo Purple frame the 14-inch Watanabe wheels for perfect period-correct JDM nostalgia.The three-door KP61 was the first Starlet to make it to US shores and was motivated by a 1.3-liter four-cylinder that mustered a whopping 58 horsepower through a five-speed transmission.
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