Road Less Traveled
It’s always nice to receive emails about potential car features, with the whole Juicebox deal there has been quite a lot over the last few years. Every now and again you will come across something that is totally unique. Take this black AE111, first of you are thinking this is not that unique at all, we have hundreds of them floating around the country waiting to be stripped of its heart and the engine used for an AE86.
These are such a great little car, quite a few made it to Ireland and many have either been neglected or broken over the years and it was very nice to see someone with such a love for this chassis. Very tastefully modified Bryan has built a timeless example. These cars have always lived in the shadows of either its predecessor the Hachiroku or the Honda competition.
I know there is a good few people out there who will agree that these are a beautiful looking car, for a 1996 body styling it really has ages quite well. Bryan went for the subtle TRD kit on the outside; it’s a nice kit that almost looks standard. You really do have to look twice… like the carbon fibre wind deflectors, bonnet and carbon fibre TRD pieces in the rear spoiler.
At first glance the average person would possibly over look most of this. Inside the planned out modification continue, a Cusco 6 point roll cage, a Momo wheel. Bryan’s example is hope for others who should follow his lead.
Bryan sourced TRD 280km/h clocks; it was so refreshing to see an AE111 packed with a nice selection of goodies. Everyday another one of these goes up online for breaking or for parts. Many will meet their faith of the crusher and it sometimes baffles me as to why most of these cars have gone out like this.
Like I said quite a lot of these AE111’s made it to Ireland and as people started to take them apart Bryan got the best parts, picking out goodies from examples being dismantled around Ireland. A TRD shift knob looks good inside the cockpit and a power FC commander peeps through the steering wheel which controls something a little unexpected, but we will get to that in a moment.
Bryan managed to source a set of SR3 Factory Recaro seats with matching trim from another AE111, some of these came with this set of Recaros but are often tough enough to come across. In a way it’s good that our country has such a volume of pieces for a passionate person to execute their ideal car.
I was quite impressed by the heart of this car, a very unusual choice Bryan decided to pop out the 20 valve 4a-ge engine and replace it with a 2ZZ-GE from Japan. The engine sits on solid engine mounts. Mated to the 2zz are a Fidanza flywheel, c60 gearbox and Qauife LSD.
The AE111 was fitted with an MWR header custom downpipe, a competition organic clutch and a Mishimoto aluminium radiator. Allowing the 2zz to breath and exhale would be the assistance of a K&N typhoon induction kit, a 5zigen decat and a HKS hi power cat back.
Bryan managed to get his hands on quite a rare wheel. The 5 spoke TE37, (TE-16). This is the only set I have seen in the flesh and really set the Toyota off in white with blue sticker and rays lug nuts. Lurking behind these rare Japanese shoes is Mtec drilled and grooved discs all round, EBC yellow stuff pads and APP brake lines.
Bryan assured us this thing can handle, fitted with BC br series coilovers, a poly bushed TRD anti roll bar up front, a whit line at the rear and struts both front and rear from Juran and Carbing. This is such a quality example on a car which is over looked in this country. I was very eager to get this car onto the website, from the black on white combo to the engine swap it’s nice to receive an email in the inbox only to be greeted with such a build like this. This is the perfect example of nicely chosen parts in a well-executed often unloved chassis. I hope you enjoyed this car as much as we did. This is such a great example of the potential the AE111 Levin/Trueno can posses.
Wheels/Tires/Suspension/Handling
Rays TE-37 (te-16) wheels
BC Racing BR series coilovers
TRD front anti – roll bar (polybushed)
Whiteline rear anit – roll bar (polybushed)
Juran front strutbrace
Carbing rear strutbrace
Cusco 6 point cage
EBC yellow stuff pads
Mtec drilled and grooved discs
APP racing brake lines
Exterior
TRD front bumper
TRD side skirts
TRD spoiler with carbon pieces
TRD back spats
Carbon fibre bonnet
Carbon wind deflectors
Engine
JDM 2ZZ-GE
C60 gearbox
Quaife LSD
Solid engine mounts
MWR header custom downpipe
5Zigen Decat
HKS silent hi power catback
Mishimoto aluminium radiator
K&N Typhoon induction kit
Apexi PFC mapped by AP performance (202bhp)
Interior
Momo Tuner wheel
TRD Gear knob
TRD 280km/h clocks
SR3 Recaro seats