Feature: Keeping it in the Family - Juiceboxforyou

It was only about 20 or so years ago the E70 was a common sight on Irish roads. Finding one these days is as rare as an Irish summer. Lets face it back in the day these cars didn’t look this appealing. In fact they were pretty a pretty basic saloon from Toyota. They got people from A to B and back again in a reliable Toyota fashion. As time went on, general wear and tear accompanied by great Irish weather took its toll on the E70 and many of its old friends. Most of what was left has either been left to return to the soil while the others have been long crushed.

Only in the last 10 -15 years with the internet becoming a more efficient, we started seeing the true potential of all these old cars which had been originally designed out of Japan from the 70’s and early 80’s. Sadly enough most of them had bit the dust on our shores and the rest were slowly heading that direction before anyone really got the chance to turn it around.

Rust is always an inevitable factor on cars especially the older Toyota’s. Only its younger brother the AE86 was praised in Ireland for obvious reasons. In Japan things were the same, but the E70 was definitely seen in a different light, many seen it as something more then just a daily driver. This is definitely why I wanted to feature John’s AE70. Its just an amazing take on what use to be such a humble car.

The Japanese have always had a tendency to get things very right when it comes to cars and the styling on this Corolla is a classic example of this. The Japanese had realised earlier on in the game that the Corolla with some work could be made into a very enjoyable car.

I decided the best place for this shoot would be right after a hard day of driving on the track in Mondello. Japan tends to keep the best looking version to themselves which is usually a much cleaner look. On this example the exterior is more or less standard, but that’s all you need.  The car has the usual wing mirror’s, which really do look great on old Japanese Boxes. John added a front chin spoiler, which is actually a boot spoiler from an AE86 Corolla. What looks great on this car is the bolt on arches. They really change the entire image of the car.

Under these arches is nothing other then the RS Watanabe eight spoke type R. The car is boasting a 15 x 9jJ up front and a 15 x 10J at the rear both running 195/50/15’s. The car is nicely stanced but its still extremely functional. You’ll also notice that the arch has been cut to accommodate for the back door’s.

Just like the outside the interior has been kept clean and simple. This AE70 came with central locking, which is impressive for 1981. The car also had air conditioning, which John has has retained for things cool while driving the shit out of it.

The car has been fitted with a TRD shifter and an obvious choice of steering wheel, the Nardi classic, which always compliments an 80’s interior. For seating the car had been fitted with two reclining bucket seats. John decided to keep the standard interior and rear seats of the car because it would be a shame to take out.

It’s under the skin of this AE70 where things start to get very interesting. The original 1.5 3A-U has been long swapped out for a Black top 20 valve 4A-GE, loom and ECU from an AE111. With the addition of a Toda lightweight flywheel, the engine is standard but the black top seems to have more then enough power to make this Corolla dance. Cooling is done via a radiator from an AE86 but the viscous fan has been swapped out for an electric. Feeding this engine is an AE86 fuel tank and fuel pump. The automatic gearbox which used to power this corolla has been replaced by a t50 gearbox from an AE86 which runs to a TRD LSD  with a 4.7 crown wheel and pinion.

Handling wise the same idea has been adopted. Because much of the parts from the E family are quite interchangeable, parts have been taken from the AE86 give a helping hand. Up front a Cusco strut brace and some Cusco Coilovers with adjustable top mounts. The front brakes have been swapped out for some AE86 discs and calipers. At the back end, an AE86 rear axle complete with discs complimented by some TRD shocks and springs. Also helping out with handling is some TRD anti Roll bars.  You have enjoy how interchangeable parts are on this chassis with the 86.

I guess Japan realised the potential with these cars early on which is why they still have quite a few of these left. Just like John’s Corolla. You can’t help but enjoy the character and appeal these cars have. It seems this kind of love for the E70 has been happening all over the world, the internet opened a lot of peoples eyes to the potential with these cars with heavy influence from Japan. IM sure we will be seeing a lot more builds like this on our own shores. Its examples like John’s AE70 why these cars should have been saved from the crusher.