Feature: Man Crush
It’s obvious to many just how strong the AE86 following is here in Ireland, there was such a ridiculous amount of these cars brought into our little country over the last ten years. Nicky’s 86 was one of these cars; it came in as a slag from Japan, with a collection of desirable goodies. Somehow he managed to build on what many would have called an already awesome car. I have to admit, like many who have seen this car in the flesh, it just makes you smile, it could easily be one of the best looking Trueno’s this little green isle has ever seen.
This is still a drift slag, just a very impressive looking one, the car is used as you may have noticed from one or two of our features or videos…. About a year and a half ago the car was torn down and given a refresh, a new shade of paint with the combination of a Goodline front bumper with Raybrig lamps and HID’s up front.
At the rear Nicky has opted for an origin rear bumper and side skirts. The combination of aero is almost too good. The car has an almost seedy appearance with the standard rear sprinter tails.
A simple set of anodized blue matching tow hooks front and rear and chrome wind deflectors add to the overall styling on the outside. At the rear the ever awesome Jubride rear spoiler hangs out that little bit more than the TRD variant.
The Meister is a timeless choice, the wheel was designed years after the humble 86 but fits like a glove. Nicky chose a set of Meister s1’s in a 15 x 8.5 all round with a polished lip.
The car has been kept very true to the original 86 setup under the bonnet, true enthusiasts will be happy to see a 16 valve 4a-ge high torque bottom end with a skimmed head that has been ported and polished, other goodies that are enjoyable to note would be the HKS pullies or the Toda flywheel, the walbro fuel pump or the fact the car is managed on a cusco Mfe ECU.
Inside the car has been stripped of the excess interior, the bare essentials remain, the driver sits on a Bride Zeta fixed back bucket whilst the passenger is treated to an East Bear fixed seat. Both are held securely into place by a set of Sabelt harnesses. For steering a Nardi wheel and a useful Cusco flyoff handbrake button.
Everything works for the right reasons, nothing is over done. The cable ties on the outside which hold on the bumper do not take from the look of the car, if anything it adds to the character, the silver stripped out inside is pure function, but aesthetically looks great.
Handling wise the car has been fitted with a Cusco blue cage, you might also not how anal nicky is and has carefully matched small parts of the car to make it all come together nicely such as the engine bay which was also done in cusco blue aswell and the front panels and matching wheel nuts! The front and rear has been fitted with front and rear struts with T3 tri bars upfront, other things which you cant see like the ultra fender braces tension rod braces and wishbone to gearbox brace with the addition of a Jubride rear brace.
Suspension wise, the 86 has been fitted with BC racing coilovers, Cusco roll centre adjusters, a Cusco adjustable panhard rod and all new polybushes. Power steering knuckles have been fitted with an early spec manual rack for extra lock, the back axle has been stripped and fully rebuilt with a weir 4.7 crown wheel and pinion plus a solider spacer and maxgrip kit.
Tokyo FM, the only station tuned into this car!
Could this be pure 86 perfection? a car which is over 30 years old can still look this good. It proves just how badass the 86 chassis really is. Nicky’s car sums up just exactly what an 86 should be, timeless styling with just the right stance, combined with a screaming 16 valve engine deafening the drivers as he sits fixed inside a caged up stripped out interior.
Anyone that has had the chance to see this thing in the flesh will have the same love for it. Somehow Nicky improved on what was already awesome, which if you are reading from a foreign country is a big deal here. In Ireland, cars that look this good these days are few and far between.
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Wheels/Tires/Suspension
Work Meister s1 15 x8.5 front & rear.
BC Racing Coilovers
Cusco Ajdustable Panard Rod
Cusco Roll centre adjusters
Polybushes
Power Steering Knuckles
Zenki Manual Rack
Weir 4.7 CWP + solid spacer + maxgrip kit
Ultra Fender Brace
Wishbone to gearbox Brace
Jubride rear Brace
Black Diamond Discs
Mintex Pads
Braided Goodrich hoses
T3 topmounts
Exterior
Goodline Front Bumper
Origin Side skirts
Origin Rear Bumper
Raybrig HID kit
Jubride Rear spoiler
Blue tow hooks
Interior
Bride Zeta driver seat Bride Rail
East Bear Passenger seat
Sabelt 4 Point Harnesses
Cusco Dash Dodge Cage
Trd Shifter
Cusco Flyoff Handbrake button
Nardi 3 spoke wheel
Cusco Strut Braces front and rear
Techo Toy tuning ad ons.
Engine
High Torque 4a-ge bottom end
Skimmed head ported + polished.
Hks Pullies
Hks earthing kit
Zaklee cam cover
Pass racing light weight pullies
Toda flywheel
Toda Clutch
TRD Thermostat
Sard fuel pressure regulator
Walbro Fuel pump
Cusco MFE ECU
RSR 4-1 Manifold
Trust under axle catback exhaust
Ultra racing plug leads
Koyo twin core radiator
Samco Hoses