The AE86's First Start - Juiceboxforyou

For anyone who has been here before, the feeling as you nervously wait for the engine to fire up, years and years of putting time and effort into this build with friends because this car is a communal effort hoping it will pay off.

This 86 was my first significant project, and without Barry’s help for metalwork, Bryan for wiring and engine stuff, Flip and Jackie for paint, and everyone else in between, it’s taken the shed to build this car. It all started to make sense once that ITB set up on the side of the 20valve fired up. We repeatedly cranked, watching fireballs popping from the Tec art trumpets. Eventually, after finding out the earth cable wasn’t attached, the car suddenly didn’t feel like a gigantic paperweight anymore once it came to life.

This weekend was one of the highest points in my life, I never thought a project like this would take so long, and after we had taken the car apart three years previous, it’s hard for me to find the words to explain how I felt that day, the facial expressions said it all in the video.

It was such a pleasure to share this moment with everyone. We sat around, had a BBQ and enjoyed these great days in the shed. I’m delighted we have documented this so thoroughly. It will be great to look back on in many years to come. Between the photos here and the video series itself, I’m fortunate to have good mates who are always there to help out and know what they’re doing, and, most of all, have fun along the way,

Thanks to everyone who purchased stuff from the shop, too. It was incredibly overwhelming to see that many orders. I had to shut things down until we could package and ship them out. At least we know there is still a demand for the stuff, which means we are ready for the next relaunch.

Cheers

Neil