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By Roger, July 14, 2011 1:57 pm

We take you step-by-step from the 1983 Toyota Corolla GT-S to the upcoming Scion FR-S and Subaru FT-86 Coupe.

By the R&T Staff

July 7, 2011

Scion FR-S Concept >>

Poll: Scion or Subaru? >>

1983–1987 Toyota Corolla GT-S: The original AE86 is officially called the Toyota Corolla Levin and Sprinter Trueno in Japan, and the Corolla GT-S here in the U.S.

2009: Toyota unveils the spiritual successor of the AE86, calling it the FT-86, at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. We also find out about Subaru’s involvement.

2010: Toyota’s Japanese in-house tuning arm, G’s, introduces a tuner version of the car months after the original made its debut. This one is called the FT-86 G Sports Concept.

2011: Toyota shows us another FT-86 at the 2011 Geneva Show, this one with more flair than the version two years earlier. This led to the introduction of the Scion FR-S in New York, a few months later.

2012: Our version of what the final production version will look like when it comes out next year. This image is based on recent spy photos of the car.

2013 Subaru STI Coupe: A glimpse of what Subaru’s version of the compact rear-drive sports car will look like. This image is also based on recent spy photos of the car.

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By Roger, January 26, 2011 4:07 pm

About half-way through a collector car auction held in Portland, Oregon on the last Saturday in September by Silver Auctions, a car that was a veritable time capsule, appeared on the docket. It was a 1976 Datsun B210 two-door fastback coupe, painted yellow and fitted with a black vinyl interior. Right behind it, was a late model Chevrolet Corvette; more along the lines of what one might expect at such an event.

Nestled in the Datsun's engine bay was the original 1.4 liter, four-cylinder engine; backed by an automatic transmission. Mileage was just 33,043 actual. All records and owner's manual went with the car. The body was straight and interior evidenced only slight wear. It sold at a bid of $4,300.

Silver Auctions, the company that sold the Datsun, also stages an auction in Reno, during the Hot August Nights event. It was there, earlier this year, that a 1966 Datsun Bluebird series 477 sedan, in similar condition, sold for a bid of $4,300. Call it a coincidence. But it might also be the continuation of a trend.

A 1978 Toyota Levin Corolla GT, with manual steering and sans air-conditioning, at the Greenwood Car Show in Seattle, on June 26, 2010. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

There's steadily growing interest in vintage Japanese autos; helped by the fact that many were retired to the salvage yard, when repairs got too onerous for owners.

While collectors who generally gravitate towards big-bore American iron or sophisticated European sports cars, might wonder why, those who grew up with Japanese cars – several generations since 1970 – understand that even something as plebeian as a Datsun B210 has a heritage.

Back in 1974, a B210, entered by the Nissan USA employee's race team, won H-Production during the American Road Race of Champions and set a track record of 121.9 mph. While one with an automatic transmission might not be a racer, 27 mpg fuel economy and good parts availability add up to a vintage automobile one can enjoy with little effort.

The efforts of Bob Sharp, based in Connecticut, and Peter Brock, based in California, established what was then known in the States as Datsun, in the Seventies; and contributed to interest in Datsun/Nissan sports cars and early 510 sedans.

Honda and Toyota, the two best known Japanese manufacturers, are just beginning to become established at collector auctions. During the auction that Silver Auctions staged during Hot August Nights, earlier this year, a 1972 Honda N600 two door hatchback was offered – one of over 35,000 sold in the United States.

Sporting just 21,929 original miles, it was mostly original, save for a new coat of paint in what appeared to be a correct shade of red. Additionally, it was shod with new radial tires. It drew a lot of interest, in part, because many in the audience had likely never seen one. Someone bought it for $9,288 (that price includes 8 percent buyer's fee).

 
A 1979 Toyota Corona at the Greenwood Car Show in Seattle, Washington, June 26, 2010 (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

There's also interest developing in early examples of Toyota Corona and Corolla sedans. In January of 2007, Jack Safro, a Milwaukee-area Toyota dealer who'd been among the first to sell Japanese cars in the Midwest, bought a 1966 Toyota Corona sedan, at a Silver auction in Fort McDowell, Arizona, for $16,000 – in part, because the car had just 8,700 original miles on it.

Shortly after Mr. Safro passed away in early 2009, that same Corona was offered at a Mecum auction in Indianapolis, Indiana – with just one more mile accumulated since 2007 – as part of a sale of his estate's Toyota collection. It sold for a stunning $36,000.

While that sale might have been an anomaly, it seemingly helped the value of other solid examples of that car. Consider a light blue 1969 Toyota Corona, two-door hardtop, sporting just 57,162 miles, that was offered at another Mecum auction, in St. Charles, Illinois, held September 16-19.

 It had original paint with some chips and nicks in it and bit of wear and tear on the driver's seat; but it also included the original tools and some touch-up paint. Because it was original and clean, it sold for $9,900 (price included 10 percent buyer's fee).

As those who grew up coveting mid-1950s Chevrolet cars or the “muscle cars” of the 1960s, quit buying cars at auction, it seems inevitable that other sorts of cars will replace those.

“It seems that the 'model T rules' are going to take effect,” says Mark Pringle, a machinist in Seattle who owns a 1972 Honda N600, when asked about the changing market. Pringle is alluding to the fact that Ford model T cars or trucks are hard to sell; since those who grew up wanting them as collectibles have either passed on, or aren't buying anymore.

Five years ago, one could sense the change beginning, when the first Japanese Classic Car Show was held in Long Beach, California. It was a celebration of Japanese cars, 20 years or older, staged by Koji and Terry Yamaguchi, Japanese expatriates who'd been living in California for eight years. Though initially small, compared with gatherings of American or European car enthusiasts, the Japanese Classic Car Show has developed a loyal following and increased in size, each subsequent year. It has had an ancillary effect, as Japanese cars are now showing up at cars shows across America; sometimes mixing in with similar cars, from other countries, such as the Nash Metropolitan or the air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle.

A 1976 Honda Civic station wagon, leads a row of other small vintage cars, at the Greenwood Car Show in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

It's hard to say what the final result will be, but one thing seems certain: the interest in vintage Japanese automobiles, even trucks, will likely continue to grow. - Terry Parkhurst

Suggested sites: www.JapaneseClassicCarShow.com

www.JapaneseNostalgicCar.com and www.silverauctions.com

http://automatter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/11/japanese-cars-may-hold-the-future-for-collector-cars-.html

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By Roger, January 23, 2011 12:58 pm

Today we go a little old school.

AE86 tuner Impulse had both flavors on hand

Sprinter

and Levin, wait a minute…..the steering wheel is on the wrong side. Probably because it is actually a GTS in disguise.

WARNING: NON TOYOTA CONTENT AHEAD

G Works magazine had a few shiny Toy….er uh….Nissans on hand.

I am sure this little guy will help make your day bright and Sunny.

Boxy but good doesn't always apply to Volvos.

Ken and Mary must have so much fun driving in this 1 of 197 GTR.

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By Roger, February 23, 2010 4:57 pm

We now take a break from all the Toyota recall news to bring you some insight as to what’s going on behind closed doors where engineers and designers are working on future Toyota models. The folks over at AutoCar recently had the chance to catch up with Jaromir Cech, senior designer of the Toyota FT-86 Concept. Apparently all the rumors you’ve been hearing about the car moving away from its concept design are false.

AutoCar interviews senior designer of Toyota FT-86:

www.egmcartech.com