Meet The 1990s Toyota Corolla That Drives Like New And Costs $100,000
The Toyota Corolla has had a sporty bent to it since its inception. Early Corollas were indeed intended to be commuter cars for the growing Japanese workforce in the late 1990s, but sportier models have also held their niche in the lineup. Arguably, the most famous example, the AE86-generation Toyota Corolla Levin, is getting on in years. Tom's, a Japanese aftermarket parts supplier and tuner, will help owners turn back the clock with a new restoration program.
The program will see your Corolla completely rejuvenated. That includes a rebuilt 1.6-liter four-cylinder 4A-G engine. The new powerplant features a larger bore, which ups power to 188 horsepower from the factory car's 158 hp. It's a sizable increase for an engine operating sans forced induction, and doubly so in a car as light as the Levin. The new engine lives inside a totally restored chassis - whether you supply your own or source one through Tom's directly. This includes new welds, repairs, and any other work needed to bring the chassis and body back to their former glory.
Tom's
Nearly every aspect of the car is rejuvenated, including the interior. Anything even remotely worn is replaced, right down to the hardware holding everything together. The end result is a car that's almost entirely indistinguishable from a factory-fresh Levin, right out of Initial D. The changes are comprehensive, and include an unbelievable amount of work from the team at Tom's. The company documented the process, and so long as you're comfortable reading some auto-generated subtitles, it's worth a watch.
Whether you opt to source the donor car yourself, of course, changes the price. Either way, the full restoration of a 30-odd-year-old car isn't cheap. Tom's says that the complete package, including a car that the shop will source itself, starts at around $104,000 USD. If you've already got a car, or just want to save a buck and source one yourself, the restoration alone starts at around $83,000.