Tom’s has been cooking up an AE86 restoration project, and it is too cool not to share. The company’s ‘Heritage’ division will be cranking out fully revived Toyota AE86 Corolla Levin models, which will then go on sale in Japan.
All of these restored Corollas will likely be right-hand drive, but that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate them from afar. According to Tom’s Heritage, prices will start at ¥16.5 million (around P6.2 million), with two engines and three finishes to choose from.
Owners of AE86 units can also send their project cars to Tom’s for a full restoration, and that will cost at least ¥13.2 million (around P4.98 million). Select parts have then been reproduced by Tom’s as ‘revival’ pieces, including the new 15-inch wheels and other interior components.
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Drifting around in the legendary Toyota AE86 Corolla Coupe GT Levin
Tom’s has also retooled the aerodynamics of the Levin by reshaping the underpanel to improve handling and overall balance. Along with bigger tires, the Tom’s AE86 should deliver a more stable ride than a stock Corolla Levin.
It’s also more powerful. While there are multiple engine options, the rebuilt AE86 will generally use an in-house 1.6-liter mill, which packs 192hp and 191Nm of torque. That puts it at 34hp and 29Nm more than an original model.
While these rebuilt units may be out of reach for us in the Philippines, the Toyota Gazoo Racing Heritage Project has released reproduction parts for the Trueno and Levin. These newly built pieces are probably more attainable for local project car owners and AE86 fans.
