Talking about high-performance Toyota Corollas these days usually involves talking about the new GR Corolla. Its powerful three-cylinder engine delivers no less than 300 horsepower, thanks to a large turbocharger under the hood. The slightly older Corolla shown in the video above also has a turbocharger, but you won’t find it under the hood. And it has considerably more than 300 hp.
In this case, slightly older takes us back to the early 1980s. This is a late-race E70 series rolla, back when the engine sent power to the rear wheels, as opposed to the footed arrangement of the GR Corolla. It started life as a normal four-cylinder car for Jason, the son of this father-son construction team. Piet is the father, and like the video of Cars.co.za explains, they are known in South Africa for making bespoke billets. They also have a thing for cars, and Jason decided he wanted to drive something different.
Swapping the stock four-cylinder for a 1UZ V8 from a Lexus LS400 is certainly different, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg on this version. The engine features upgraded internals and a T76 turbocharger powers the grinder to the tune of around 470 horsepower (350 kilowatts). Looking under the hood, the engine swap is one of the cleanest we’ve seen…too clean if we’re being honest. The turbocharger and all its piping cannot be found.
It’s because Jason wanted this dormant version to be very sleepy. The turbo is actually mounted in the back of the car, with custom piping connecting it to the engine. To maintain the look of a naturally aspirated engine, there’s even a fake air cleaner and intake mounted under the hood. Creating the custom turbo setup was a nine-month project in itself, but the result is a stealthy Toyota that produces healthy power with virtually no lag. And without the turbo under the hood, engine temperatures stay cooler.
A four-speed Lexus automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels. BMW E36 springs are used in the rear, with Brembo brakes on all four corners. The front suspension is stock, and the Corolla’s simple interior is also largely stock. The seats have been upholstered in leather, and there is new carpeting. Everything else is OG Corolla, right down to the gauges.
Jason did most of the work himself and the attention to detail certainly caught our eye. Alright, clouds of tire smoke too caught our eye, but in a world of custom cars, this old Corolla is a decidedly cool and unique machine.
Talking about high-performance Toyota Corollas these days usually involves talking about the new GR Corolla. Its powerful three-cylinder engine delivers no less than 300 horsepower, thanks to a large turbocharger under the hood. The slightly older Corolla shown in the video above also has a turbocharger, but you won’t find it under the hood. And it has considerably more than 300 hp.
In this case, slightly older takes us back to the early 1980s. This is a late-race E70 series rolla, back when the engine sent power to the rear wheels, as opposed to the footed arrangement of the GR Corolla. It started life as a normal four-cylinder car for Jason, the son of this father-son construction team. Piet is the father, and like the video of Cars.co.za explains, they are known in South Africa for making bespoke billets. They also have a thing for cars, and Jason decided he wanted to drive something different.
Swapping the stock four-cylinder for a 1UZ V8 from a Lexus LS400 is certainly different, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg on this version. The engine features upgraded internals and a T76 turbocharger powers the grinder to the tune of around 470 horsepower (350 kilowatts). Looking under the hood, the engine swap is one of the cleanest we’ve seen…too clean if we’re being honest. The turbocharger and all its piping cannot be found.
It’s because Jason wanted this dormant version to be very sleepy. The turbo is actually mounted in the back of the car, with custom piping connecting it to the engine. To maintain the look of a naturally aspirated engine, there’s even a fake air cleaner and intake mounted under the hood. Creating the custom turbo setup was a nine-month project in itself, but the result is a stealthy Toyota that produces healthy power with virtually no lag. And without the turbo under the hood, engine temperatures stay cooler.
A four-speed Lexus automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels. BMW E36 springs are used in the rear, with Brembo brakes on all four corners. The front suspension is stock, and the Corolla’s simple interior is also largely stock. The seats have been upholstered in leather, and there is new carpeting. Everything else is OG Corolla, right down to the gauges.
Jason did most of the work himself and the attention to detail certainly caught our eye. Alright, clouds of tire smoke too caught our eye, but in a world of custom cars, this old Corolla is a decidedly cool and unique machine.