1981 Toyota Starlet - Amazing Techno Craft Dream Coat (Part 2)

The 1.3L OHV factory 4K engine produced a substandard 58 hp at 5,200 rpm. It would take tremendous amounts of custom work and finances to even get it up to today’s standards, which is and at least three-digit power figure. The economical and most efficient method for Edward was to obtain a transplant from a second-generation 2.0L MR2 3SGE engine. And since this was previously a non-fuel-injected vehicle, everything from the fuel pump to a full chassis wiring harness had to be constructed from scratch, the stainless steel high-rise header and lower center of gravity engine mounts were also fabricated and welded up, as well as the oil pan to clear the KP61 front cross-member. Individual throttle bodies were mated to the head assembly along with a vacuum collector block to accumulate each cylinder vacuum pressure to channel with the MAP sensor. An Electromotive TEC 3 stand-alone ECU with a direct ignition system was artfully tucked away, unnoticeable to a layperson’s eye. Needless to say, the engine internals are still stock, but now there is more than enough power to perhaps wheelie the 1,500-pound go-kart into Jupiter. A 225hp engine in a 1,500-pound machine computes to a 1:6.7 power-to-weight ratio, equivalent to the omnipotent 500-plus horsepower Dodge Viper SRT10. The only thing keeping ample weight in the rear of the vehicle is the FS Racing fuel cell. Tilton Racing master cylinder, brake booster, and calipers are in charge of both stopping and braking chores.

The rest of the machine features a combination of parts used from other Toyota including a larger cylindrical volume AE86 shock casing/spindles for the front suspension. TRD and Cusco competition components were utilized to make up the front and rear suspension, custom made of course. A full disc-brake setup from an AE86 were adopted, which was a given since there is no way that the stock KP61 solid rear axle could withstand anything over 70 lb-ft of torque. The brake setup was then upgraded to a Tilton Racing master cylinder, brake booster, and calipers to enable explicit stopping power.

The aesthetics of the vehicle exemplify that of the TRD catalog of the ‘80s. Most of the components are practically rare artifacts now so they had to be purchased used; extensive restoration practices to be implemented in order for the part to look spick-and-span. Starting with the interior, low-back TRD bucket seats with brackets were chosen for the seating option. These seats are a perfect fit for the nostalgic flavor that the machine gives, also perfect considering the vehicle’s era. A Sabelt racing harness holds the driver and passenger in place as the vehicle is steered with yet another TRD product, the leather steering wheel.

An entirely new aero kit was based off the TRD N2 widebody kit by PJ Bonifacio. This includes the hood, front and rear bumper, fender flares, side skirts, rear diffuser, and rear roof spoiler. Staggered 15x10.5 front and 15x11.5 rear Panasport wheels squeezed with 225/4515 Advan tires were set up to come millimeters away from the fender lip, but by no means making contact. Japanese-spec fender mirrors were bolted down as the final touch to the aggressive exterior, which unmistakably screams “old-school JDM”.

1981 Toyota Starlet back

Despite the Starlet being an unpopular choice compared to the Hachiroku, the fanboys will indeed drool and break their necks trying to get a further glimpse of a KP61 of this caliber. The bad things is that the Toyota Starlet will keep increasing in price as the years go on, but the good thing is that it will probably never have some sort of absurd popularity tax tacked onto its price. Edward invested a total of $30k for this build and taught his son the powerful art of father and son bonding.