The gold Soarer with its powerful aero and scissors doors
Mr. Kamahori says the first car he purchased after getting his driver’s license was a Toyota Z20″ Soarer. Although he had given it up once, he repurchased the Z20 Soarer 15 years ago because it was a car that had many memories for him. He enjoys dressing up the car completely as it was in the nostalgic period, as if he were reminiscing about those days.
The world’s first coupe with air suspension
In the late 1980s, when the Japanese economy was booming, Toyota’s second generation “Soarer” made its shocking debut, and as a symbol of the booming times, it was the object of admiration for car lovers of the time.
The 7M-GT inline 6-cylinder 3.0L twin-cam turbocharged 7M-GT was the top engine, and a 2.0L twin-cam twin-turbocharged 1G-GTE model was also available. All models feature a four-wheel double wishbone suspension for superior ride comfort, and the top-of-the-line 3.0GT Limited is equipped with the world’s first air suspension.
Mr. Kamahori admired such a 20 Soarer, and “It was the first car I bought after working hard and getting my driver’s license!”
A short time later, he sold 20 Soarer to fund the purchase of another car. The cars he has driven so far include a 71 Mark II, a 61 Cresta, and a 10 Soarer, but the memory of the first car he drove is deeply etched in his mind. Decades later, Mr. Kamahori wanted to drive a 20 Soarer again, so he searched for a good used car and purchased a 2.0 GT twin turbo, the same model as he had then.
The popular Autopista full aero completely reproduces the appearance of those days
Although some of the current specifications are closer to those of the first Soarer he purchased, he enjoys his unique modification style, including things he could not do at the time due to lack of money. It was a customization that evoked a sense of nostalgia while using modern technology to create a comfortable specification.
The aero parts, which are instantly recognizable to Soarer enthusiasts, are a full aero kit made by Autopista, the most popular brand when this car was in service. The front spoiler, side steps, rear spoiler, and rear wing were installed to create an elongated and elegant form that looks cool even in the 2022 era. The hood, which was popular as an outlaw style at the time, was also given a long nose to show off its originality. The nostalgic Gaines beam three is set in the back of the hood, which is very maniacal.
The ridiculously low ride height is not achieved with dampers, but with air suspension. Of course, this is not a stock air suspension, but a modern 4-wheel independent air suspension, which instantly switches between driving mode and stop mode, allowing the driver to freely control the car depending on the situation. In addition, the fender arches have been knocked out to prevent the tires and wheels from interfering when the car is in the lowdown style.
Other than that, the scissor doors, which are also visually appealing, are a sight to behold. 20 Soarer’s huge, long, two-door lifted vertically is a sight to behold. Although they are quite heavy, they are firmly supported by strong dampers.
The wheels are the nostalgic BBS-RS wheels. The wheels are of course based on the 3-piece wheels of that time, but since the model of that time did not have the rim width, only the discs were reused as deep rim specs, and the front 9J x 15 and rear 10J x 15 sizes were re-released. The discs and piercing bolts were finished in champagne gold, the same color as the body.
Mr. Kamahori enjoys modifying his nostalgic 20 Soarer with his memories. When asked about his plans, he replied that he has almost completed the work and will maintain the car as it is now. If his first Soarer was a 20 Soarer, his last will be a 20 Soarer as well, and he will continue to drive it while taking good care of it and maintaining it.
