Corolla Levin GT-APEX kept its originality

In 2024, we checked out a vehicle of interest at the Kanazawa Classic Car Meeting held at the Japan Automobile Museum in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture on Sunday, July 28. This time we will introduce the Toyota Corolla Levin GT-APEX, a popular AE86 model that is often tuned and customized, but keeps its originality.

An unmodified early AE86 Levin GT-APEX is found

Toyota AE86 “Sprinter Torreno/Corolla Levin”, a popular car model, is always entered in these old car events, but many of the cars are still customized or tuned. Also, many of the cars that at first glance appear to be original are based on cars that were tuned in the past and have been “returned to normal,” and many of them do not have the parts that were installed as per the grade.

In the midst of all this, we came across a surprising car at the Kanazawa Classic Car Meeting. The GT-APEX is a top-grade Corolla Levin with fixed headlights, and even the wheels and muffler are original. We interviewed the owner, Mr. Goto.

The rare GT-APEX’s exclusive temperature-sensing grille is still in place

Goto-san acquired this 1983 Corolla Levin GT-APEX about 15 years ago, keeping many parts original. The silver/black two-tone color, which was only available on the GT-APEX in the previous model year, was once repainted only on the outside in the same color, keeping it looking like a new car. It is rare to find a vehicle with a stock engine, suspension, muffler, and wheels.

“By the way, only the rear spoiler is a stock one from a later model. This is the only custom point. The front grille is a GT-APEX exclusive product, and the cover with the logo opens at 85 degrees Celsius to let the driving wind in through the grille. It is rare to find a grille that works properly, but most tuned cars change to the GT grille, so there aren’t many cars that remain solid.”

The blue interior is available in metallic colors only

The interior is also interesting: the blue interior was only available on the AE86 early-model base metallic body color cars, which is said to be very rare in terms of overall numbers. And while this blue interior is known to lose its color when scorched by ultraviolet rays, the interior of this vehicle is in very good condition. The steering wheel also retains its original three spokes.

“The Hachi Roku was the car I was driving when I just got my license. That’s why I admired it in real-time, and I’m glad to be able to drive it now. I don’t have much trouble finding parts for the engine and suspension, but exterior parts are gradually becoming more difficult to obtain. Currently, the engine is completely stocked and in very good shape, so I think I will be able to keep riding it for a while.”

translated by DeepL