ysport
Somethings about Toysport
In 1980 Toysport was established to distribute Toyota Racing Development (TRD) sport parts. Working as in-house consultant for TRD USA, Toysport initiated the "grass-root" support program for Toyota racers. The program evolved into Toyota's Contingency Program, when Toyota USA formed Toyota Motorsport in 1981. Ever since the beginning Toysport has actively supported Toyota USA's corporate goals.
Team Toysport America Limited was incorporated in 1982. Toysport supported and complemented the activities of Toyota Motorsport and TRD USA. Toysport handled vehicle preparation for Toyota shows and events. Toysport also prepared all magazine cars for TRD USA and Toyota Public Relations. (Overseas, the principals of Toysport has worked with Toyota since 1965, and TOSCO (the original corporate name of TRD in Japan) since 1972.
The initial thrust of Toysport was engine development and accessory distribution. Working with "privateer" Toyota racing teams and U.S. aftermarket manufacturers allowed for the diverse and thorough coverage for sports parts and competition preparation. Toysport's commitment to Toyota racers and enthusiasts was total and encompassing. This commitment earned us the cooperation of Toyota, the manufacturers and importers. Toysport has worked continually in expanding and developing our product lines. Affiliated businesses have also responded to our needs by adding and supplementing our product lines on a continuing basis. This evolved into Toysport becoming a Toyota Tuning Specialist. Upgrade was our creed.
By 1985 Toysport had achieved the highest level of product and technical support for Toyota enthusiasts. From the leading winners in Toyota's contingency program to the top Toyota Racing Team (Tom's Racing of Japan), Toysport was actively involved in Motorsport activities. Our customers were entered in various SCCA, IMSA, SCORE and HDRA events. Our customers have won National championships for Toyota. Toysport entered international FIA sanctioned events and always placed in the top two positions in their classes, a perfect record. Track records were also set in the U.S.
Attention away from Motorsport activities was a result of the tremendous business in the Toyota aftermarket. 1985 and 1986 model years saw the strongest Toyota sports model line-up in U.S. Toyota history. This started in 1972 with the Celica and SR5 Corollas, both milestone cars. The Toyota 4X4 Truck business started in 1979 added to the frenzy. The introduction of the 3rd generation Celica GTS and Supra in 1982 greatly expanded the business. The arrival of the Twin Cam Corollas and MR2 in 1985 was followed by Turbo models- Toyota enthusiasts were everywhere, and Toysport was Paradise.
By 1988 with the continued infusion of sporty Toyota models in the market, Toysport was busy attending consumer and trade shows and preparing magazine vehicles. The influx of more Japanese parts alleviated the need to develop parts locally. At this time more than 60% of our inventory were locally sourced, 30% were still imported, and the remaining parts were proprietary produced.
In 1990 we purchased our present building. Just like the cars we worked on, we have continually upgraded the facility. Our showroom, which is in continuos changing flux, has the most comprehensive display of sports parts; our service facility prepares engines and prototype work non-stop; our engine and chassis dyno allow continuous engine tuning and development. Expanded foreign sales keep us busy identifying correct applications for foreign Toyota market models. We were exporting sports parts to Toyota racers and accessories to Toyota enthusiasts all over the world. Our expanded parts support for Old School and Milestone Toyota models has proven very successful and rewarding.
The performance aftermarket changed in the 90's, affecting Toyota's sports image seriously (and our business as a result). The sporty new models from Toyota stopped coming, current models disappeared, and Toyota lost it's following for new entry-level sports car buyers. Ironically, the sports aftermarket was expanding with all the other sporty and exotic offerings from other manufacturers. We participated in that boom. We tuned and modified a lot of Nissans, Mazdas, and Hondas- but we proudly kept our Toyota hat on. By 1992 it was clear that the early popularity for sporty Toyotas by the consumers was gone. The Toyota diehards insisted in RWD and kept all the older RWD models rolling. The Toyota Turbo models trickled in but the widely based Corolla and Celica market was passed over by the sports minded consumers.
But Toyota sold more cars anyway! Toyota's US Motorsport Manager did a good job, but Product Planning lost it. Toyota Corporate in Japan has the TEN plan, but that is another story. There is a new group in Toyota trying to…………..but that is still another story.
Our expertise in tuning has opened other major venues. Our reputation led to some unsolicited contracts. We worked with Nissan Competition on some prototype turbo vehicles and Showroom Stock 300ZXs. We worked with Mazda in the introduction of the 2nd generation RX7 Turbo. We worked with Honda Research and Mugen on Honda turbos (when they were in their old Gardena location). Naturally no important information was shared. It was exciting times and a continuing learning process. We continued playing with our Toyotas and have turbocharged and modified more Toyota models, than any other company.
We are honored to be "a pioneer of the import high performance industry", for "being around forever", as the "premier Toyota aftermarket specialist" and being "the ultimate skunkworks for modified Toyotas". We have had to defend Toyota and Toyota products to non-Toyotaphiles and unhappy Toyota owners. We are proud that our organization has maintained the longest continuos management effort of any Toyota sports parts related business. Several times we were offered and tempted with a buy-out! But we love our work and we intend to stay.
Our business ties to past and current suppliers is one of mutual support and technical exchange. We have been the first distributor for TRD and HKS. Kaminari, PIAA, Tokico, Centerforce, Sway-Away, Momo, Eibach- all used Toysport to help fit, test, and launch their products. We were early distributors for Greddy, K&N, Cibie, Mikuni, Recaro, Dough Thorley, and others. Some others have gone out of business. Magazines continue to give us editorial space despite remaining basically non-advertisers. The different Toyota clubs send us membership business.
Instead of growing old, we have managed to stay young, or at least tried. The loss of Toyota models adaptable to tuning, made engine transplants a bigger part of the business. Fortunately, we have managed to capture more of the Toyota specialty market. Our resources for Toyota parts is phenomenal and unbeatable. We have Toyota parts made of- unobtanium. Our best selling product- Toysport stickers!!
Toyotas never die, they just get modified and restored. The Starlets, Corollas, Celicas, Supras, and MR2s continue to come for fresh power, suspension upgrades, or total restoration. Yes, the exotic 2000Gts, Sport 850s, Century, Crowns, and Soarers still come or call. Tercels, Camrys, and RAV4s are regulars. The pick-up truck and Land Cruiser market has never been strong for us, but we have prepared the best ones for the magazines and won National Championships!
We have aggressively imported more varieties of Toyota engines than Toyota dared to bring in. Two, Four, Five valve TwinCam engines. Turbo, Super-charged, and Twincharged. Single plug and Twin plug. Prototype, Rally, and Racing. Been there, done that. Toyota Technicians from the different Toyota Regional centers (who are in town for official Toyota corporate business) regularly visit to see engines that they only read about and see in pictures. Every year we tease Toyota employees with Toysport prepared vehicles in the Toyota Oktoberfest car show at Toyota headquarters.
We have friends, customers, and dealers in North and South America, the Economic Union of Europe, and the desert fields and oasis in the Middle East, the African continent, Toyota-crazy Australia, and all the nations in SE Asia. We have associates in the Toyota Network- here in the US, Japan, and all the different international markets were Toyotas roam and race. Former employees and friends work in the different Toyota Race Teams, in the U.S. and Japan.
The Internet allows us to reach and service more customers. We are challenged to keep up with E-mail inquiries and requests. It has saved a lot of postage and long distance phone bills, more important it allowed a much faster order turnaround and better customer service. With our new distribution center in the Philippines, we will be able to serve all our international markets better, with additional product lines and expanded inventory levels.
The next millennium, next year, 2000 Toysport will celebrate 20 years of service to the Toyota enthusiasts in the U.S. The last 20 years have proven very challenging but rewarding. Our clientele base, which has changed demographically and geographically- has continued to grow. We have met so many enthusiasts, made so many friends, and faced so many different characters that a book can easily be filled with amusing and amazing stories. We thank all our past and current customers for making all this activities possible. We look forward to servicing new customers, making new friends, and helping everyone get the most out of their Toyotas.
Toysport in 1504 words.