| Toyota Starlet HKS 5A-GTE |
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The Toyota Starlet was the most
basic car Toyota ever imported to the U.S. When it was introduced in 1981, TRD USA tried to initiate the
U.S. Starlet Challenge, patterned after the popular Japanese Starlet Cup series
for the entry-level motorsport. Toysport
prepared 2 spec cars- with full TRD suspension, body kit, wheels, and engine
kits. TRD prepared 2 cars to SCCA
GT3 race specs. SCCA was interested
in adding the series and these cars to their events, but Toyota U.S.A.’s marketing
arm did not agree on converting their basic car into a racing machine, an “image
problem” they said. End of story.
This Starlet is the remnant of what could have been a very popular and
affordable series for Toyota. This
car is all original TRD -except for the engine.
A potent 4AGE Corolla unit with turbocharged replaced the K series engine.
An HKS 5AG (not an official Toyota designation) engine kit was upgraded
with Toysport forged pistons, a stainless turbo manifold, and Turbonetics T3
Super 60 turbo. This conversion kit remains one of the most popular kits from
Toysport. The full-line HKS electronic
turbo upgrades are installed, of course.
All the original TRD Starlet Cup pieces are on the car- from the steering
wheel to the wheels, front spoiler to the rear wing, fender flares, race seats,
roll cage, gig brakes, gymkhana suspension even the Japanese fender mirrors.
It took more than 5 years to collect all the correct pieces.
In these days of modified Hondas- this Starlet shows what Toyotas were
twenty years ago and Toysport was way ahead of the import-tuning trend!
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