Thanks to the Initial D movie, the value of used Toyota AE86 Corolla Levin (or Sprinter Trueno) units has skyrocketed. Many fortunate owners are modifying these cars to resemble the lead character’s vehicle in the film.
But restoration isn’t just about aesthetics. More importantly, your car needs to run well to be more than just a showpiece—it should be a functional work of art. This is where Toyota Gazoo Racing steps in.
The Japanese automaker’s motorsports division is currently running a GR Heritage Parts program, where it reissues various parts to assist hobbyists in restoring their project cars. The project now reproduces and sells over 200 parts for eight discontinued Toyota models.
Now, it has announced that it will be adding two new parts for the AE86 Corolla Levin and the Sprinter Trueno. These will be components for the 4A-GEU engine.
First, Toyota Gazoo Racing will sell cylinder head sub-assemblies for the engine. These consist of combustion chambers that have undergone additional machining, reducing the untouched cast surface area. This helps minimize differences in engine performance caused by variations in compression ratios.
The intake ports have been treated with a special coating process to reduce surface irregularities from pre-polishing. Cam cap knock pins have been added to improve assembly ease.
As for the cylinder block sub-assemblies, the bores were precisely machined using modern honing techniques. A higher-rigidity cast was used, and the crank-cap structure was modified through simulation to enhance durability.
These two engine components are just a few additions to the list of parts that Toyota has been reproducing for the AE86. Currently, the GR Heritage Parts catalog includes braking, steering, suspension, drivetrain, and electrical components for the model.
Toyota Gazoo Racing plans to display an AE86 equipped with these two parts at the “Initial D 30th Anniversary 2 Days,” a two-day event celebrating the 30th anniversary of the iconic film.
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