The very justly very famous “Hachi Roku” AE-86: King of the light drift cars; a top FR sports coupe. Good units can still be found here in Japan.
The legendary Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE-86 looks like a sporty family car, but has all the right ingredients for serious racing, including a lightweight body (970kg), high-revving front engine that’s easy to modify, 50:50 weight distribution and rear-wheel drive. Among drifters, it’s one of the more renowned used vehicles available in Japan.
Whether stock or modified, the Sprinter Trueno’s excellent balance, precise steering and clear feedback make it fun to drive and easy to control around corners — which partially explains why it became the favorite model of the founder of drifting, as well as the star of a popular Japanese manga series and one of the most famous models in Gran Turismo.
Produced for five years in the mid 1980s, it features a fuel-injected DOHC 1.5-liter inline four engine that generates 120 to 130 PS and a standard 5-speed manual or optional automatic transmission. Toyota reliability, good fuel efficiency and plenty of space for four adults and luggage make it a natural for everyday driving.
The Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE-86 is not the most common car around, and its legendary status in the world of drifting makes it a model in high demand. But Japan Car Direct is confident it can source a vehicle in excellent condition at a fairly reasonable price from a Japanese used car auction or dealer — with a careful inspection from an objective third-party professional. Since the value of this legendary model keeps rising, it should be quite a solid investment.
One of our staff members who really loves this car wrote up more details for enthusiasts here. You may be able to find a Sprinter Trueno in your local market, but it’s unlikely to match the condition of used vehicles here in Japan where rust is less of a problem than in many other markets and the owners take exceptionally good care of their cars.
When you’re ready to discuss the advantages of JDM models and import one from Japan, depend on Japan Car Direct.
