Picked up a Corolla GT-S to tinker with today....
 

Browsing around on Craigslist (always a bad idea for me!) I ran across an 87 Corolla GT-S coupe. Never really had been looking for or but they always intrigued me as something that would be a fun project and weekend driver.

Being that I'm on the east coast most of these I've seen have been fairly rotted away. This example seems to have a little rust on the roof and that's about it. Picked it up and drove nearly 4 hours back home and didn't have a single problem.

To my surprise after going through the "papers" included I found the original window sticker and build sheet as well as a ton of maintenance records from years ago.

Car is equipped with a factory LSD and weighs in around 2200lbs so it's pretty fun to drive.

Just thought I'd share my spontaneous purchase.....

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Very cool, is that the RWD one?

Looks like good clean fun! Light, powerful enough, decent handling, and it sounds like the price was right. At the least you have a cheap reliable get-around that ought to be fun to drive. What can possibly go wrong?

Looks like a high S/D ratio car to me. (Smiles/Dollar)

Great car (Corolla fan speaking here :) )

It's actually a very sophisticated engine for it's time too.

I have always appreciated how most of the people here are real gearheads. Make, model, euro, American, or Japanese, two wheeled, four wheeled (or three) doesn't matter. So many cool types of internal combustion fueled goodness, so little time... This place is awesome! Have fun with that Celica.

Years ago had an 80's (can't remember year) Corolla FX-16. A really fun little car. Twin cam 16V engine 1.4 (or 1.6). Drove it for about 5 years with ZERO problems. Believe it had a 7500 rpm red line. Got 30+ mpg too. Only down side was that it was front wheel drive. Didn't hook up well off the line. Doubled my money when I sold it. If you have the same engine it is a gem.

:confused::confused::confused:

They are RWD, popular with the drift crowd.

What a great little car - light, simple, sporty and RWD as well. WHY can't they make cars like this anymore..??

Caterham still makes cars that fit every one of your requirements!SmileWavy

That is very cool, if I came across that I'd be all over it. Have fun!

Nice! As a child of the '80s I love the sporty Japanese coupes. My first car was an '87 200SX that was the same recipe - small, light, RWD, and fun. I followed that with a 240SX, another great car.

Nice car! Really like that blue color....My nephew has a white one that is his pride and joy...

That car has the same motor that was in my mr2. It's the 4age 1600cc

Lots of HP can be had from its engine. I believe they used the same engine for Formula Atlantic racecars.

Enjoy!

Starions/Conquests always spoke to me a little too. Had an '85 Rx-7 GSL...was a fun car!

Light, RWD, quick. Great find!

Looks fun! I had an Isuzu impulse from the same era. I miss that car. It was bulletproof and fun... Well the engine anyway - the transmission was another matter.

4AG AE86 lover here!!

Because govt.

That is a most excellent score

Thanks for the compliments guys. It is indeed the RWD version. Last year for the FR configuration. The motor is all stock with the exception of a homemade cone filter setup that will soon be replaced and a catback exhaust. It does still have the factory exhaust manifold setup as well at the "cat" on it though. Has around 180k miles on it and a totally clean Carfax (for what that's worth, lol) the first owner had it for 20 years before selling it in 2007.

I'm going to add a 4-point cage and a few other minor things and just enjoy it on the weekends and do an occasional autocross or two.

Beautiful ride. The 4AGE is a great engine. Had one in an MR2.

The manager at the auto parts store I worked at had one of those in silver. Hot little car. I'm amazed that cars used to weigh 2200 lbs. my 1990 944 is 2900 which seems heavy.

Me too, really they weren't cut short on any major options either at least for their time. This one has A/C and a power moonroof.

I'm sure this one is on the upper end of 2200 with the options. I'm going to remove the spare and swap out the battery for a lightweight AGM version.

Contemplating roving the A/C (30lbs) but hate to seeing as the car is still very original.

It's not going to be very original after you weld or bolt in a roll cage, just sayin'.

Good point.... Guess I just feel guilty because everything currently done to it is easily reversible. Oh well, heck with it I'm pulling the A/C too not like I'm going to want to drive around with the windows up anyways. Doesn't get that got here in KY.

Couldn't you find one that isn't original to mod? Kinda seems a shame to pop the cherry on this one too...

You don't need a cage to autocross, that care would be a freakin' blast in the cones.

After looking through options I believe I'll just do a bolt-in roll bar or maybe even just a bolt in harness bar.

My wife had a new one of those when we got married. It was a great car! We sold it to buy a Camry wagon when our second kid was on the way - which we still have (the car...well, the kids too :)...). Looks like you got a good one, enjoy!

Quite a difference between the two for sure, although I'd say a Camry wagon probably had more power than this one haha. Thanks.

Not to give you any evil thoughts, but.....
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Apparently racing these corollas is BIG in Japan
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Cool car, I'd love to find one out here.

If I ever get a job delivering tofu over the mountain it would be the only choice.

The last Corolla GT-S, I built was turbocharged running the very cool 20V 4AG engine on individual throttle bodies, I also converted the entire front to genuine carbon fiber. Took three years to build and had a lot of one off and very cool fabrication work (supra W58 Tranny and Supra 7.5" rear end). On the dyno put down 270hp at a mere 6-7psi and weighed 2,120lbs. I sold it and all the spare parts for $23k to buy my 930.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL86/...8/89877280.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL86/...8/89873270.jpg

Yasin

Nice score OP, and nicely done Yasin. Looked like a well sorted car. I have Pcar friends who just don't get it. Some do, some don't. Lightweight Japanese cars are fantastic.

I guess I'm a bit of a content expert here...Such a great car, and great thread. I've owned 3 of these now. They are such a great little, light, well balanced car. One of my favorite drivers, if not my favorite.

I still have one of these currently. After having 2 stock (slightly modified) GT-S Corollas, my goal was to create the best street AE86 I could. It retains A/C, PS, all the interior comforts I want. At the same time, I've built several 1 off carbon fiber body panels (every bolt on body panel is CF), roughly 350lbs has been dropped from the car. There is no indication from looking at it that it is modified other than the ride height and the wheels.

400hp with 1.8 liters and under 2000lbs. Unobtainium HKS stroker crank, formula atlantic bits, and custom built pistons. Haltech management and Racepak dash...I guess you could say it embarrasses muscle cars and such.

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Back in 88, my buddy was 16 and got one of these. He came over and parked it in my parents driveway but left it in neutral without the parking break on. We come outside to find it across the street in my neighbors front yard, having also plowed down their mailbox. Later that year, we drove it to Vermont to go skiing and in a snow storm spun it a few times and landed in a ditch. His dad confiscated it after that. Oh the good old days