It was the Toyota Sports 800 that had the honor of inaugurating the brand's sports car lineage. Equipped with a two-cylinder boxer engine with a displacement of just 800cc, the little 800 managed to reach the rather dignified figure of 150km/h of top speed. Since then, Toyota has built a long history of sports cars with front engine and rear-wheel-drive architecture, which has been gaining laurels both in competition and with the general public.
One such offspring was the exclusive 2000 GT, powered by the 2-litre, 6-cylinder in-line engine and first unveiled in 1965 at the Tokyo Motor Show, helping Toyota build a reputation as a sports vehicle builder. Already in 1971, the first Celica appeared, which lives up to the sporting lineage that incorporated the spirit of rear-wheel drive, having been praised by many enthusiasts for its agility, adding fans in the world of motorsports. Later, in 1984, the MR2 was launched, a model that gained the reputation of being one of the most complete “driver-cars” of its generation.
However, the car that made the most hearts flutter, and which is still a cult car – especially among the drift lovers community – is the Corolla Levin (Twin Cam) AE 86. The Corolla Levin AE 86 was equipped with a front engine and rear wheel drive. With its compact dimensions, light weight, balanced weight distribution and a weight/power ratio that is damned for fun, the AE 86 has won the preference of many competition teams thanks to these premises. According to the Japanese brand, it was the growing nostalgia around the extinct model that drove Toyota to produce the new GT 86.
Before they ask, I ask the question: What about the Toyota Supra? Well, the Toyota Supra hasn't been forgotten, but that's another story… and what a story!