Kevin's KE20 Corolla

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To my mind, the second generation E20 series Corollas are the best looking, most desirable to ever wear one of Toyota's longest-running nameplates.  And this example - recently fully rebuilt by Tasmanian mechanic Kevin - is as good as any you're ever likely to see, having had countless hours and not insignificant cash lavished upon every aspect of its comprehensive multi-year restoration.    

The beautifully stanced body is finished in flawless orange duco with matching bolt-on flares covering 13" x 9" Simmons wheels.  A JDM grille - with Levin badging - graces the nose, nicely complementing the dead-straight, ultra-shiny chrome of the bumper. 

The inside's also immaculate, featuring faithfully recreated, era-correct front and rear seats - complete with embossed motifs on the headrests - made in New Zealand but sourced from Canada.  A Momo Corse steering wheel and red-accented gear knob complete the look, with the latter tying in with the seats' red piping.  

All these good looks are backed up by some proper old-school punch, courtesy of a 1.8 litre 7K "slant" four pot engine - up a full .6 of a litre over the standard 1.2 litre 3K that the car came fitted with - breathing through twin Mikuni Solex carbies and a set of extractors.  Power gets to the ground via a five-speed 'box and a live rear axle.   

There are plans to upgrade the brakes but the car's otherwise very sorted.  Also on the agenda is choosing and fitting some exterior rear-view mirrors with the only thing decided so far being that they won't be mounted at the front of the 'guards, JDM-style, as this isn't a look that Kevin favours.  Whatever he chooses, it's hard to imagine that they won't look good, given the careful consideration and execution evident on the rest of the car.  







U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

Comments

  1. Anonymous8 June 2022 at 18:43

    Where’s the interior shots????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8 June 2022 at 21:28

      I don’t know why I didn’t get any. Chatting too much, probably. I’ll try to do an update.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous8 June 2022 at 21:41

    Oh, thank you Kevin, for not going down that - to me - horrid Japanese Domestic Market look of placing rear view mirrors towards the front of the guards. I know that Japan motorcar builders post WWII borrowed from English roots, (yes, that was an intended pun upon the Rootes group of companies); (Morris Minor = Datsun, Hillman = Isuzu et al) but surely they could have left this aberration at home.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous28 March 2023 at 20:02

    I’m with you! Forward mounted “wing” mirrors are ridiculous!

    ReplyDelete

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