Kevin's KE20 Corolla
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.)
Where’s the interior shots????
ReplyDeleteI don’t know why I didn’t get any. Chatting too much, probably. I’ll try to do an update.
DeleteOh, 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.
ReplyDeleteI’m with you! Forward mounted “wing” mirrors are ridiculous!
ReplyDeleteWho is the owner? Anyone have Kevin’s @ and who’s the photographer?
ReplyDelete