"Raphmoe" (raphmoe)
11/03/2014 at 12:43 • Filed to: car spotting, dots, toyota, corolla, car culture
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"Raphmoe" (raphmoe)
11/03/2014 at 12:43 • Filed to: car spotting, dots, toyota, corolla, car culture | 4
| 22 |
There's something to be said for the front-drive Corolla of the mid 80s. Their charms aren't immediately present, but they show themselves in the right light.
You could get them with the same high tech, high-revving 16-valve engine as the rear-driver AE86. They had plenty of space. They were like GTIs, but better. With their slab sides and sharp creases, they had a kind of static, architectural look to them – a bit more like a building than a car.
Cars are like wildlife. I don't think that my current obsession with cars is very different. I hunt out examples of rare breeds, I spend much too much time identifying some half-glanced subject, I study their movements in my spare time. Birds are difficult to photograph, but you don't get to use binoculars when you're looking at cars. It's a trade-off.
I couldn't call it a step forward or a step back, just an endless, joyful, tiring pastime.
ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
> Raphmoe
11/03/2014 at 12:46 |
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Is this the correct light you were referring to?
crowmolly
> Raphmoe
11/03/2014 at 12:53 |
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Also pictured- a punch in the gut to all Nova enthusiasts.
ly2v8-Brian
> Raphmoe
11/03/2014 at 12:54 |
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Where do Japanese cars this old exist? I honestly never see any older than maybe 1990 or so.
Steve in Manhattan
> Raphmoe
11/03/2014 at 12:54 |
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I had an '87 HiLux 4x4 Longbed - in those years the entire Toyota lineup was impossible to kill. Dumped the truck on its side once in a horrible blizzard. Couple good ol' boys helped me push it back up onto its wheels, and I drove it home.
Kate's Dirty Sister
> Raphmoe
11/03/2014 at 12:54 |
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Patina on a Toyota is like ...
Shit I lost my train of thoughts, but that was fucking good.
Jcarr
> Raphmoe
11/03/2014 at 12:56 |
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One of my best friend's first car was a gold Corolla much like your first image up there that we affectionately named "Vilmer" after the Texas Chainsaw Massacre character.
We would get that thing up to about 90 on deserted Iowa 2-lanes and hope he didn't shake apart. He never did and took all the abuse we could throw at him.
One rainy Friday afternoon my friend took a highway bend a little to ambitiously and ended up going ass-first into a medium-sized tree at about 40 mph. Vilmer drove away just fine, but from then forth had a nice V-shaped trunk.
Boxer_4
> Raphmoe
11/03/2014 at 13:00 |
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I've often compared car spotting "in the wild" to bird spotting. It's fun, and it makes dull tasks such as shopping actually enjoyable. The rarer, the better.
I found a 1985 Corolla 5 door not to long ago, in fairly nice shape. That was a rare sight, since most of them have rusted away in Pennsylvania. That's not the only rare car I've found in the last couple months, either.
The only way to get a 4A-GE in a Corolla in 1987 other than an AE86 was to get a FX-16, if I remember correctly. I think the only engine available in the standard 1987 Corolla sedan and hatchback was the 4A-C.
McMike
> Raphmoe
11/03/2014 at 13:00 |
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Don't forget the 'Murican offering.
fhrblig
> Raphmoe
11/03/2014 at 13:01 |
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I think the Chevy Nova (aka Toyota Sprinter) sedan looked better than the Corolla Sedan. That goes for the following 2 generations too, when it became the Prizm.
sony1492
> ly2v8-Brian
11/03/2014 at 13:24 |
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They live in rural areas with greater numbers.
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ly2v8-Brian
> sony1492
11/03/2014 at 14:03 |
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you would think so but that isn't the case around here.
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sony1492
> ly2v8-Brian
11/03/2014 at 14:07 |
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The ones round these parts experience day to day off road use. I'm surprised that survive as long as they do.
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ly2v8-Brian
> sony1492
11/03/2014 at 14:10 |
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runnin on luck
ddavidn
> Raphmoe
11/03/2014 at 15:05 |
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Navi agrees with you!
Jonathan Harper
> Raphmoe
11/04/2014 at 08:34 |
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Better than a GTI?! Keep dreaming.
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Raphmoe
> Jonathan Harper
11/04/2014 at 08:38 |
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They look better.
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Jonathan Harper
> Raphmoe
11/04/2014 at 08:48 |
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You trippin.
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Raphmoe
> Jonathan Harper
11/04/2014 at 08:57 |
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Good looks are subjective.
Source: having unique eyes and a unique brain. You like what you like, I like what I like. Blessed be all who love cars.
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Jonathan Harper
> Raphmoe
11/04/2014 at 09:05 |
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Now there's some wisdom #blessed #trippin
duurtlang
> ly2v8-Brian
11/04/2014 at 09:16 |
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With the exception of Startlets I very, very rarely see Japanese cars older than 20 years of age. My guess is this is because very few Japanese cars aren't seen as disposable. Some others were hooned to death (MR2) or rusted to death (MR2).
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ly2v8-Brian
> duurtlang
11/04/2014 at 10:01 |
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probably it.
KirkyV
> duurtlang
11/04/2014 at 13:50 |
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The MR2 did have a fairly high mortality rate, but I do still see a fair few about—certainly more than any other Japanese car of a similar vintage, barring the ever-popular MX5.