The age of the Cheap AE86 is dead.

"The Guy who Drives ( A Aw11 Named Inari)" (tgwd)
04/29/2015 at 10:42 • Filed to: AE86, rant, stupis, aw11, cool story bro

Good Morning Oppo! This is TGWD here, AW11 owner, Ranger Driver and Perpetually angry student!

After a small sabbatical involving both my vehicles breaking, Clinical and school hours, an ever decreasing bank account and crappy weather, I am back at work and here to tell you about some recent happenings,

Namely, the lost of the “Affordable” AE86.

We all know the mystique behind the car, We all know it is a sutible platform and generally it is cool. We’ve heard of stories of people buying the old lovable cars for next to nothing or someone getting into being an enthusiast by their parents corolla and the story of some paying a reasonable price to have a “AE86”

I am here to tell you, That age has long since come and passed, Please bear with me as I try to organize my thoughts. The lack of caffeine on my addicted brain is making it hard to have a smooth delivery of words to my fingertips.

So, This past weekend, I was chatting with a fellow 4AGE fanatic/ AE86 owner about different ideas when he told me about a corolla sitting in his fathers yard.

DB: I got a AE86 Shell you might be interested since you are selling the MR2

Me: I’m kinda tapped and trying to save up, But what the hell, Why not offset a smart decision with a bad one. Whats the deal with it?

DB: “Yeah, I still have a friends shell sitting in my yard, it is a roller, But he put a Celica rear end on the car and he wants what he has into it, Dad is tired of it sitting in his yard and my friend does not have the storage place”

Me: “Oh? What is it, Coupe or hatch? SR5?

DB: It’s a SR5 coupe, It is stripped out and has rust on the rockers., It is pretty rusty elsewhere But it could be something decent, we were gonna throw a cage in it a just make it into a Drift missile project. I got most of the parts for a GTS conversion and a few 7AFE’s if you want to throw in a cheap motor or build up a 7AGE.

Idea’s began floating around in my head, If I can find a decent motor, even a 4AC just to get it running, I can use it as a base for a rat rod/ Autocross/ Rallycross car. Visions of an oil cooler mounted alongside a cheapo intercooler on a cracked front bumper, Black primer paint covering the decrepit body and rust holes sloppily, the Junkyard 7AGTE running rich out of the crudely welded blast pipes out the back. Mismached seats from an AW11 mounted in the cabin and an 8 ball shifter.

Yeah, I could just see the tickets and the tow bills.

Me: I like the sound of that how much is he asking?

DB: Make an offer

I thought about it for a few minutes and sent back a price, 300 for everything. I wasn’t sure what was the going price for a shell, a celica rear end or a a cup a coffee at starbucks. My spending was slashed back to Food, Repairs and tuition. I figured it may be low since it is a “Ae86” but at the end of the day, it is a shell, A rusty shell at that. A reply from DB stating his friend would take 300 without the rear end and 500 with the rear axle. I pondered on it and decided at the moment i’ll just take the shell and see about finding a 8.8 to throw up under the car.

DB: You sure you just want the shell?

Me: Yeah, I think I’ll find an old ford 8.8 rear end for it, The last 8.8 I had I paid 75 bucks for, of course, I had to swap out gears and all that pain in the ass stuff.

DB: He may take 400 for everything, Let me ask.

DB: 400? everything would be yours.

Anticipation welled within me,I was excited. I have a chance to own a corolla. Something that 13-15 year olds to this day want because of the show and all the crap with it. Sure it is an old rusty coupe, But it can be something fun. it will be interesting to see the difference between this coupe and my AW11.

A couple days go by and I am working on my truck after my water pump quit on me while pulling into the driveway, I get a text

DB: 400 just for the shell, he is keeping the rear end.

Me: WTF, I thought 400 for everything since it was 300 for the shell and 500 witht he rear end?

DB: No, that was just for the shell, He wants 500 For the rear axle. 700 for both. The rear end is good for 450-500 WHP.

ME: Ok, That’s find and dandy, But still it is a stripped down shell, I just thought 400 was good middle ground that we agreed on, Hell I was getting the money up tomorrow and was gonna see when he could meet.

DB: He said no already, 400 just for shell. 500 just for the axle, or 700 for both.

Me: Alright, fine whatever, I’ll see what what is up and I’ll let you know, I reckon’.

I’ve already wrote off the car, telling DB that I am no longer interested in the coupe, The dream of

Team Rocket Racing ™

back on hold. A brief cruising of of Club 4ag on the book face and craigslist are showing 2500 plus for a worn SR5 coupe and 4k plus for a hatch. 1000 for a non running example that is complete otherwise.

The age of getting an AE86 for a cheap is gone, The good thing is you can still find enthusiasts in the circle and buy a good example from them, May be a little high for what it is, But still reasonable I guess if that is something you truly want. Maybe I am spoiled due t he costs of the MR2’s and what I believe is a more fun vehicle than the corrola. Plus the price of the Mk2-3 supra’s are still reasonable and the fb-fc chassis are still peanuts in comparison, At least in my immediate travel area. I am better off letting it slip and I hope that someone else enjoys it.

DISCUSSION (10)

As Du Volant > The Guy who Drives ( A Aw11 Named Inari)
04/29/2015 at 10:45

What’s crazy is that for the money some people are asking for super clean high mileage AE86’s in the US, you can almost import an equally clean one from Japan with lower mileage.

If I ever feel like I need an 86 and have the money to spend that’s what I’m doing.

MLGCarGuy > The Guy who Drives ( A Aw11 Named Inari)
04/29/2015 at 11:03

The only time an AE86 should be expensive is if it’s a quality engine swap.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > The Guy who Drives ( A Aw11 Named Inari)
04/29/2015 at 12:01

“a celica rear end”

I’m willing to bet it’s a MkI Celica Supra rear end. $500 is about going rate for those, just ask MR2FTW.

The Guy who Drives ( A Aw11 Named Inari) > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
04/29/2015 at 12:30

Thank’s for the clarification! I was not totally sure. The only experience I have with rear axles is the ford 8.8’s and 7.5’s. I figured it would be worthwhile, Just was odd seeing that type of rear end going for 500 bucks, But hey I am still learning so no Biggie.

The Guy who Drives ( A Aw11 Named Inari) > As Du Volant
04/29/2015 at 12:36

That’s what I see as an option aswell, Sure the fee’s and the paperwork suck, But it is possible to at least have a “legit” AE86.

Though, i’d be tempted just to have a R-31 or a MR2....Or a Starlet Turbo.

The Guy who Drives ( A Aw11 Named Inari) > MLGCarGuy
04/29/2015 at 12:38

Beams 3SGE/ 6spd. yes.

I wouldn’t even have a problem with something that is clean or decent. To me, if it was kept up OK and drive-able and minimal rust 2-5K depending on condition would be reasoable.

But just like 240’s , The era of the Cheap has passed.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > The Guy who Drives ( A Aw11 Named Inari)
04/29/2015 at 12:55

Yeah, the Supra axle from the ‘79-’81 MkI was a 7.5” solid axle with discs. They went to the IRS 7.5” in the MkII so the third members can be changed (needs a housing swap though) and used with little modification on the AE86. It’s also got beefier axle shafts which make it good for DORIFTO.

The Guy who Drives ( A Aw11 Named Inari) > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
04/29/2015 at 13:01

Ok, Thanks for the info, Dukie. I figured it would be something to the fact like Mustang or ranger guys go from the 7.5’s to the 8.8’s or whatever.

I seen your Mk1, Looks good! what is the plans?

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > The Guy who Drives ( A Aw11 Named Inari)
04/29/2015 at 13:09

It’s actually a 2nd Gen Celica. 1981 GT Liftback to be exact. I’ve got a Supra axle that’s waiting to get rebuilt right now (time/money/new baby thing), more suspension work, interior work, maybe a BEAMS/6spd swap.

The Guy who Drives ( A Aw11 Named Inari) > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
04/29/2015 at 13:17

Awesome, I recently drove a Mk2 Celica supra and Aside from the lack of shifter bushing making it the equivalent of a broomstick in a 5 gallon bucket of gravel It was fun with the 5MGE plugging away.

Hope to see more of the GT!

and congrats about the new born youg’n