'85 Corolla GTS - Oldschool Japanese Bucketlist Car - Should I?

Hey all,

So I've decided its probably time to get rid of my E36 M3 and move onto something cheaper, what with school around the corner and other life responsibilities. I was flipping through facebook, when i came across this old '86 being sold.

Now this is a bucket list car for me. You know, one of those cars that you promise yourself you will own one day. They are super rare around here, and if you do find one, they are usually rusted out or smashed to pieces. This guy claims his is rust free, and has a clean title. He says the engine was recently rebuilt too. 4AGE.

Anyways, other things he mentioned was a new radiator, new water pump, timing belt, and trans/diff fluids.

Are these cars simply getting too long in the tooth to own? Am I going to end up fixing it more than I drive it? He's asking 2,500 which is a bit on the cheap side sadly. Anyways, just wanted some opinions. Thanks GRMers!

see if you can find a replacement left tail lamp assembly, if you can, go for it, if you can't take it as a sign that you won't be able to find bits that you'll need to keep it driving without major pre-planning.

Damn, I would at least look at it. Not too long-in-the-tooth to own, the aftermarket will never let these cars die.

Get it. If it's in decent shape and you can keep it that way, it will most likely appreciate.

For a real GTS, this is rather cheap if it's not rusted to oblivion.

They are, perhaps, the most fun production chassis ever for tossing around on a back road/autox (IMO). I'd definitely check it out.

Where are you located?

If it isn't rusty I'd be all over it. I DD an 86 Nissan truck and have little problem getting parts.

I live in Utah, the car is in Idaho. 3 hour drive, but I'm game. I looked up our state laws and it looks like cars 30 years and older are classified as "antique vehicles". You pay $45 a year to register it then, after its 40 years old, you pay a one-time $40 fee. Registering the car as such makes it exempt from safety AND emissions. So basically I can legally throw whatever engine I want in there and street it, right?

Yeah, I dont think I can pass this one up.

Yeah, jump on that one if it turns out it isn't rusting away underneath. This is a case where if you don't get it, you'll kick yourself for the rest of your life.

Besides rust... check for accident damage......

Desmond wrote: I live in Utah, the car is in Idaho. 3 hour drive, but I'm game. I looked up our state laws and it looks like cars 30 years and older are classified as "antique vehicles". You pay $45 a year to register it then, after its 40 years old, you pay a one-time $40 fee. Registering the car as such makes it exempt from safety AND emissions. So basically I can legally throw whatever engine I want in there and street it, right? Yeah, I dont think I can pass this one up.

Just be sure the antique tag doesn't limit you. In SC it does...a lot.

You come here to ask if you should buy a car?? You must be new here.

What are you going to drive in the winter?

In reply to amg_rx7:

My girlfriend drove one of these (with no LSD) through at least one upstate NY winter when we were in highschool. Put a few sandbags in the trunk, get some nice tires, and enjoy.

Get that! Although the low asking price has me suspicious.

amg_rx7 wrote: What are you going to drive in the winter?

do a minus 1.5 for tire "upgrade" When I had my AE86 in the Poconos, I'd removed my 195/50/15 in November and ran 175/70/14 with Hakkapeliitta tires all around till April... never got stuck

It's definitely been resprayed, so check for accident damage like has been said.

Finding that taillight shouldn't be impossible, but be prepared to eBay, craigslist, forum search, and overpay for it. Parts are getting harder to find for sure.

If it's not a real GTS they went through some trouble to make it look like one. It's got the lower front bumper and seats. You can always just check the VIN for AE88 (not 86) to verify original GTS, if you care.

Either way, $2500 is a great deal for 4AG powered car as long as it's not a rust bucket.

Yeah I have a Miata too with some gnarly winter tires, but I would winter this thing no problem, once I thoroughly rust-proof the bottom of it.

Why the post. Get over there NOW!

A real 86 will have disks in the back. A fake one might have disks if they swapped the axle out, but they would have to really want to make a fake one for that.

Dr. Hess wrote: A real 86 will have disks in the back. A fake one might have disks if they swapped the axle out, but they would have to really want to make a fake one for that.

It's pretty common to find GTS rear ends on swapped SR5s, at least here in CA. At this point in the car's life the only way to really know is to check the VIN. If you're not a collector it doesn't really matter though, the chassis is identical.

Check the VIN, also check the VIN and did I mention check the VIN. I worked at a Toyota dearlship when the GTS was introduced and I still have the Toyota Tech newsletter with all of the 85 models. The car is missing the GTS decals and the wheels are off a Celica. It is very common for people to install the GTS parts on regular Corollas. It may well be the real thing but my gut tells me it's not.......I could be wrong. I like the GTS a lot but keep in mind that a stock one is pretty gutless, I think they belted out a mind blowing 17 second 1/4 mile. On the plus side they did have 4 wheel disc and a limited slip as standard. They can be modded to go very well. What ever you do, please please don't be yet another guy who guts it out and turns it into yet another crappy broke arse drift car dork mobile thing.........it's to much for the world to bear. Of course should you buy it and want to go with the dork mobile thing, go for it as it's your car to do with as you please.

  Tom

FWIW, the car in the pictures has GT-S seats, GT-S front bumper, GT-S airdam, GT-S rear bumper and plastic trim, so it is still worth checking over, but I wouldn't worry too much about a missing sticker on the door.

Oh yeah, and I think you should buy it...super-fun cars! I doubt you will regret it.