1985 Toyota Corolla GT-S Note:
The adhering to story was excerpted from the October 2021 concern of Collectible Automobile publication. Perhaps among the most unanticipated auto icons of the Eighties is Toyota’s simple Hachi-Roku, Japanese for”8-6.”This nickname describes Toyota’s AE86 version code for the leading 1600 GT APEX performance version of the Japanese-market 1983-1987 Corolla Levin as well as carefully related Sprinter Trueno. (The latter is a pop-culture celebrity for its central duty in the Japanese street-racing manga Initial D). Lesser recognized is the pair’s American-market relative, the 1985-87 Toyota Corolla GT-S. It’s the AE86 we intend to wring out for Cheap Wheels.
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Toyota’s fifth-generation Corolla split right into two distinctive branches. The four-door models changed to a front-drive layout, however the sportier two-door notchback and hatchback maintained a front-engine, rear-drive format. When U.S. sales started for 1984, the two-door Corollas used designing roughly equal to the home-market Sprinter Trueno with its pop-up headlamps. The most popular versions were the SR5s running an 87-horsepower 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine.
1985 Toyota Corolla GT-S Advertisement(France) The now-legendary AE86 landed in America as the ’85 Corolla GT-S. Both two-door bodies were readily available and also compared to the SR5 the spicier GT-S received a front air dam and also bodyside stickers. The hatchback also added a rear spoiler. Suppress weight was 2450 extra pounds, as well as hatchback rates started at around $9915.
The GT-S shared the rev-happy 4A-GE engine with Toyota’s modern MR2. It was a 1.6-liter dohc 16-valve 4 that ran a light weight aluminum cyndrical tube head with twin belt-driven camshafts and also centrally installed spark plugs, in addition to Bosch L-Jetronic gas shot. The engine was rated at 112 horse power and 97 pound-feet of torque, and also it mated to a five-speed handbook transmission.
Like many early 16-valve engines, the 4A-GE made its power at high rpm. Right here horse power peaked at 6600 rpm and the redline was a sky-high 7500 revs. In its May 1985 concern, Hot Rod reported the engine actually didn’t start coming alive until 4000 rpm, and also was buzzing along at 4500 at 70 mph in 5th equipment. Their bottom line, “If this mania sounds like it would make you a little insane in regular web traffic, you’re right.” In the September 1984 Car and also Driver, Csaba Csere created, “At reduced engine speeds, the GT-S does not appear solid in all. Also at full chat, it does not feel like a pocket rocket– though a 9.5-second 0-to-60 time as well as a 113-mph top speed are barely shoddy.”
GT-S’s suspension used MacPherson struts in advance. Out back, the live back axle was found with upper and also reduced control arms. Brakes were upgraded to four-wheel discs, and there was a limited-slip differential. Alloy wheels wore 185/60HR -14 Bridgestone Potenza rubber. This set-up does not appear exotic, however in the corners everything functioned very well. Vehicle as well as Driver called GT-S a “great-handling auto” with “excellent balance.”
In the February 1985 problem of Road & & Track, the GT-S won a six-car hot-hatch comparison against (in finishing order) the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Mitsubishi Mirage Turbo, Honda Civic S, Dodge Omni GLH, and Renault Encore GS. R&T liked the Toyota’s rear-drive dynamics and motorist’s seat, yet griped about the Corolla’s commonly spaced tailoring, specifically on the track.
Pros:
- Well-balanced chassis is self-confidence inspiring and supplies outstanding handling.
- Eighties Toyota styling has actually matured well, as well as we particularly like the hatchback’s looks.
Con:
- The engine’s power band and the reduced tailoring conspire against unwinded travelling.
- Racy hatchback roofline as well as rear-drive design endangered rear-seat and also cargo room.
Final Drive:
This Corolla GT-S is a forgiving vehicle driver’s car, as well as for certain lovers there are couple of points more gratifying than driving a sluggish auto quick.
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- 1985 Toyota Corolla GT-S
