Modern Lexus V8 Recharges Vintage Toyota Coupe
Radical restomod of rare 1973 Carina outfitted with Lexus 1UZ-FE power is our kind of ‘power tripping.’
The whole concept of post-WWII hot-rods focused on taking the best of available cheap parts and rolling them into a car that you, in turn, make much better than any vehicle available at a dealer. Modern restomods go a step further by combining old, outclassed cars that have cool bodies, with modern, reliable, powerful drivetrains. This 45-year-old 1973 Toyota Carina that we recently spotted for sale online really does those things nicely, squeezing a Lexus LS/GS/SC400 1UZ-FE 32 valve V8 between the fenders.
That means this little Toyopet now has around 300 hp headed back to the rear wheels, replacing a 4-cylinder motor that (if you opted for the top of the line 2.0 liter) had less than 140 hp. You can bet that this car is a good deal quicker than the big Lexus that the motor (and 4-speed automatic) came out of because this little coupe left the lot weighing less than 2,200 lbs. Inside is what has got to be America’s cleanest original Carina, and the only suggestion that it isn’t stock is the automatic transmission shifter mounted between the seats.
There does not seem to have been too much chassis updating. But from the build pictures and description the seller posted, at least it now has a modern rack and pinion steering set up, and coil over suspension. Were big brakes and reinforced differential added to handle the newfound power? We should hope so. It looks like he at least started with a solid car without any rust.
