Driftworks' Unstoppable 1972 Toyota Hilux
On the outside, this may look like a moderately modified '70s Hilux. But the pickup's body is hiding a Mazda MX-5 beneath its skin.
By Aria Goshi - April 28, 2021
Outlandish Idea
One might be tempted to attribute this neon-colored, tiny old Toyota pickup truck's quirkiness to the fact that it hails from the United Kingdom. But in reality, there is so much more to the unique character of this Driftworks build. The entire premise of this project is based on the outlandish idea of putting the 1972 Hilux body over the mechanical elements of an NB Mazda MX-5.Photos: Fast Car
Imported From South Africa
It all started when Driftworks founder, James Robinson came across this particular pickup when browsing eBay for a potential commuter vehicle one night. Not the easiest of '70s Toyotas to come across in the UK, not in great shape anyway, this Hilux had been imported from South Africa. And it happened to be low in miles.>>Join the conversation about this engine-swapped Hilux drift restomod right here in the Club Lexus forum.
Birth of the Idea
As clean and unmolested as it was, however, it was still begging to be enhanced. The idea to give the Hilux Miata underpinnings was conceived when Robinson discovered that the two vehicles are similar in dimensions. And that's when he decided to ditch the outdated chassis, suspension, and power of the old Toyota for something a lot more fun.>>Join the conversation about this engine-swapped Hilux drift restomod right here in the Club Lexus forum.
Benefits of Miata Underpinnings
And with that, the project was kicked off. A 2001 NB Miata was sourced for the build, and Robinson went to work to figure out every step of the conversion. The benefit of maintaining the Mazda's mechanics, aside from the performance potential, is that it makes maintenance much more economical. On top of that, the MX-5's ample aftermarket presence offers plenty of performance upgrades as well.>>Join the conversation about this engine-swapped Hilux drift restomod right here in the Club Lexus forum.
DynoTorque Craftsmanship
It should go without saying, the work wasn't all straightforward by any means. The biggest challenge was in modifying the Hilux shell to accept the Mazda's suspension. Specifically, the pickup's body was void of strut towers, as they were part of the discarded subframe. The folks at DynoTorque were up to that challenge, though. And they were able to fabricate custom mounts, in addition to several other modifications to bring the project together.>>Join the conversation about this engine-swapped Hilux drift restomod right here in the Club Lexus forum.
Drift-Ready Setup
Naturally, this being the product of Driftworks, it has all the characteristics of a car meant to be driven sideways. To that end, Driftworks CSD coilovers were employed. And combined with the gnarly lock angles on the steering rack, this little hauler is ready to slide around.>>Join the conversation about this engine-swapped Hilux drift restomod right here in the Club Lexus forum.
Turbo Power
Shredding tires wouldn't be possible without adequate power, though. And the turbocharger-ready Mazda engine is happy to oblige, providing 220 horsepower with the help of a Subaru TD04 turbo on a G19 Engineering turbo kit. And that's enough for a ton of sideways fun, considering the Hilux weighs under 2,500 pounds, with barely any of that mass over the rear axle.For help with your maintenance and repair projects please visit our how-to section in the forum.
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