Supercharged 4A-GZE 1986 Corolla Levin

Sensory Delight

The 1980s Toyota Corolla has gathered an increasingly strong following over the past few years, with more and more people realizing the timelessness of these pure machines. From from the iconic styling of that era of Japanese cars to the analog driving feel, these beautiful beasts are everything that today's cars aren't.

Photos: Super Street

A Special Build

For a novice driver, the amount of input these front-engine, rear-wheel-drive Toyotas provide can easily become overwhelming. But that's also what makes them such amazing drivers' cars. The owner of the awesome 86 in the photos above, Myke Adams is all too familiar with this feeling. And although he's done extensive work on a number of these Corollas, this particular car holds a special place in his heart.

>>Join the conversation about this supercharged Corolla Levin right here in the Club Lexus forum.

Imported From Japan

Adams imported this Levin from Japan all by himself. No 3rd party company to help walk him through the legal maze and paperwork cluster. A stressful experience, which he doesn't recommend to anyone unless it's a car you truly love. For him, however, it's been very much worth the effort.

>>Join the conversation about this supercharged Corolla Levin right here in the Club Lexus forum.

Fate

As many of us enthusiasts can relate to, Adams came to own this rad ride after a long search process. This process took him to Toyota's homeland. "After chatting with my friend in Japan, he said he would just look around for one. I honestly didn't think I would find one I could afford but he was able to find this through a friend and it was just fate," he recalls.

>>Join the conversation about this supercharged Corolla Levin right here in the Club Lexus forum.

Maintaining the Character

The previous owner actually tracked the car, as well, so it wasn't flawless by any stretch. But it would serve as a great starting point for Adams, who wasn't looking to alter the car's Radwood-approved character. Rather, he was looking to enhance the Levin's driving feel while maintaining its reliability for easier daily driving.

>>Join the conversation about this supercharged Corolla Levin right here in the Club Lexus forum.

Enhancements

The visual updates provide a tasteful hint as to the Levin's performance enhancements. The transplanted 4A-GZE benefits from a supercharger, while the handling is improved by the custom coilover system. The full roll cage surrounds the Bride bucket seats, and the MR2 gauges behind the Vertex steering wheel provide the necessary information.

>>Join the conversation about this supercharged Corolla Levin right here in the Club Lexus forum.

Modest Build

Outside of the performance modifications, what truly brings this build to life are the details. while from a distance, the Levin possesses an ultra-cool JDM look, a closer examination of the vehicle will reveal things like the Zenki front grill center garnish, LED headlight conversion, carbon fiber rear garnish, and Redline taillights. Adams' Toyota offers a great way to build upon a great automobile.

>>Join the conversation about this supercharged Corolla Levin right here in the Club Lexus forum.

For help with your maintenance and repair projects please visit our how-to section in the forum.