| Perhaps the most popular 1980s sports car to | | | | drifting. To this day it is still popular in drifting |
| come out of Japan was the Toyota AE86. Often | | | | competitions because of its fantastic cornering |
| known as the Hachi-Roku, which means eight-six | | | | and early association with the sport.The Japanese |
| in Japanese, the sports car became incredibly well | | | | manga and anime series, Initial D, also sparked a |
| liked especially after its appearances in the | | | | new interest in the car among automobile and |
| Japanese manga and anime series called Initial D. | | | | drifting fans all over the world. The car remains |
| The Toyota AE86, which was first introduced in | | | | so well received that it has been featured in the |
| 1983, is also famous for being the last small, rear | | | | high-selling, realistic videogame racing series Gran |
| wheel drive coupe.The car came in two different | | | | Turismo. Because of its recent attention, the |
| body styles, the Levin and the Trueno. They | | | | resale value of the car has increased.The car was |
| were essentially the same thing, with the only | | | | originally released in North America under the |
| difference coming in the shape of its headlights. | | | | Corolla name, which stood for "crown of a flower" |
| More variations between the two models later | | | | and came out in 3 different versions. It was also |
| came in 1986, when Toyota changed the tail lights | | | | fairly popular in North America, as one version |
| and hatchback styles as well. The cars produced | | | | known as the GT-S stayed in production until |
| before this change were commonly called "Zenki", | | | | 1991. The AE86 sports car was also released in |
| which is Japanese for "early period". Toyota AE86 | | | | Australia under the name Sprinter, but |
| cars made with the new changes were called | | | | unfortunately, it did not sell so well because the |
| "Kouki", which unsurprisingly means "latter period" | | | | stock engine was poor. However, many Australian |
| in Japanese.The sports car was also very popular | | | | car enthusiasts switched the engine and it has |
| at car shows and was used in various racing | | | | been stayed popular for rally and track racing due |
| sports, particularly circuit racing and rally driving. | | | | to its good handling.Even though it has been over |
| Even now, after it has been discontinued, the car | | | | twenty years since its release, the legendary car |
| remains popular in rally circles and club races. The | | | | is still highly regarded among car enthusiasts due |
| car was particularly adept at cornering, especially | | | | to its wonderful handling and drifting abilities. It |
| when it was going downhill. As a result, this made | | | | continues to gain fame years later since it has |
| it a very common car for mountain pass street | | | | been featured in many different car shows, |
| races in Japan, known as hashiriyas. The sports | | | | cartoons, games and television series. Since it was |
| car was light, quite powerful, easily modifiable and | | | | also the last of its kind and was used by the |
| balanced very well. Keiichi Tsuchiya, the legendary | | | | legendary drift king, Keiichi Tsuchiya, it looks like |
| racer in Japan known as Dori-Kin, or "drift king", | | | | the Toyota AE86 is here to stay and drift for |
| had also used the car. In fact, with the Toyota | | | | years to come. |
| AE86, Keiichi Tsuchiya popularized the sport of | | | | |