I have always liked the looks of the little Tercel Coupe, my wife had one back in the day and it looked like a little 3-Series to me. I see them pretty cheap now and again, and always thought they might be a fun little car, but a bad experience with an older Tercel EZ kept me away.
I even had a line on a $500 BlackHawk Edition from a friend, but I didn't like the front end as much so I passed. (You probably remember the BlackHawk edition because it was modified WAY beyond stock with the addition of a Hawk sticker from Toyota Gazoo Motorsports Racing Happy Fun Time Division. )
Yesterday, I get my GRM and see a Tercel in 4th place at the Challenge. Not to take anything away from the team or the driver, but it had no V8 swap, no crazy turbo setup, no nitrous, no secret Corvette suspension...not even a sucker fan! You mean to tell me that with some basic tuning, these things can dominate the Challenge?!?!? I coulda had a BlackHawk...A BLACKHAWK!!!!
Well, ITBs, a ton of development, and a year without the drags. But yes, the Tercel was awesome.
Robbie
UltimaDork
3/1/19 2:36 p.m.
mazdeuce - Seth said:
Well, ITBs, a ton of development, and a year without the drags. But yes, the Tercel was awesome.
oh, and stock they weigh less than 2k lbs or something ridiculous.
Look at the combined autocross times alone( exclude concourse) and the darned thing runs with several Miatas, one with a V8 . Light weight and a bit of extra power went a long way. Adrian could make it quicker if he weren't sticking to FSP rules,too. The car still had most of it's interior intact.
Edit: If he were to use street tires it's a Gastropod ,too.
EchoEchoEcho I think is the owner/driver?
In reply to CrustyRedXpress :
Yes.
And on behalf of the Galactic Tercel Guild (TM), I just want to say that we forgive the mag for referring to this mighty machine as a "Corolla." However, for the record, Tercels don't need no stinkin' 11 million global sales, or whatever it is, to confirm their Chuck Norris-level awesomeness.
There's a local guy who tracks one and it's absolutely awesome.
You should also look at Canadian market echo hatches that leak south of the border and somehow get tagged and title in the lower 48.
I've really wanted one of these ever since Matt Farah and his goons beat the hell out of one on All Cars Go to Heaven a few years ago.
captdownshift said:
There's a local guy who tracks one and it's absolutely awesome.
You should also look at Canadian market echo hatches that leak south of the border and somehow get tagged and title in the lower 48.
IIRC all you need is a letter of compliance from Toyota Canada to import them to the states and apparently such a letter isn't that hard to get.
I was so close to 3rd! Im kicking myself for not doing a little bit more to get there, but this car is a ton of fun.
I built it for street prepared autocross and I really think if it didnt have those rules to limit the car for the challenge one can be built that will be pushing for 1st. Since the challenge ended my brother and I have been planning/scheming a purpose built 2nd gen paseo for the challenge just got to find one.
Stealthtercel said:
And on behalf of the Galactic Tercel Guild (TM), I just want to say that we forgive the mag for referring to this mighty machine as a "Corolla." However, for the record, Tercels don't need no stinkin' 11 million global sales, or whatever it is, to confirm their Chuck Norris-level awesomeness.
Yea idk why but the guys at GRM always get my challenge cars confused, Echo is not a Tercel and neither are Corollas! but this time they made the mistake in writing!
