Initial D increases.
Toyota Gazoo Racing discovered a new revenue stream when it began producing spare parts for some of the most iconic models in its history. It all began in May 2019, when the Supra A70 and A80 generation components were announced for resuming production. The original 2000GT was only a year later. In 2020, additional bits and pieces were also revealed for older Supra models.
The Land Cruiser40 was introduced a few months back, and now the Corolla Levin / sprinter Trueno (AE86), is receiving the same treatment. You shouldn’t think you can build a new car since only a few components have been returned to production after more than 30 years. Owners are happy to hear the news, as it is more difficult to find parts and keep vehicles on the road.
Gazoo Racing’s Heritage Parts catalog is already available for purchase. It includes rear brake calipers as well as steering knuckle arm parts for the AE86. The list will expand to include rear driveshafts from December 1. Toyota states that the parts will only be made for a brief time, and it is doing so “with the special cooperation its suppliers”. Therefore, it’s important to act quickly and grab any remaining stock before production stops.
It is not yet clear if additional parts will be added to Heritage Parts in the same manner as Toyota Gazoo Racing did with the third and fourth-generation Supra. We are not surprised that Toyota will continue to support the Corolla Levin / Sprinter Trueno with the 1.6-liter DOHC 16-valve (4A–GEU) engine. This is despite the AE86’s popularity.
We can’t help but wonder if the spirit of the AE86 could be revived as more automakers look to their heritage and bring back important nameplates for new vehicles. Toyota points out that both generations of 86 have “inherited” the culture and traditions of the AE86. A GR-spec Corolla is rumored to be in the works. This would make it possible for a special edition called “AE86” to increase sales.