Toyota E80 Corolla SX Twin-Cam Hatchback (1986)
Toyota was a bit later than most to the FWD party. They had actually issues a bet each way, maintaining old-school RWD on most platforms, but also trying out a couple of longitudinal FWD models 'just to see'.
Key segment to deploy FWD was compact cars, and the first FWD Corolla, the E80 debuted in 1983 (in most markets). It too, had a bet each way, where the Levin, Sprinter and Trueno coupes maintained a longitudinal RWD driveline layout, while the sedans, hatch and liftbacks debuted a FWD driveline set.
Hot engines were not exclusive to the RWD Coupes either. The legendary 4A-GE being made available in versions of the FWD range, such as the Australian-market SX Twin-Cam hatchback, shown here. This transverse installation would actually be translated to the rear of the car to make the first generation MR2.
The car shown here, with its big 3-spoke wheels, was my brother's first car - nice wheels at 18 - before he unfortunately welded it to a light pole in the middle of the night.
The 4A-GE produced 88 kW or so, depending on the market, which might not sound like a whole lot these days, but in the mid-1980s, in a car that weighed comfortably under a ton, this made for a pretty quick rig.
As for most of the models built his November, the Corolla Twin-Cam is a major redesign of a previously created model. In LUGNuts there was a build challenge named 'Redo or Redemption' just for this type of build.
Toyota E80 Corolla SX Twin-Cam Hatchback (1986)
Toyota was a bit later than most to the FWD party. They had actually issues a bet each way, maintaining old-school RWD on most platforms, but also trying out a couple of longitudinal FWD models 'just to see'.
Key segment to deploy FWD was compact cars, and the first FWD Corolla, the E80 debuted in 1983 (in most markets). It too, had a bet each way, where the Levin, Sprinter and Trueno coupes maintained a longitudinal RWD driveline layout, while the sedans, hatch and liftbacks debuted a FWD driveline set.
Hot engines were not exclusive to the RWD Coupes either. The legendary 4A-GE being made available in versions of the FWD range, such as the Australian-market SX Twin-Cam hatchback, shown here. This transverse installation would actually be translated to the rear of the car to make the first generation MR2.
The car shown here, with its big 3-spoke wheels, was my brother's first car - nice wheels at 18 - before he unfortunately welded it to a light pole in the middle of the night.
The 4A-GE produced 88 kW or so, depending on the market, which might not sound like a whole lot these days, but in the mid-1980s, in a car that weighed comfortably under a ton, this made for a pretty quick rig.
As for most of the models built his November, the Corolla Twin-Cam is a major redesign of a previously created model. In LUGNuts there was a build challenge named 'Redo or Redemption' just for this type of build.