Tag Archives: New Zealand

Daily Driven Hachi-Go!

March 31, 2009 in Feature Cars by

lemontrueno

Now I know the website’s name is hachi roku, but that’s not gunna stop us posting up hot AE85s is it? Look at yesterdays post, even TOSHIKing’s drift beasty is an AE85 under all that technology and matte black war paint! Which bring us to this sweet lemon. No it’s not a lemon it’s one hell of a daily-driven, yellow-tinted harlot.  Another AE86 to reside in the land of the long white cloud, this time it’s Rob Powell, otherwise known as Flange, to show off his wares:

So why did you choose the AE85, as opposed to going for an AE86 straight off?
It’s what was available at the time. Plus 86s are stupidly over-priced these days. I do have a genuine AE86 sitting in the driveway, but it’s rusting to bits, unfortunately.

Oh the controversy! But he hit’s the nail on the head! Why not choose to convert a nice AE85 shell into and AE86? Bring it on I say! Read the rest and much more over at NZPC.

Naturally Aspirated Nirvana

March 24, 2009 in Feature Cars by

booya

One of my favorite cars of all time, this Trueno’s photo still hangs proudly over my workspace on a poster that’s over 3 years old. When the car was released, it was exactly what I wanted: Big offset, super wide body and clean paint. Built by Tama Autos and owned by Kiwi GarethThode, this hachiroku is one of NZ’s best.

“I built this car to have a clean, well performing 86,” Gareth told us. As it ripped past, throttle wide open in third gear, deep-dish rims gleaming beneath a widened body it became pretty obvious that he has achieved exactly what he set out to do…

Check out the article (and pics!) over @ the NZPC website.

AE86 Levin GT-V: Long Distance Gunner

February 24, 2009 in Feature Cars by

sr20_nz

Our mates across the Tasman have certainly been busy! NZ has always been a haven for hardcore modified AE86’s but Dan Udy’s Corolla Levin, apparently built for endurance racing, takes the cake! Packing an SR-20 powerplant, this 1985 GT-V not only houses quite a substantial engine swap but it’s presented in flawless show car quality!

With around 450hp flowing down via the rear wheels, and less than 1000kg of mass to push around, this Levin should have no problems being competitive. Truth be told, it actually stands a good chance of winning.

The purists might have a problem with the Nissan engine, but this Levin is just so clean and well executed you just gotta love it.

Read the full article and check out the expansive gallery @ NZ Performance Car Blog.

’86 Wins @ Rally of South Canterbury 08

July 24, 2008 in Events by

First in class, first in 2WD and 15th overall. It doesn’t matter if they are from Australia or New Zealand, these rally ’86 nuts are on form and showing the rally fraternity of evos and wrx’s that the little hachiroku has still got the balls to rumble with the best. The pilot of this particular blue Levin is Kiwi Lyndon Galbraith with his brother Darren giving the directions. Just listening to that 4A scream makes me grin like an idiot. Great work lads, you make us all proud! Check out some great in-car footage of the many stages of the event here.