In simply over per week’s time, the Toyota Proprietor’s and Restorer’s Membership – TORC for brief – will return to Lengthy Seashore, California for the twenty eighth working of All Toyotafest.
Since 1995, this occasion has been bringing collectively a various group of Toyota fans with simply as a lot selection of their Toyota fashions. The 2024 present shall be no totally different, and it’s at all times thrilling to see what turns up. Immediately, we’re winding again the clock 10 years for a throwback have a look at All Toyotafest 2014.
2014 Characteristic
Toyota and Southern California have been linked for the reason that model’s very first days within the USA within the late Nineteen Fifties. The primary Toyota dealership in America was positioned in Hollywood and after that will come the corporate’s large American headquarters within the metropolis of Torrance.
For many years Toyota’s operations have been a serious participant within the Southern California automobile trade. However that’s all about to alter. Final week, the corporate introduced plans to maneuver a lot of its US operations to Texas to reap the benefits of that state’s business-friendly insurance policies.
Whereas the transfer to Texas makes compete sense from a enterprise standpoint, Toyota’s giant presence in Southern California shall be sorely missed. For many years LA has been an epicenter of Toyota fans – and nowhere is that extra evident than at Toyotafest in Lengthy Seashore.
It simply so occurs that Toyotafest 2014 was held simply days after Toyota introduced the transfer to Texas, and there actually appeared to be a wierd aura round this 12 months’s present. However on the similar time, it was additionally comforting. As a result of whereas Toyota’s company operations is perhaps packing up and heading off for greener pastures, the fervour for the model in SoCal reveals no indicators of fading.
In typical LA style, the climate for this 12 months’s occasion couldn’t have been higher. If something, it was truly somewhat on the recent aspect with a mid-summer feeling although we’re only a couple days into Might. Sunshine and Toyota: two Southern California establishments.
I take into account Toyotafest one of the crucial pleasurable occasions on the yearly calendar, and no matter the truth that it’s restricted solely to Toyota, Lexus and Scion-branded automobiles – it has one of the crucial numerous lineups of any automobile present I’ve been to.
Unfold among the many grass close to the world well-known Queen Mary, you’ll discover the whole lot from lifted Land Cruisers and slammed Scions to immaculately restored Celicas. Fanatics of all kinds have been gathering within the SoCal solar for 19 years now to have fun their love of Toyota.
Whereas I’ve lined Toyotafest a number of occasions, evidently yearly there’s a bunch of cool vehicles that I’ve by no means seen earlier than. Positive, there are many acquainted ones, however it’s at all times spectacular to see simply what number of Toyota maniacs come out of the woodwork for this occasion.
That is heavy. What you’re looking at is an ideal reproduction of the Toyota Hilux pickup that Marty McFly drove within the film Again to the Future.
Whereas this isn’t the actual truck used within the film, it appears precisely prefer it, with all the proper particulars accounted for.
For starters you’ve bought the proper wheels and tires and the KC lights sitting up prime. The push bar on the entrance can also be fully genuine to the one within the film.
Though Marty’s 4×4 won’t be thought-about one among Hollywood’s most iconic film vehicles, there wasn’t a single one who didn’t acknowledge precisely what this was. I’d say it’s simply as cool because the DeLorean BTTF replicas on the market.
Together with rows of Celicas, Corollas and different extra in style Toyota fashions, Toyotafest additionally consists of plenty of the extra obscure Toyota fashions, lots of which have disappeared from California roads. This 1975 Corona Coupe may be very a lot a type of vehicles.
I used to be initially drawn to this automobile primarily based on rarity, however as I bought nearer I turned much more impressed with what I noticed.
The outside was good, and virtually fully authentic. The one actual change is below the fenders, the place a set of Panasports with good meaty tires now stay.
Nevertheless it actually will get good below the hood. Not solely does it have a twin cam 18R-G swap, there’s an old-fashioned HKS turbo equipment added to it.
I’ve been capable of attend plenty of basic automobile meets in Japan and even over there I’ve by no means seen something like this. Such is the uncommon treasure you discover at Toyotafest.
For being an important wanting, light-weight, turbocharged mid-engine sports activities automobile you’d suppose the SW20 MR2 could be extra in style than it’s. It does seem as if an increasing number of modified SW20s are beginning to pop up at occasions like Toyotafest.
This one was fairly aggressive with a matte orange end, loopy wheels and a few vast physique work.
Some would say that the entire bolt-on over fender factor is getting overdone, however I feel the uncooked look fits the MR2 effectively.
It additionally helps that this automobile is sporting a very badass set of 18-inch Work Equips with huge lips and flat white facilities.
It additionally appears like there’s loads of chunk to again up the bark, because of the big Precision Turbo turbocharger outfitted to the automobile’s stroked 3S-GTE.
The Toyota Prius is a automobile that will get plenty of hate from red-blooded automobile fans, however personally I’ve bought nothing in opposition to the wedge-shaped hybrid. In actual fact, I like all automobile that’s constructed to do a selected job and do it effectively – and the Prius actually does that.
I additionally suppose the Prius could make a reasonably cool wanting cruiser, and the builder of this instance took issues to a brand new degree with a full-on luxurious VIP theme.
As you possibly can see, it sports activities a moderately dramatic exterior makeover with an Aimgain Lexus-style aero equipment and a few cool one-off vast physique work.
Additional including to the VIP look are a set of huge diameter Avant Garde wheels tucked below the hybrid’s customized fenders.
Let’s not overlook the inside which has been completely refinished in crimson leather-based with all of the bippu toys. In case you are going for a snug and funky wanting cruiser, why not get 50mpg whereas doing it?
Subsequent up we make a journey straight again to the Nineteen Eighties with this badass second era Supra. That is throwback tuning type at its finest.
The angular physique is sporting an old-fashioned Erebuni equipment, with the white paint set off by some refined ‘Celica XX’ insignia down the edges.
The wheels are 16-inch Epsilon mesh and so they additional full the retro avenue tuner look.
Inside we’ve bought a mildly upgraded inside, set off by a pair of classic Recaro buckets for each the motive force and passenger. Don’t overlook the Recaro upholstery on the door panels both.
The one trendy contact I might discover is within the engine bay, the place a 1JZ turbo swap has changed the Supra’s authentic 5M motor.
Subsequent is one among my favourite vehicles of the present – and in addition one of the crucial uncommon. It’s a 1989 Camry and never solely is it extraordinarily clear, it’s one of many coolest sleepers I’ve seen shortly.
In case you do see a Camry of this classic on the highway immediately, chances are high it’s going to be crushed past return. Not so on this case. This one is in implausible situation.
Not solely that, however that is an All-Trac mannequin, which means it got here outfitted with the AWD system much like the one used on the Celica.
However the proprietor of this one has bought as soon as step additional and put in an entire 3S-GTE engine and drivetrain from a 1995 Celica GT-4.
Sure, it’s mainly a GT-4 in a four-door Camry wrapper, and that makes it fully superior.
For a number of years you may say that Toyotafest didn’t provide a lot by the use of trendy vehicles to be enthusiastic about. However now that the Scion FR-S has been round for a bit, the up to date aspect of the Toyota group is alive and effectively. Who cares if the engines say ‘Subaru’ on them?
Evidently, the number of modified 86s that got here out bought me as soon as once more wishing I had one among my very own.
Even with the recognition of the FR-S you continue to solely see them on the roads sometimes, so it was cool to see so many in a single place and all exhibiting totally different levels of modification.
As with final 12 months, one among my favourite vehicles of the FR-S bunch was this vintage-inspired instance with Hayashi Road wheels and different cool particulars.
How a couple of Prius with the identical retro-flavored Hayashi wheels? I completely dig this.
Right here’s a Lexus SC – a automobile that many people take into account trendy, however is shortly transferring in direction of basic – or at the very least, neo-classic territory. Regardless of its age, the massive coupe remains to be a looker, particularly when dropped on a set of Work VS-KF wheels.
And right here’s the predecessor to the Lexus SC – the Z20 chassis Toyota Soarer. These had been by no means bought within the US, however each from time to time you’ll see a uncommon JDM import on the highways of LA.
The primary era Lexus GS is one other automobile that also appears nice regardless of its age. I’m certain you’ll agree that it appears even higher in full Junction Produce mode.
No cracked leather-based right here or sun-baked surfaces right here. The cabin on this GS appears nearly as good because it did the day it rolled of the Lexus manufacturing line.
It’s at all times good to see a powerful exhibiting of MR2s at Toyotafest, and this 12 months’s group included this tasty SW20 with sweet crimson RAYS Volk Racing TE37s and loads of go-fast items. Speak about an important, if barely underrated automobile.
A 2001 Camry is a automobile that’s normally reserved for grocery retailer and faculty parking heaps moderately than automobile reveals, however this one is fairly rattling cool.
As a result of together with some suspension work and a set of J-Line wheels, the Camry’s 3MZ-FE V6 is sporting a TRD supercharger that takes it proper into mega-sleeper territory.
When it comes all the way down to it although, the factor that makes Toyotafest really particular are the outdated vehicles. From restored ’60s and ’70s Corollas to the nice angular Celicas and Supras of the ’80s, this 12 months’s collection of classic Toyotas didn’t disappoint.
So far as these retro Toyotas go, it’s exhausting to get a lot better than a TE27 Corolla with a twin cam 2T-G below the hood and TRD TOSCO wheels in any respect 4 corners.
For some time it appeared like few individuals needed to play with A60 Celica notchbacks, however I used to be pleased to see large group of them at Toyotafest this 12 months, together with this powerful wanting flared instance. Good contact with the stripes.
Toyota Crowns are a couple of and much between within the US, and that’s why it was actually cool to see this lovely S60 wagon on the market. I can’t watch for the day after I’ll be capable to take my very own S50 wagon out right here…
To me, the 70-series two-door coupe is among the finest wanting Corollas ever made, and this 1982 instance on manufacturing facility Supra wheels was as clear because it will get. Large thumbs up.
The primary era Supra by no means will get plenty of love, so it’s refreshing to see the blokes from Japanese Nostalgic Automobile giving some like to the unique.
How about some love for the front-wheel drive Corolla? Right here’s an AE92 sedan with a ton of JDM physique components thrown at it. Very distinctive.
As a lot as we like modified vehicles, it’s additionally good to see completely authentic examples of cool fashions – like this manufacturing facility spec ST185 Celica All-Trac (aka Celica GT-4).
How’s this for one thing somewhat bit totally different? It’s an FJ75 Land Cruiser heavy-duty pickup that was initially utilized by the US Marine Corps through the first Gulf Battle.
Lastly, we have now a becoming automobile to shut out this put up – a Celica liftback pushed by Dan Gurney in one of many early Lengthy Seashore Professional Celeb Races through the late Seventies. Few occasions higher symbolize Toyota’s ties with Southern California than the annual race on the Lengthy Seashore shorefront.
Whereas Toyota’s giant presence in SoCal will definitely be missed when the corporate strikes to Texas, the recollections and fervour of native fans aren’t going anyplace.
Mike Garrett
Instagram: japanifornia
