In simply over per week’s time, the Toyota Proprietor’s and Restorer’s Membership – TORC for brief – will return to Lengthy Seaside, California for the twenty eighth operating of All Toyotafest.
Since 1995, this occasion has been bringing collectively a various group of Toyota fanatics with simply as a lot selection of their Toyota fashions. The 2024 present can be no completely different, and it’s all the time thrilling to see what turns up. At this time, we’re winding again the clock 10 years for a throwback take a look at All Toyotafest 2014.
2014 Function
Toyota and Southern California have been linked because the model’s very first days within the USA within the late Fifties. The primary Toyota dealership in America was situated in Hollywood and after that may come the corporate’s large American headquarters within the metropolis of Torrance.
For many years Toyota’s operations have been a significant participant within the Southern California automobile trade. However that’s all about to vary. Final week, the corporate introduced plans to maneuver a lot of its US operations to Texas to benefit from 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 can be sorely missed. For many years LA has been an epicenter of Toyota fanatics – and nowhere is that extra evident than at Toyotafest in Lengthy Seaside.
It simply so occurs that Toyotafest 2014 was held simply days after Toyota introduced the transfer to Texas, and there definitely appeared to be an odd aura round this yr’s present. However on the similar time, it was additionally comforting. As a result of whereas Toyota’s company operations may be packing up and heading off for greener pastures, the fervour for the model in SoCal exhibits no indicators of fading.
In typical LA trend, the climate for this yr’s occasion couldn’t have been higher. If something, it was really somewhat on the recent facet with a mid-summer feeling even supposing we’re only a couple days into Might. Sunshine and Toyota: two Southern California establishments.
I take into account Toyotafest probably the most fulfilling occasions on the yearly calendar, and no matter the truth that it’s restricted solely to Toyota, Lexus and Scion-branded autos – it has probably the most 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 every little thing from lifted Land Cruisers and slammed Scions to immaculately restored Celicas. Lovers of all sorts have been gathering within the SoCal solar for 19 years now to have a good time their love of Toyota.
Whereas I’ve coated Toyotafest a number of occasions, evidently yearly there’s a bunch of cool automobiles that I’ve by no means seen earlier than. Positive, there are many acquainted ones, but it surely’s all the time 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 seems to be precisely prefer it, with all the proper particulars accounted for.
For starters you’ve acquired the proper wheels and tires and the KC lights sitting up prime. The push bar on the entrance can also be utterly genuine to the one within the film.
Though Marty’s 4×4 may not be thought-about certainly one of Hollywood’s most iconic film automobiles, there wasn’t a single one that 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 common Toyota fashions, Toyotafest additionally consists of a whole lot of the extra obscure Toyota fashions, lots of which have disappeared from California roads. This 1975 Corona Coupe may be very a lot a kind of automobiles.
I used to be initially drawn to this automobile primarily based on rarity, however as I acquired nearer I turned much more impressed with what I noticed.
The outside was good, and nearly utterly unique. The one actual change is beneath the fenders, the place a set of Panasports with good meaty tires now reside.
But it surely actually will get good beneath the hood. Not solely does it have a twin cam 18R-G swap, there’s an old style HKS turbo package added to it.
I’ve been in a position to attend a whole lot of traditional 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 common than it’s. It does seem as if increasingly more 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 huge 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 properly.
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 seems to be like there’s loads of chew to again up the bark, due to the massive Precision Turbo turbocharger outfitted to the automobile’s stroked 3S-GTE.
The Toyota Prius is a automobile that will get a whole lot of hate from red-blooded automobile fanatics, however personally I’ve acquired nothing in opposition to the wedge-shaped hybrid. The truth is, I like every automobile that’s constructed to do a selected activity and do it properly – and the Prius definitely 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 may see, it sports activities a somewhat dramatic exterior makeover with an Aimgain Lexus-style aero package and a few cool one-off huge physique work.
Additional including to the VIP look are a set of enormous diameter Avant Garde wheels tucked beneath the hybrid’s customized fenders.
Let’s not neglect the inside which has been completely refinished in crimson leather-based with all of the bippu toys. If you’re going for a cushty 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 fashion at its finest.
The angular physique is sporting an old style Erebuni package, with the white paint set off by some delicate ‘Celica XX’ insignia down the edges.
The wheels are 16-inch Epsilon mesh and so they additional full the retro road tuner look.
Inside we’ve acquired a mildly upgraded inside, set off by a pair of classic Recaro buckets for each the driving force and passenger. Don’t neglect the Recaro upholstery on the door panels both.
The one fashionable contact I might discover is within the engine bay, the place a 1JZ turbo swap has changed the Supra’s unique 5M motor.
Subsequent is certainly one of my favourite automobiles of the present – and likewise probably the most uncommon. It’s a 1989 Camry and never solely is it extraordinarily clear, it’s one of many coolest sleepers I’ve seen shortly.
For those who do see a Camry of this classic on the highway at the moment, chances are high it’s going to be crushed past return. Not so on this case. This one is in incredible situation.
Not solely that, however that is an All-Trac mannequin, which means it got here geared up with the AWD system much like the one used on the Celica.
However the proprietor of this one has acquired as soon as step additional and put in a whole 3S-GTE engine and drivetrain from a 1995 Celica GT-4.
Sure, it’s principally a GT-4 in a four-door Camry wrapper, and that makes it utterly superior.
For a number of years you could possibly say that Toyotafest didn’t provide a lot by means of fashionable automobiles to be enthusiastic about. However now that the Scion FR-S has been round for a bit, the modern facet of the Toyota group is alive and properly. Who cares if the engines say ‘Subaru’ on them?
For sure, the number of modified 86s that got here out acquired me as soon as once more wishing I had certainly one of 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 displaying completely different levels of modification.
As with final yr, certainly one of my favourite automobiles of the FR-S bunch was this vintage-inspired instance with Hayashi Avenue wheels and different cool particulars.
How a few 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 fashionable, however is shortly transferring in direction of traditional – or no less than, neo-classic territory. Regardless of its age, the massive coupe continues 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 infrequently you’ll see a uncommon JDM import on the highways of LA.
The primary era Lexus GS is one other automobile that also seems to be nice regardless of its age. I’m certain you’ll agree that it seems to be even higher in full Junction Produce mode.
No cracked leather-based right here or sun-baked surfaces right here. The cabin on this GS seems to be pretty much as good because it did the day it rolled of the Lexus manufacturing line.
It’s all the time good to see a powerful displaying of MR2s at Toyotafest, and this yr’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 often reserved for grocery retailer and school parking heaps somewhat than automobile exhibits, 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 actually particular are the previous automobiles. From restored ’60s and ’70s Corollas to the good angular Celicas and Supras of the ’80s, this yr’s number of classic Toyotas didn’t disappoint.
So far as these retro Toyotas go, it’s laborious to get significantly better than a TE27 Corolla with a twin cam 2T-G beneath the hood and TRD TOSCO wheels in any respect 4 corners.
For some time it appeared like few folks needed to play with A60 Celica notchbacks, however I used to be blissful to see huge group of them at Toyotafest this yr, together with this robust wanting flared instance. Good contact with the stripes.
Toyota Crowns are just a few and much between within the US, and that’s why it was actually cool to see this stunning S60 wagon on the market. I can’t look ahead to the day after I’ll have the ability to take my very own S50 wagon out right here…
To me, the 70-series two-door coupe is likely one of the finest wanting Corollas ever made, and this 1982 instance on manufacturing unit Supra wheels was as clear because it will get. Huge thumbs up.
The primary era Supra by no means will get a whole lot of love, so it’s refreshing to see the fellows from Japanese Nostalgic Automotive 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 automobiles, it’s additionally good to see completely unique examples of cool fashions – like this manufacturing unit spec ST185 Celica All-Trac (aka Celica GT-4).
How’s this for one thing somewhat bit completely different? It’s an FJ75 Land Cruiser heavy-duty pickup that was initially utilized by the US Marine Corps through the first Gulf Warfare.
Lastly, now we have a becoming automobile to shut out this put up – a Celica liftback pushed by Dan Gurney in one of many early Lengthy Seaside Professional Superstar Races through the late Nineteen Seventies. Few occasions higher symbolize Toyota’s ties with Southern California than the annual race on the Lengthy Seaside shorefront.
Whereas Toyota’s giant presence in SoCal will definitely be missed when the corporate strikes to Texas, the reminiscences and fervour of native fanatics aren’t going anyplace.
Mike Garrett
Instagram: japanifornia
