not mine: starlet on ebay....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___tan-2dr-all-books-runs-needs-battery-great-to-restore_W0QQitemZ190274674960QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item190274674960&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1308

owner has NOT CLUE what they have. it is not listed under any model name. if i had the cash, i would bid...but i am a poor grad student, so here it is for you guys.

Does anybody on here own one of these? Tell me why I am or am not interested in it other than the fact that it's a rare car.

This is only about an hour away from me.

stirpicult wrote: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___tan-2dr-all-books-runs-needs-battery-great-to-restore_W0QQitemZ190274674960QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item190274674960&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1308 owner has NOT CLUE what they have. it is not listed under any model name. if i had the cash, i would bid...but i am a poor grad student, so here it is for you guys.

It's listed as Starlet. What else would it be listed as?

You're interested because it's RWD, weighs under 2000 lbs and a 4A-G fits in it fairly easily.

I'd have it if I weren't so far away.

The 40+ mpg with the stock engine isn't too bad either.

Shawn

Yup...I had one of these and it was a blast. A flyweight underpowered blast, and I couldn't wipe the grin on my face. About 1750 pounds, short wheelbase, rear-wheel-drive, and 50mpg on the highway.

They are a bit of a period piece. In other words, don't expect it to be refined or modern by 2008 standards, but I would rank one above a Pinto, Chevette, GLC, etc. Great base for a project. In Finland they build them into rally cars which can run with most anything else 2WD, and in the Carribbean and on the East Coast drag scene people build them into 10 sec/9 sec/8 sec. doorslammers!

4A-G and rotary are the popular swaps. The stock K-series isn't the best candidate for heavy tuning, but can be fun with a tune-up, carb, and exhaust. I always wanted to fab a manifold for some individual motorcycle carbs and try that with a mild cam and a bit of porting, but just never got around to to it.

The front suspension is struts, and there is aftermarket support to fit AE86 Corolla struts to the Starlet chassis for big brakes and a better aftermarket for shocks and springs. AE86 rear axle is another possible upgrade, but you need to either modify the Corolla axle housing to accept the Starlet upper links (angled inward Mustang or first-gen-RX-7 style) or modify the Starlet floorpan to accept the Corolla upper links and panhard. The stock Starlet 4-link seems to work just fine with skinny tires and/or loose surfaces. Once you put grippy wider rubber on it, it can bind and things can get interesting when you push the car hard on grippy asphalt. For that reason, I was going to make the Corolla axle and suspension fit the Starlet, but once again, never got around to it.

Do you have any good websites I should go check out?

Did a quick search and didn't find a whole lot.

DILYSI Dave wrote:

stirpicult wrote: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___tan-2dr-all-books-runs-needs-battery-great-to-restore_W0QQitemZ190274674960QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item190274674960&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1308 owner has NOT CLUE what they have. it is not listed under any model name. if i had the cash, i would bid...but i am a poor grad student, so here it is for you guys.

It's listed as Starlet. What else would it be listed as?

I think the seller updated the auction to include the name 'Starlet'

Online community: http://www.kp61.net

American manufacturer of a few performance parts: http://www.technotoytuning.com

Inspiration:

4A-G power from Down Under (with good details on Corolla axle conversion): http://www.billzilla.org/starlet.htm

NIIIICE 4A-G powered car recently purchased by an acquaintance: http://86exchange.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=109

Lots of tech details on American project: http://www.esgarage.com/home.htm

From Finland-overbored 5K-C (1500cc version of the stock Starlet engine) producing 190hp normally-aspirated!! http://www.royhkiomotorsport.fi/

Japanese race car, in English: http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/features/0804_sccp_1979_kp61_toyota_starlet/index.html

Japanese 4A-G swap in Japanese: http://www.geocities.co.jp/MotorCity/1641/ap61/ap61_1.html

SanFran area supercharged 4A-GZE-powered autocross car: http://members.tripod.com/geegirl65/

YouTube vid-7.2@183mph!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HRx2lf8yt4 7.2@185!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xf5mo8QI3Y

My humble Starlet back when I had it: http://www.sidewaystoyota.com/kp61.html

I'd be all over that if it were closer...I don't have any way of getting it back from Alabama.

DILYSI Dave wrote:

stirpicult wrote: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___tan-2dr-all-books-runs-needs-battery-great-to-restore_W0QQitemZ190274674960QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item190274674960&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1308 owner has NOT CLUE what they have. it is not listed under any model name. if i had the cash, i would bid...but i am a poor grad student, so here it is for you guys.

It's listed as Starlet. What else would it be listed as?

it wasn't listed as anything when i posted it. just "toyota". you can see under "questions from other members" that 2 people ask what type of toyota is it.

So, how much is this thing worth (or, how much would you pay for it)

I emailed the guy right after the auction ended without meeting the reserve. He finally emailed me back and said that the best offer he's had on it so far is $550.

I haven't been to look at it yet (about an hour away.) Worth looking into or pass?

Worth somewhere between $480 and $550.

I sold mine for $500 with relative ease, and felt like that was a fair price.

I was thinking $500. If he already has an offer for $550 he's not going to take $500. Guess I'm going to let this one go.

You might be surprised what he will sell it for. I have closed alot of deals because as I usually put it, " I have $XXX cash in hand, a truck and car trailer, and can pick up ASAP". Most "offers" are BS.