Toyota AE86

Toyota sold the front-engine, front-wheel-drive fifth generation Corolla (E80) range from 1983 to 1987 in coupé and liftback body styles. The Toyota Corolla Levin and Toyota Sprinter Trueno are compact, front-wheel-drive cars that fall under the AE86 series.

The cars lent themselves to racing because they were light, inexpensive, easily modifiable, had a five-speed manual transmission, an optional limited slip differential, a MacPherson strut front suspension, a high-revving (7800 rpm), twin-cam engine with an oil cooler (for example, in the US), nearly 50/50 front/rear weight balance, and crucially, a front-engine/rear-drive layout.