JDM · JDM legends · Toyota
Corolla GT-S (US) AE86 · 1985–1987
1.6-liter 4A-GE twin-cam, 112 hp in the US GT-S (130 PS in Japan), 5-speed manual, rear-drive. Built in Japan May 1983 to July 1987.
In the Initial D manga (1995–2013) and anime, Takumi Fujiwara drives his father’s AE86 Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX on early-morning tofu deliveries, then races it on mountain passes. The series kept the car famous with a new generation of fans.
Keiichi Tsuchiya learned car control on Japan’s mountain passes in an AE86 Sprinter Trueno and became known as the Drift King. He helped turn drifting into a real motorsport and was a consultant on Initial D. In 2002, Katsuhiro Ueo won the D1 Grand Prix title in an AE86.
Chris Hodgetts won the British Saloon Car Championship in an AE86 in 1986 and again in 1987. The AE86 also won the 1986 European Touring Car Championship manufacturers’ title in its class.
Toyota says the 86 and GR86 are named in tribute to the AE86, called the hachi-roku (8-6) in Japan and the Corolla GT-S in the US.
Sold new in the US. Sold new in the US as the rear-drive Corolla Sport coupe and liftback for model years 1984 to 1987. The SR5 had the single-cam 4A-C from the start. The twin-cam GT-S, the US version of the Levin and Trueno, arrived for the 1985 model year. Japan built the AE86 from May 1983 to July 1987.
On this site: Toyota GR86, named after the AE86 · Toyota Corolla (all years) · Toyota Supra Mk4
Plain text from the sources listed: no race photos, anime stills, logos or likenesses. Items marked "Not fully confirmed" rest on one weaker source. Every JDM car
AE86 AE86 · 1984–1987
2-door coupe / 3-door liftback, 1984–1987. 0–60 times are magazine tests where we have one, otherwise the maker's figure.
112 hpat 6,600 rpm (SAE net)
The US twin-cam car. Its 4A-GE used an airflow meter instead of Japan’s pressure-sensor injection, and it was rated 112 hp against 130 PS in Japan.
128 hp130 PS at 6,600 rpm (gross, JDM)
Japan’s top trim, sold as the Corolla Levin (fixed headlights) or Sprinter Trueno (pop-up headlights), as a 2-door coupe or 3-door liftback. Takumi’s car in Initial D is a Trueno GT-APEX.
123 hpbhp at 6,600 rpm (UK car)
The European twin-cam car, sold in the UK and Ireland as a liftback only. evo quotes 0-62 mph in 8.3 seconds.
70 hpSAE net at launch; 74 hp from 1986, per Ate Up With Motor (Wikipedia’s year split differs)
The same rear-drive coupe and liftback with a carbureted single-cam, 8-valve 4A-C instead of the twin-cam. The GT-S cost about $1,200 to $1,300 more.
1.6-liter inline-4, DOHC 16-valve, naturally aspirated
Engine's YouTube owner tone 51/100 (videos about the Toyota 4A-GE in every car that uses it, so it differs from this car's own tone below)
Toyota 4A-GE engine page →DSPORT magazine says the 4A-GE’s head gaskets are prone to failure. Goodwood’s buyer’s guide still calls the twin-cam mechanically tough.
1 owner complaint to NHTSA mentions it (1984–1987)Both camshafts are driven by a timing belt. JDM Buy Sell’s buyer’s guide says to ask for dated belt records and to treat the belt as due if there are none.
Fix: Replace the timing belt if there are no dated records.
Goodwood warns about single-cam AE85s passed off as twin-cam AE86s, especially when bought unseen from an importer. JDM Buy Sell says a 4A-GE fitted to an AE85 does not make it an AE86, so check the chassis code and papers against the engine.
Nothing stands out.
Share of the 183 most-watched AE86 videos that praise or criticize each topic (a praise or trouble word near it in the title or transcript).
NHTSA files every Corolla under COROLLA, front-drive sedans, hatchbacks and wagons included, so these counts cover all 1984–1987 Corollas, not just the rear-drive AE86 coupe and liftback.
No Lemon Index for the AE86: the index is complaints per car sold, and sales by trim aren't published. These are raw counts.
26 complaints for 1984–1987.
VOLTAGE REGULATOR WHICH CONTROLS THE AMOUNT OF FLOW IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR, MAY HAVE MANUFACTURING ERRORS IN AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT.
CRUISE CONTROL COMPUTER MALFUNCTION COULD OCCUR UPON SHUTTING OFF THE CONTROL AFTER CONTINUOUS USE FOLLOWED BY COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES.
Source: NHTSA (api.nhtsa.gov). Check a VIN for open recalls on one car.
The AE86 Corolla GT-S (US) makes 112 hp and 97 lb-ft.
The AE86 AE86 (1984–1987) uses the Toyota 4A-GE, a 1.6-liter inline-4, DOHC 16-valve, naturally aspirated.
Initial D: In the Initial D manga (1995–2013) and anime, Takumi Fujiwara drives his father’s AE86 Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX on early-morning tofu deliveries, then races it on mountain passes. The series kept the car famous with a new generation of fans. The Drift King: Keiichi Tsuchiya learned car control on Japan’s mountain passes in an AE86 Sprinter Trueno and became known as the Drift King. He helped turn drifting into a real motorsport and was a consultant on Initial D. In 2002, Katsuhiro Ueo won the D1 Grand Prix title in an AE86. Touring car titles: Chris Hodgetts won the British Saloon Car Championship in an AE86 in 1986 and again in 1987. The AE86 also won the 1986 European Touring Car Championship manufacturers’ title in its class.
Yes. Sold new in the US as the rear-drive Corolla Sport coupe and liftback for model years 1984 to 1987. The SR5 had the single-cam 4A-C from the start. The twin-cam GT-S, the US version of the Levin and Trueno, arrived for the 1985 model year. Japan built the AE86 from May 1983 to July 1987.
The Lemon Index
