A Christmas Miracle? Ben's 1987 Toyota Corolla FX16 GT-S.

December 26, 2012

10 comments
It's a miracle only in the sense that Ben has been driving this little pocket rocket for six months, and I finally photographed it today. I wanted to shoot it secretly on Christmas Eve and then post it as a surprise for Ben, but that proved impossible. So here it is!
1987 Toyota Corolla FX16 GT-S.1987 Toyota Corolla FX16 GT-S.1987 Toyota Corolla FX16 GT-S.
 1987 Toyota Corolla FX16 GT-S.
 1987 Toyota Corolla FX16 GT-S.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very nice semi-unkown '80's pocket-rocket. I wanted one when they were new, and I was a kid. Lucky guy, whether he knew about the shoot or not.

Dave said...

Check you out Ben! Nice ride. I call this zipping and sipping.

Anonymous said...

All I can think of is the game 'Bridge It' lol

Anonymous said...

Nice setting for these photos. Much more interesting than a curb/street/driveway setting. Nice selection of visual details on the car and I'm diggin' the shot with the bridge in the background.

B - nice choices on the wheel color & hubcaps. This little gem takes the notion of 'sleeper' to another level.

Ben Piff said...

Thanks guys, I love that slogan Dave! Genius.

And thanks Anon, the caps came out brighter than I wanted, but I can't not love this car every time I drive it. 216k miles (all stock and original), and the engine pulls harder than anything else I've owned! And it does sip as well as hoped, consistent 30-34mpg.

The only thing I'd like to do is install the 6 speed LSD transmission that comes over with Blacktop 4AGE.

great white tiburon said...

I always thought it was cool that the e80 gen corollas had all forms of power train options. this one is the ae82 fwd gts model, then there was the ae84 for north america, the 4wd wagon, and then there was the rwd 85 and 86. corolla's were cool all the way through the e90 gen, then the e100 gen came and they got beige. I also like that last shot of the car under the bridge, it kinda has an essence of the Japanese country landscape coupled with the car makes it a perfect pic. awesome ride, Ben.

Justin said...

Helluva hot hatch. Looks mean with those black steelies with white centercaps.

Unknown said...

My dad and I both have one. His is a GT-S, mine isn't. I also happen to have a 6 speed LSD in my garage waiting to go in after the winter is over.

Anonymous said...

Very fast little hatchbacks. And with the stock steelies a sleeper for sure. I used to want one. In '87 the sleepers were this and the Mazda 323 GT/GTX. It was pocket-rocket heaven, lol.

Anonymous said...

Very fast hatchback. The original steel wheels really downplay its capability. I used to want one. Back in '87 it was the FX16 GT-S and the Mazda 323 GT/GTX that were the real sleepers. It was pocket rocket heaven that year. lol.