Toyota AE86 is the internal designation for the Toyota Sprinter Trueno and Corolla Levin series of compact cars produced from 1983 to 1987. The Sprinter Truenos can be differentiated from its counterpart, the Corolla Levin, from its headlights. The AE86 has gained significant popularity as the titular car featured in the anime and manga series Initial D, as well as in the drifting and motorsport circuit.
This casting depicts a Toyota AE86 with a racing-style bodykit; its style mimics that of the AE86s that raced in the British Touring Car Championship in the 1980s. This was one of Jun Imai's first Hot Wheels designs.
The Hot Wheels casting is a Trueno, but with its headlights folded down; lines cast into the bodywork show where these are. On some versions, a tampo is applied where the headlamp's top cover is. This casting is right-hand drive as is the standard for JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) cars.
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Did you know there have been over 400 new models introduced since the 1996 First Editions™ series?