Owner: Christo Pienaar
Car: 1976 Toyota Corolla SR5 (KE35)
Bought in: 2017
Mileage: 56 000 km
Current value: approx R250 000.
Why I bought this car: This car is pure 1970s JDM, which is a major drawcard for me. The story goes back to when I spotted the SR5 in traffic one day. I had to have it so I tracked it down. The car was still owned by the person who bought it new in 1976. It had spent years parked after a minor brake-related incident. Once in my hands, the Corolla was set for a second life – one that would honor its history while drastically elevating its performance.
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Common issues with this model: Because it’s a Toyota, they don’t really have mechanical issues. But any car from the ’70s has issues with rust. There was one really bad spot near the windscreen, about the size of a R5 coin, but other than that it was in pretty good shape.
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Major repairs I’ve conducted: Where to begin… I wanted to combine nostalgia and innovation. To keep the timeless charm of a ’70s SR5 with the reliability, handling, and pace to run with much newer cars. So the car has been fully restomodded.
The Corolla underwent a full nut-and-bolt rebuild, finished in a custom blue paint with subtle body refinements. Chrome trim was either blacked out or replaced, giving the car a more aggressive stance. A Perana louvre and custom 15-inch wheels add to the retro-meets-modern aesthetic. The body proudly wears a historic Toyota Racing livery to honour Toyota’s racing heritage. In addition, I had the cabin retrimmed in Alcantara, added black carpets and fitted Bride carbon bucket seats with a few Sparco accents.
The heart of the build is a 2,0 16V 3SGE BEAMS engine that was sourced from a Toyota Altezza. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission and Gearmax M75 diff’. As a result the car now has an engine that revs freely to 7 800 r/min, delivering the kind of naturally aspirated scream enthusiasts crave. A 50 hp wet-shot nitrous system has been installed but remains untested. I fitted Koni coilovers up front and adjustable Koni dampers in the rear. The braking system has also been upgraded with custom discs and Subaru WRX STI four-pot calipers.
The best thing about my car: The attention it gets from it from young and old.
The worst thing about my car: I work abroad and just don’t have enough time to spend driving the car that I poured so much time and effort into.
Tech spec below the gallery…
1976 Toyota Corolla SR5 (KE35)
Engine: 2,0-litre inline-four (3SGE Beams)
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Power: 127 kW (at the reef)
Torque: 182 N.m
Top speed: 240 km/h
0-100 km/h: n/a
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