For years and years, we’ve been real big fans of J’s Tipo Magazine, which started life as a Japanese magazine devoted to old school modified cars, or kyusha kai. J’s Tipo is a product of Tokyo-based Neko Publishing, which also produces a lot of other cool car magazines. Since J’s Tipo has a different chief editor than when it first started, the magazine’s content shifted slightly to reflect the tastes of the new editor-in-chief, so unfortunately, we no longer see as many old school cars in J’s Tipo as we used to.
Looking through a 2008 issue of J’s Tipo in our magazine stack, we noticed a feature on JTCC (Japanese Touring Car Championship) cars, which featured a JTCC race car built from a model of Corolla that many people wouldn’t normally consider to be cool!
Honestly, just how cool can you look in a normal, bone stock, front wheel drive, 7AFE powered Toyota Corolla (AE102) like this one? Just face it, cars like this are usually champagne colored, driven by old ladies with a tissue box on the rear deck and lace seatcovers.
However, we think this particular FET (Far East Trading) AE102 Corolla from the JTCC series looks AWESOME. Check out the super expensive center lug wheels, which allow the wheels to be changed very quickly at pit stops.
Aside from the wheels, are you wondering why else this FET AE102 looks a lot cooler than the Corolla parked down the street from your house? Notice the Japanese kouki bumpers (late model Japanese bumpers), which are also much shorter and better looking than the ones we have in the USA, which have ugly, extended 5mph crash bumpers. Yuck.
The FET AE102 also has a different taillight panel, which look slightly different than the ones we received here in the USA. Either way, we think this particular Corolla looks AWESOME. The FET livery, rollcage, and those bad ass center lug wheels… very, very cool!
Anyway, next time you’re near a Asahiya or Kinokuniya bookstore in the USA, try to pick up a copy of J’s Tipo, and see if you can find any cool cars in it!
What we’re wondering now, is how many people will want to fix up their aunt’s old Corolla to make it look as cool as this one?
::Motor Mavens
it looks cooler than normal corollas, but i bet it’s still slow!
If you ever drove one hard, you would know that it’s one of those cars you would use every hp it’s got … it’s one of those rare cars when 100 hps feel fast mated to a 3-speed tranny …
Are you sure it used a 7afe? My guess would be some sort of 4age.
Anyways its awesome to see my rolla as part of the sort lived JTCC
damn! this is the coolest late 90s corolla i’ve ever seen!
hi,
these were built by Toyota with 2.0L 3SGE dry sump 300hp ,6 sp sequential X-Trac boxes.Taken as new shells from the assy line and built to JTCC rules at a reputed cost of over y45,000,000. I have 1 in my garage ,which raced as the Docomo Corolla.
Hope this info is of interest.
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I have an ae101 and I agree with the comment that these cars can be fast if driven and used all hp it has. Its one of those cars with a real nice balance for cornering, and the gearing is awesome 1st gear to 35mph second to 60, 3rd to 90mph. Many possibilities with the engines as well, as 3 will fit without and major issues. 7afe, 4age 16 and 20v, and 7age hybrid, and 3sge and 3sgte.