1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT APEX kouki from Japan
01-14-2026, 02:37 AM
Post: #1
1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT APEX kouki from Japan
Hello everyone

So, here I start my first big thread, so I already presented myself but I'll do a quick recap
My name is Thomas, I am 24 years old and I live in Belgium

I own this 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT APEX, 2 doors. (kouki)

I bought the car in May 2024 and I received it on August 9, 2024, just two days after my 23th birthday.

[Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan]

I'm a perfectionist and I wanted a Trueno coupe in excellent state with working air conditioner, power steering, full interior (no stupid knockoff recaro seats or missing pieces), and a white/black one with if possible the sports package, which mine didn't came with.

So I bought a set of replica sideskirts which I still need to install, but I haven't had the money to paint them and fit them to the car. I installed an OEM spoiler on the trunk too.

Here is a list of all the modifications I did on the car :

Modifications:
- Added OEM Toyota spoiler (from the sport package),
- CUSCO strut brace,
- Lowered by 4cm with shorter springs,
- 14-inch Watanabe wheels (genuine),
- Nardi Torino leather steering wheel,
- First-generation 128GB Omni 70mai dashcam,
- Kenwood DMX8021DABS wireless CarPlay head unit,
- Carrozzeria (Pioneer) JDM 4-way speakers in the rear,
- 10cm Carrozzeria JDM speakers in the front,
- MTX RT8P 20cm subwoofer,
- Discreet reversing camera,
- Fujitsubo EX 4-into-1 exhaust manifold,
- Fujitsubo Legalis R single-outlet exhaust system,
- Martelius Exhaust decat,
- HKS green mushroom air filter,
- Air conditioning converted to R134A (everything leaked out lmao it was a bad idea)

I plan to keep the car as close to stock as possible, so no 20V, no ITBs or anything. I want it to stay "OEM+" if you get what I mean. I love it as is and it has been an amazing car.

I drove over 15.000km in a year in 2025 when I was jobless, and it was perfect, it drove amazing, didn't consume oil unless driven very hard, I drove it on Spa Francorchamps and Nurburgring without any issues. With an average of 8 liters per 100km which is very nice.
Now, I need to drive it less.

Extra pics :
[Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan] [Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan][Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan] [Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan] [Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan] [Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan] [Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan] [Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan][Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan][Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan][Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan] [Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan] [Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan][Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan] [Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan] [Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan]

Here is a list of things I need to fix so far :

- Air conditioning (number one priority for me)
- Rust behind windshield (usual suspect...)
- Noisy diff (swap to a stock one)
- Noisy trans (sounds like a bag of nails but shift beautifully, new oil of course)
- Rear fog light in the left reverse light, I need to resolder the cable that's all
- Add and paint sideskirts
- Noisy top end of the 4AGE (valve job)
- Very little rust on door sills (usual spot near hinge)
- Redo the whole underside of the car, which looks not good, not rusty but ugly.

There might be other things but unfortunately I don't remember, it's quite late lol

Here are some pictures when the car was in Japan, it had 171000km

[Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan] [Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan] [Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan] [Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan]

It just needed a very, very big detail. Especially the interior, engine bay refresh, respray of the inside of the trunk and the valve cover, etc. Paint was already brand new when I bought the car, which is nice.

The car is not perfect but honestly if I had to rate it I would say a solid 85/100, it's not brand new but not worn out either. The car is 40 years old and 189000km now.
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01-14-2026, 11:35 AM
Post: #2
1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT APEX kouki from Japan
Congratulations, that's a very very good specimen!
Good luck with the restoration work, it'll be worth it!

It's always a bit weird to see a car that's so similar to my own (essentially the same, but a red panda zenki with the red/maroon interior). Out in the wild I've never seen another RHD JDM one.
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01-14-2026, 11:49 AM
Post: #3
1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT APEX kouki from Japan
Really nice car! love that you drove it so much last year!

What differential is currently in the car?
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01-14-2026, 06:06 PM
Post: #4
1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT APEX kouki from Japan
Quote:Rear fog light in the left reverse light, I need to resolder the cable that's all
Is it obligatory you have to install a fog light on an old car in Belgium?

1983 - AE86 Sprinter Trueno - import project
2013 - Honda Civic sport - daily driver
2004 - AEU86 dot ORG - daily domain

Support our forum, buy from the AEU86 shop:
[Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan]
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01-14-2026, 07:36 PM
Post: #5
1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT APEX kouki from Japan
(01-14-2026 06:06 PM)banpei Wrote:  
Quote:Rear fog light in the left reverse light, I need to resolder the cable that's all
Is it obligatory you have to install a fog light on an old car in Belgium?

Yep, you have to unfortunately Sad
But hey, you can't see it if you don't know it! So it's perfect
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01-14-2026, 10:05 PM (This post was last modified: 01-15-2026 03:57 PM by banpei.)
Post: #6
1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT APEX kouki from Japan
(01-14-2026 02:37 AM)sheppardpat47 Wrote:  Fixed

the cleanest ae86 import in belguim

peugeot 206 lover
i love the ae86 two
[Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan]
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01-14-2026, 11:36 PM
Post: #7
1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT APEX kouki from Japan
(01-14-2026 10:05 PM)jomme_mega Wrote:  the cleanest ae86 import in belguim

Thanks man but you shouldn't reply to the whole thread ?you made an entire copy of my original post lol
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01-15-2026, 06:18 PM
Post: #8
1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT APEX kouki from Japan
(01-14-2026 11:36 PM)sheppardpat47 Wrote:  
(01-14-2026 10:05 PM)jomme_mega Wrote:  the cleanest ae86 import in belguim

Thanks man but you shouldn't reply to the whole thread ?you made an entire copy of my original post lol

oh ok Smile

peugeot 206 lover
i love the ae86 two
[Image: AEU86 AE86 - 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno...from Japan]
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