Car Spotlight>> The Rat-rolla

Do any of you guys read Hot Rod magazines like Rodder's Journal, Hot Rod Deluxe or Rod&Custom? One thing I like about that whole scene is that it's been around long enough to have developed a bit of self awareness. People know where Rodding comes from, the ups and downs of the styles over the years and how the current styles and trends fit into the history of the culture.

Look at Rat Rods, for example. Most people who are into Rodding understand that these cars are caricatures of old junkyard Jalopies from the 1940s and 50s. Jalopies back in the day did not actually look like the current crop of rat rods. There are styling cues in common, but that is where the similarities end.

Now, old Jalopies were not particularly popular with "real" car builders in the early days. They were looked down upon by those who spend their time making perfect, quality cars. I think, by the same token, there are going to be some people who are not going to like this Corolla… it is not pretty…

These are not refined details…. far from it…

But that isn't the point of this car is it?

There is a spirit to this machine that I just love.

The purists will be offended.

But, IMO, if anyone criticizes this car for its rawness and lack of respect to the tradition of AE86 style, they are not seeing this car for what it is…

This car for me is the equivalent to the spirit of Punk.

It sticks two fingers in the air…

And says "f*** you to your chrome plated, professionally built, hundred thousand dollar show car"… and to me this is a fantastic thing! This car is the modern drift equivalent to the old drag racing Jalopies which have inspired the modern Rat Rod.

So who knows, perhaps when we are all old we'll be seeing Corolla builds which do their best to replicate the spirit of cars like Karlo's Boro Levin!

Spotted at Just Drift Button Willow the other weekend….

:Rod

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1

sick ROWLEY sticker.

2

Battle scared drift cars u either get it or u don't, it might be haggard but i LOVE it :)

3

That is one cool '86!

I have some feelings for the old beater look, especially if it's done right. Which this is (except the colour, ugh..)



Would like to see that trying to get through MoT though. xD

4

That is not a car... that is automotive arts man...

5

i love it, ..tired of those " parts off the shelf, clean room, dust free, no soul, television, cars"........i love the grassroots stuff.....another thing i hate are those blog a#%holes who ridicule guys who aren't wearing 1,500.00 per set watanabes or works equips on their rides.....there is an old school saying ...."run wat u brung".............. been loving this scene for a long time all the way from Fountain Ave. in the 80's .thats Brooklyn to you new comers.....Rotary Starlets, Rx2's.... Carollas.....all from our backyard...now its either JDM or your crap....!!! FCRX7 for lyfe!

6

WOW!



Wheels name?

7

is that dash made of wood? SIIIICK!

8

thats how you show your own style!!!!!!!

9

"F*** you! I'm having FUN!"

10

I heart this piece of junk SO much. Badassery on all levels.

11

I think there's a fine line between "ratrod" and "shitbox"... and this car is on the inferior side of the line.

12

That is so gnarly. While that may be an outdated term (I prefer rad anyway), that's what this car is. Grimy, crazy, fast. Screw the purists.

13

i hope this doesn't find its way to failblog. i enjoy seeing diy'd goodness like this.

14

This car will only be cool if it is as driven as it looks.

15

well said Rod..well said..

16

Wood grain grippin like a baller!

17

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH BABY )))) THIS IS REAL ROCKNROLL RAT I FELL IN LOVE WITH )))) ONCE IT APPEARED IN A BLOG BEFORE I SAVED IT AND NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE IT AGAIN, IT GOT SO MUCH STYLE, IT'S ONE OF THOSE CARS WHICH MAKES ME BELIEVE THAT MOST OF THE DRIFTERS ARE SKATEBOARDERS IN A PAST, ESPECIALLY THAT 'FLIP' STICKER ON A DASH OR MAYBE IT JUST LOOKS LIKE A FLIP ONE, NO MATTER, ITS JUST BUNCH ON STYLE IN A HARD WORKING PIECE OF MACHINERY ))

18

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT

19

Rad. This may be the best post yet this month! F luxury& exotic! Keep it REAL and RAW!!!

20

its a trueno with levin headlights!

21

I think you'll see more 240's "ratted" it as there so many more still around today. I can dig!

22

More art house garbage. "You either get it or you don't" ..I get it, and it's stupid. It seems as long as it's new and different to everyone's overindulged internet brains, it's awesome! It's one thing to not have money and try and get by doing your own simple mods, but to go out of your way to make your car look like a trashcan is gay as fu$k. So now everyone is going to hate on cars that are built correctly? What a joke. Imagine driving behind that thing when one of it's pop riveted, barely attached, warped spoilers comes flying off at highway speed? Or when he hits a rut and his scrap metal fare blows the tire on an off ramp. Yea, that's cool, and RAW! I can't believe people are actually getting bored of seeing nice looking, well built cars. It's not funny, It's not cool, It's not raw, It's not punk spirited, it's a car that was put to waste. Enough with this rock star attitude $hit. I guess none of the scrapcar fan boys live near any ghettos, cause this style is old hat and it's called 'i got no money and no taste'.

23

"I think there's a fine line between "ratrod" and "shitbox"... and this car is on the inferior side of the line. "



Ed took the words right out of my mouth.

24

i love this car! its like an american version of Goto-san ae86

25

Its stupid to judge anybody's taste. I think you took too personal those words about correctly build cars, probably because you've already put so much money into something that this post made you just angry about something what is not related to you at all, if you dont like it then go away, pass it over. Dont give us this angry bitch talking because it sounds like an old angry trash lady talking. The only thing you was right about is flying parts on the highway.

26

I dig this, the rat rod style kicks butt! I saw a great rat rod truck yesterday, photos on my site will be up in a giffy :D

27

Karlo inspires car owners around the World especially Corolla owners!



Go Garage_86!



28

This car is great, and I love it.

A LOTTTT.

<3

29

JUST SHOT UP,



I'm not allowed to leave a negative comment here? I can't disagree? If I feel passionate about something, you will see it in my response. It must be fun to fabricate an image of someone you know nothing about. Like how I spent all this money and are angry? It must suck though when your image is incorrect. My 240Z has no carpeting, rust under the floor boards, a stinky fuel cell in the hatch, no heat, no air, no radio, Spay painted door panels, 5th grinds, The car rattles from 6 different locations at idle, I have a squeal when I turn left, My JIC seat is torn, rear bumper is covered in chrome tape. Valve cover is half polished, and I have over spray all over my engine bay. Why am I not on the main page? Should I get praise? No. I would like all of my problems to be fixed but I either have no money for it, or no time to do it. I guess that makes me a rockstar.

30

I'm not totally sure how I feel about this one.

I do know, though, that it would be a very fun car to have because you would never worry about scratching or denting it.

31

this is car is like one of those: you "love it or hate it" sort of thing. the style is so extreme, i love it.

32

Im tired, peace.

33

sr-fairladyz,



Dude, i don't get you. You say you have a, let's say "less-than-perfect", 240Z right? That's what it's about dude. It's the reality of things. Most people don't have money to get a show-car spec ride, and that's the point of these posts IMO. By RAWNESS it's meant as the REALITY of the scene right now.



This AE86 is a great example because the dude driving it doesn't give two shits about the car being perfect. It's gritty and damaged, but it's there, it rolls, it's probably driven hard as hell, and it looks cool considering the dude probably didn't spend much more than some pocket money on it.



If you really have a 240Z in the condition you described, then yes, you should be praised. And I'd love to see your car here. It's really not all about looks dude, a car needs to have SPIRIT.



Amirite guys?

34

stephan said:



i love this car! its like an american version of Goto-san ae86





Surely not! Goto-san 86 is far more badass than this piece of junk.

Goto-san haven't built the car to look like that, drifting action did it.

Instead this guy have put all the shit on to achieve its look.

35

Naga_Ten



WORD!!

36

Naga_Ten,



This 86 has no spirit, it's appearance is completely forced. Like Warren mentioned, the car was purposely built to look this way. My Z is flawed and hurt naturally, not purposely. There is a huge difference that everyone seems to be missing here.

37

Im all for beat ass driver's cars with fake parts and all that shit. But this dude spent like 4 bucks trying to get noticed. Shit's horrible.

38

How the hell do you both know what the cars been through is what i would like to know...



Geez.

I don't see anywhere that says the car "was purposely built to look this way". I don't think the dude broke those fenders on purpose and put them on the car. Also, how do you put all those wear marks on them fenders without using them?



I'm not saying you're wrong, i see where you're coming from, but you can't be sure of what this car's been through or not, can you?

39

It looks too self conscious to me. Too consciously going for that look you know what i mean? It's like cutting your self on a face to look mean or somethin. Don't try so hard.

40

im saddened by speedhunters... recent coverage of crappy cars.. this is a car only drift whiteboys would love.. lol

41

You should see him drive. I had the pleasure of seeing this ting drift around the track on Saturday and it looked pretty freaking cool.

42

Quoted Mr Moons:

"would be a very fun car to have because you would never worry about scratching or denting it"



exactly! i am in love with this ae86, partly because the owner seems to share some of the same values as me (having a car for its inate purpose - to drive, not to look pretty)



at the 240z guy, i reckon if u posted ur car up people would also like the ghettoness of it too! and i also think the trend for beaten up cars isnt actually that big yet... i think we are starting to see more of them around, but still the vast majority of cars are polished and shiny with brand named parts all over them, which is probably one reason we're used to them so much

43

God i love the hate from sr-fairladyz. Do you even "drive", and not go down to the local porn shop. But actually drive and beat up your car? know one forced you to have a rusted z. Please get over yourself. If it was up to most ppl we would never have are cars posted on here. Because people like you just don't know.

44

It just looks thrashed. Cool

45

Drift pigs/thrashers are cool



Purposely trying to make your car ghetto and look thrashed out is just completely wak and against the spirit of the whole 'ghetto drfitpig' ideal.



Im not feeling it.

46

Thanks Guys ! and thanks Rod ...pass by the All AE86 comp this coming saturday on the 20th..



influences:



Lucky spunky/GMR/23 2002

Kentax/ Alta wheel shop 2002 RIP

Swing Battle Socal

yen 2002 stock bluey fastest GMR/ best socal 86drifter

brandon/nick touge 2005

pfeffier - drifting streets with stock blue 2002

Hiro Sumida cream hatch streets 2002

Taka hollywood autox Nov. 2001

marvin/frances 2000 solo champ

Ricky de la cuesta rally

old school pinoy toyota race/rally/solo heads

Moto P.

Mike Bolanos . 2005 JD

Gerbil 2005

Fellows of the drift/ Asphalt dancer vid from 90's

AfterFire Taniguchi

Jet Set /Jwave video store RIP

old imamura 98 ICBM

ueo 2000

matsuda T50

hibino 2004 dropout

run free takahashi/yamashita

Mobil Kids white 86

old BM/YV/autoworks mags RIP

VHS ed. Option issue 80 and below

Slide Squad Dave

old friends from red box Wilson 2005 4x a week touge/street drift

Dynamic Tuning Jeff jones and crew

GOR team stealth 127mph sand



touge/tarmac/streets

AE86 movement !







47

Karlo's car is oddly awesome! haha

48

its not about having money, and making your car look all super nice. its just cool to have someone do something different with their car. we might as well be robots if we all did the same shit. this car is sick!!!

49

Blue cheese stuck on the dash! hahaha!

50

i like it! good job!

51

I noticed that the number of hatters grew in large numbers lately here on Speedhunters....



Can't you people stay away from nice, peaceful things that we love? Go make your own sites and forums and community, call it "Hater Town" or something...



About this car.... it looks like any idiot that was very good at been taking his toys apart in his childhood, but was never quite the genius at putting them back together:))) On the other hand this car looks like the car of someone who's sole purpose is to drive hard to hell and back on any track he can get his wheels on!! :)) And THAT, in my humble opinion is what truly dedicated driving/drifting is all about! As long as it works and hold together long enough, it's PERFECT!! :)

52

I see where this is going. The simple 'hater' route. If someone disagrees, brand them a hater and jab at them personally, "I bet you this... and I bet you that." Well, I'm not a hater. I've been on speedhunters daily for a year now to read their true and classy articles on cars that are worth praising. Sorry if I rained on anyone's love parade here, but I see a classic car that was purposely ruined and felt the need to say something before others follow foot thinking this is a easy way to look cool. Put down the beer and the tin snips kids, your not cool.

53

word

http://www.motorfix.jp/car/corolla/image3.jpg



o btw that "let's throw a rock on haters" thing is good for crybabies that can't stand people with different opinions.

motorfix KETO's looks far more badass than this 86 (and I'am not saying I don't like this 86), but theres a difference between liking a car of that kind, and overrating it like some people did here.

54

oh man All this DRAMA for fun stuff



Dear Haters,



purposely done, ugly,assuming,judging, hating etc etc ..You guys make me Blush thats little kid 20 yr old car hating shit



Since you guys dont KNOW ME and dont know how long Ive been driving my 86 and how many times ive crashed and nearly died and start basically moaning like a b-tch about it on whats right and wrong about cars and Japan is this and that



heres a pic of #1 RIP 2002- 2007



http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/4/l_f5521401765a42f8a5e861dc36de3903.jpg



A: fell of GMR plus 110ft 5 rolls and I still fixed it in a week to run

B. smashed on 10-20 plus curbs and guard rails due to yes drifting in the streets

C. freeway spinout at 80 ..

D. front end damage due to touge accident

E. bent frame,bent roof, bent rad support, bent LCA;s, bent wheels,bent panhard,bent axle,



all street driving/drifting accidents





all because of driving RIGHT?..and this is my #2 ^ because the po's are at large at all the spots at 2009..creativity is FUN and driving is FUN



Open your mind ..instead of assuming and hating ..GROW



btw dont compare me to another car/driver from Japan as an example ..

55

Hey!



Could tell me about the wheels in your car?

56

Those rims are G, right there... Keep bringin' it!!!



57

Sr-FairladyZ---->GTFO!



karlo, you finally get the recognition he deserves



GOOD JOB BUDDY

58

thats amazing! cars are for driving and thats clearly what he does!

59

Need a sideways pic.. Love this car!

60

However people may dislike the car it does have certain presence about it which is what i think makes it so cool may not be the best put together car but the fact that the owner drives it and it drives it hard is really all i need to know

61

Ludzie co to za wies tuning???????

62

Aaaaand.. the drama starts again...



i dont like it. and i dont hate it..



its unique. that's all i got to say. :)

63

It has personality, Driven hard or not it's still looks like a POS. No reason to drool over it.

64

lol, that car is fun... a missle.. the woodgrain dash is straight OG.. lol, love it

65

having a Big Fat C-ock up my A-ss feels great !



thanks guys

66

So is it supposed to be stationary art? Just saying that this thing would never make it through any Real tech inspection at lets say Nürburgring. Its cool to Rivet homemade spoilers on. I'm a big DYIer myself (Grinder Meister), but if its to shoddy to pass a track inspection dosent that defeat the purpose? Playing by your own rules is great, but not if it means no seat time at the local track.

67

You guys are still crying about this and now resorting to grade school cock jokes? So hardcore drifting makes you rivet scrap metal to your roof and trunk? Heh, fuck'n-A. Stop trying so hard, your car looks like gutter trash.

68

Not just any dick, a BIG BLACK MAMBA up my ass!. Thumbs Up for me!

69

sr-fairladyz, just get lost, nobody want to here your immoral full of negative rage shit.

70

"if its to shoddy to pass a track inspection dosent that defeat the purpose? Playing by your own rules is great, but not if it means no seat time at the local track." - M4XVLTG3



This car regularly passes tech and sees plenty of track time. The car's solid.

71

Karlo... we meet at Balcony I had the s13 my buddy had the Mx5... your car is your statement... It's bad ass... next time drift the wagon! Glad to see the respect you got!

72

trends fade...atleast it has decent front rims =)

73

This thing just has so much character. Speed hunters are getting deeper into the grassroots scenes, which is awesome!! Formula D, D1, DMCC, is cool and all but grassroots drifting is where it’s at. There’s something so right about an 86 that looks like this. It’s pure missile.

sr-fairladyz… you drive a 240.. n’uf said.

74

I need more pix!!

75

legendary...

76

Love this car

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