The iconic Toyota AE86, made legendary by the drift-crazed world of Initial D stands for unfiltered driving pleasure, it has captured the hearts of enthusiasts worldwide, including in India, where the hachiroku continues to inspire dreams of drifting down the ghats, tires squealing, in true Takumi Fujiwara fashion. But as with any classic, the sad reality is that fewer and fewer pristine AE86s are around for people to enjoy and probably none in India. However, all hope is not lost for Initial D fans.
In 2024, getting your hands on an original AE86 may be a fantasy, but building one from scratch? That’s a different story, thanks to the availability of reproduction unibodies. If you’ve ever fantasized about sliding into a new AE86, not just some 40-year-old relic, your dreams are closer to reality than you think.
Enter Jiangsu Aodun Automobile Industry Company, a Chinese manufacturer making waves by producing exact replicas of the AE86 unibody, complete with the timeless hatchback silhouette we all know and love. According to listings on Alibaba, they’ve recreated the shell with precision, likely using 3D scanning technology.
While purists might raise an eyebrow at the "Made in China" label, modern manufacturing in the country isn’t what it used to be. Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, himself said China is no longer a sign of inferior quality. The question here isn’t whether it’s *possible* to relive your Initial D dreams—it's how deep you're willing to go.
At $9,500 (7,95,236.92 Indian Rupee) per shell, the pricing isn’t bad, but here’s the catch: a minimum order of five. If you’re serious about bringing one of these to India, you’ll need to find four other passionate AE86 lovers.
But a word of caution: building an AE86 from scratch isn’t for the faint of heart. You’ll need to source parts, which may be as challenging as tracking down tofu deliveries in the middle of the night. The best bet? A donor car. But if you’re up for it, the rewards are immense.
Imagine being the first in India to slide around the twisty mountain roads of the Western Ghats in a fresh AE86, powered by Toyota’s latest engines—perhaps even one of their upcoming four-cylinder turbo mills. It’s a dream within reach, especially if you’re prepared to reinforce the chassis with a tube frame for a track-day.
So, what’s stopping you?
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