Reader’s Ride: Filip Havlík’s AE86
August 14, 2009 by Justin Karow
Filed under Latest Articles, Odd Spot
Here it is, our first reader’s ride! Filip Havlík’s AE86 is a work in progress and we can’t wait to see how it turns out. There’s a lot of work to do yet but every project has to start somewhere.
Filip is 24, from Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic and goes by the forum name of “Prezident”. He’s into drifting and in his words he’s a complete fool for old Toyota RWD cars such as the KP, TE, AE and so on. He has this AE86 as a daily driver which started out as a very rusty and worn SR5 and is now an “endless project car” as Filip puts it, as he only has time to work on it on weekends. It all started last autumn when he began the 4A-GE conversion to replace the old blown 4A-C (personally we wouldn’t wait for the 4A-C to blow, but there you go) and now Filip has moved on to the interior and body.
A 4A-GE now resides in this empty engine bay.
The electrics are next on the "to do" list.
Some fairly nasty rust is to be expected and this car didn't disappoint.
"Hey Filip! Your tires are pretty worn!"
Filip used a couple of Czech words which I couldn’t translate regarding the body and the engine (vyvaření, nachystaný) but it sounds like the engine and electrics in particular are still in need of some work in order to complete. It looks as though the body is still in primer so there’ll probably be an update or three down the track.
Thanks Filip and good luck with the rest of the build!
If you’d like your ride featured please contact us with some information and photos about the car and a short bio.
Words: Justin Karow
Images: Filip Havlík
That’s some impressive rust/weight removal in the rear end
I can only imagine the work and hours that go into rust removal/plate welding etc. Last time I had to deal with rust, I just sold the car on
Good luck with the build Filip, always great to see a the beginnings of a project car, especially from around the world. Be sure to post results when finished!
HI there, good luck with the project, by the way…vyvaření – welding, nachystání – preparing
Nice. Looks pretty straight from what I can see. What’s happening with the rear bumper?
Yay! Its not a Trueno. Yay for Levins.
Nice project, good luck with it. Seems like you have a lot of car cancer to deal with.
Rusty and lots of work but it is an AE86 so you will love/hate it. I have two under my belt now… This car holds a special place in my heart.
i can see this will be a drift weapon for sure ! reminds me of my frends hachiroku his wwas mat black levin but a 2 door not 3. same amount of rust though haha
Hi everyone, thanks all for positive feedback. It is a struggle especially when every Friday must go to the city 80 km away to there that could do in terms of mad.
But you know this: “When you love it, there is nothing that would stop you.”
Justin thanks a lot for the publication, it is great to see that someone in the world are interested in work that someone do in the (here is one word with two S and one A), as is our country.
Filip: The pleasure is all ours. Thanks for being our first Reader’s Ride!
Pethi: Thanks for the translation!
Corolla enthusiasts are a strange breed… You know you’ve officially become a ‘Tragic’ when you pick up a new project car with rust holes bigger than your head and think to yourself “That ain’t so bad”
I know this all too well
Good luck with it Filip!
Greeting’s from Slovak Republic we have some few AE86’s in our state too. I am ae86 gt coupe owner too
. Filip i wish you good luck on your project hope we meet someday after i have mine rebuilded as well.
somehow it´s a little strange that here in europe just levin´s can be found (or seen),because i know that in austria is one owner of a red levin in Steiermark and i´ve seen in Vienna a 2door with a panda paintjob and i found out that it will be sold for 4000 Euros.
so i´m very glad that here in europe are some cars like Filip´s to
That’s a great project car. Keep us informed and best wishes on the build. I’ve been to Brno a couple of times to watch moto gp in august. Czech girls are awesome!!
horrendous.