Normally, racing is responsible for the destruction and abuse of cars, rather than the preservation of cars. However, in the case of this 1983 Toyota Starlet for sale on Hemmings.com, racing is the reason for its preservation, while its street-driven counterparts have all but rusted away by now. As always, we’d like to see paperwork before buying into any car’s history, but this one appears legit. From the seller’s description:
Rare, TRD Built Factory Racer, -1983 Toyota Starlet Cup Car. The last of 8 factory Starlet Cup racers built by TRD/USA. Driven by TRD factory driver Tom Yoshida at SCCA national championship races 1983&1984, then by current owner in 2003/04. Featured Speed Channel 1984 and Grassroots Motorsports, 5/84. Current owner for the past 15 years. Built by TRD’s Mr. Motoi Kodiara. He later became General Manager of Toyota Technocraft TRD in Japan. This is the only car that his team built that carries a signature plaque naming the TRD vehicle design team. Built by factory to TRD Starlet Cup full race specs. 150hp 4K Stage 3, dry Sump engine. Full provenance: TRD Build book, SCCA log books dating back to first race in 1983 at Riverside Raceway in California. Car is original except for some limited safety upgrades. Car in good mechanical and cosmetic condition, as raced. Last raced in October 2008. Spares are included.
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