Oh my. You have just made me so happy watching this. I had the same car, same colour, same year and virtually the same registration, My car was solid and it drove perfect until some one hit the car in a accident 😢. But the car was 100% reliable until them and had 99,000 miles on and apart from normal wear and tear and a new radiator at 90,000 from a scarp yard. I loved it and still wished I had it. And you know something. Nothing squeezed or rattled. For a v reg car. It was amazing. Happy memories.
Great video, Starlet anorak here - this car has a lot of nice subtle modifications. The rev counter dash for example is out of a JDM car, but has had the original speedometer fitted to it. Notice those little red dots on the speedo? In the original non-rev counter dash setup those dots indicate the red line speed for each gear. The fact that only 3 gears are shown indicates this car originally had a K40 4 speed gearbox, so the 5 speed was also added. One more modification I would recommend the owner perform is to add an electronic distributor from a Japanese starlet - also could be worth checking the dodgy rev counter isn't caused by the wire at the coil, otherwise they could end up stranded. I own the injected Starlet that HubNut drove in NZ
Hi there it is an original UK spec 5 speed gear box car and your right about the rev counter dash. My rev counter started to play up a couple of days before Steph drove her but a little tap at the top of the dash sorted that 😊
@@debwade73 Hi Deb, thanks for that. Yes, upon paying closer attention I see the chassis tag says K50 with the 3.909 X-code diff - the 3.909 must give it some good pep. It's a nice car you have. Hopefully the rust doesn't spread too much further on it. The most deadly place for these cars is at the top of the C pillar - as I'm sure you're aware of.
It brings back memories of my very first car. Here in Ireland most were 1.0 models. We got the DL version which had a 4 speed gearbox and a lower spec. There was no rear wash wipe, no tachometer, no clock but it was very reliable, cheap to tax and insure and very light on petrol. Radios, heated rear windows and headrests were standard on a Starlet but extra on many competitors at the time. My first one was red and I also had a blue one.I have very fond memories.
Another ex owner here, I had 2 of them. Loved them both. One was a stolen recovered I hand painted Landrover Blue (Blew the engine in the centre of London), second a much plusher & better condition version which I blew the clutch taking the short way over the Welsh mountains with a car full of people. This second one ended up buried under the local Pit tip as I lived next to the local mine. My dad got fed up of waiting for me to put a new clutch in so he called over the fence into the pit yard and a digger picked it up so they could play car football (the car being the football) between them before burying it. BTW I heard the engines were sort after as replacements for another Toyota model so many Starlets were used as donors.
Another great video Steph. I drove a friends Starlet in the same colour in the late seventies. It was lovely to drive and was so smooth and quiet. My dad had the model that followed, it was a 1987 model and he bought it new. He had it for 14 years and it never let him down and it didn’t rust like the mk2.
This is, I think, the only car you've driven that I've ridden in. A girl in my high school had one and found me on the side of the road after my Firebird broke down. She gave me a ride back to my house to grab a truck and a trailer to take it back and I was impressed with the little car. It was 13 years old I think and looked and ran like new. When I sold the Firebird a few years later I bought a Toyota pickup used; it was basically unbreakable. Toyota just made good cars and still do. My mom has a Toyota Highlander and in eight years nothing has gone wrong. Nothing.
Wow, what a little stunner! Japanese cars always have been so ahead of the curve when it comes to the technology in them. Like you, I've never seen an example of a Starlet as early as this, I've seen late 80s examples but didn't know they go back as early as the 1970s. Really love that stag design on the steering wheel, not ever seen that on any other Toyotas before!
Great review as always... the car looks superb sure the Ziebart treatment has helped preserve the stunning condition.. the equipment shows how’s well equipped it was for the time typical Japanese lots of standard stuff like 5 speed which others charged extra for or not even available on!
Excellent review Steph👍🏾 These were really great little cars. This one is in amazing condition. Here in the US, I do still see them, but they're always heavily modified. How I wish Toyota, Nissan, Honda & VW would continue to sell cars like this in the US. Everyone here is into massive SUVs and pick up trucks unfortunately.
I used to own one of the later Toyota Starlet and it was one of the best cars I ever owned. Slightly disparaged by Fiat and rotting Pandas, I visited a Toyota dealer and bought an almost new 1332 cc. The dealer fitted a brand new air conn system and it was a delightfully frugal car to run. I could put it in 5th gear at 30mph and it was happy. The car also had an air bag but crash protection was poor with a low rating. The car could also be incredibly nippy with its free revving engine. You could keep it in 3rd and still hit 50. I was told the metal was a special high strength galvanised steel so the cars did not rot. Nice car Steph, had I seen one before the Panda I might have taken another path car wise.
Amazing car for the 70s. It has things that even my Base Micra From 1996 dosent even have like rev counter, Pop out windows, Clock and rear wash wipe. I would happily roll around in one of those. Shame no one would build a Modern equivalent of something like this today.
Hi Steph, Thank u for driving to the edge of England for doing a testdrive in this fantastic Toyota. I myself have fallen in love with Toyota, although not A classic. I have an Auris. In my research to find the best car for me, you showed up on TH-cam! Since that time you have a big fan in Holland. And am getting more and more into Classic cars. This is due to your enthusiasm! If you ever be in Holland and would like to drive a newer Toyota, you’re more than welcome😊 Keep up the good work! Wish you the very best
In the seventies, there were voluntary quotas on imports of Japanese cars - I'm guessing that Toyota preferred to sell their bigger models, which were more profitable?
Very impressive motor. You definitely bring out the good points in all cars. The wiper and indicator stalk placements remind me of the Renault 18 you tested last week. The wiper cycle reminds me of the mk2 Vauxhall astra.
Late '70's my girlfriend 's Mum bought a brand new yellow/orange Toyota Starlet five door . Girlfriend got her 'old' ' 1976 red FIAT 127, ..I had a VW Beetle 1302S at the time. Starlet was hugely more fun to drive than eithier of them. Rear wheel drive, such precise gearchange, steering, positive brakes..terrific little car. Wish that I owned one now!
Thanks for another good one, Steph! I’m an MG Midget owner in the US, and the Starlet came up on our radar a few years ago. Seems the 5-speed box in the Starlet is a simple swap into our old 4-speed Midgets.
My mom brought the 1980 model with the square headlamps and it was the car me and my brother learned to drive on. It was woefully underpowered but that hadn't stopped us driving everywhere. After many years of faithful service we sold it in 1993 and despite being worn down it was snatched immediately because there were many people racing them in my country due to its rear wheel drive.
There are very few of these RWD Starlets left in Barbados now; owing to their rear-drive set-up, they were very popular as rally cars (some are still used for that purpose) and among boy racers in the 1980s and it is hard to find one that has not been modified in some way. The 4A-GE used in the AE86 is a common swap.
Great car. Here in south america (Uruguay) came 2 versions; Standard, 3 door hatch-back. 1 litre 4 cylinder carburated, 4 speed manual transmission, vynil seats and vynil carpet. DL (DeLuxe), 5 door hatck-back. 1.1 litre also 4 cylinder carburated, 5 speed manual transmission, velour seats with headrest on the front ones, velour carpet, aluminium trim on dashboard, brake booster (no booster on the standard), tachometer, armrest for front passenger, read glass defogger, dashboard analog clock (on the standard came a dummy plate with the toyota logo) and exterior mouldings. My mother had a standard 3 door, white with blue vynil interior, great little car!!!!
My Dad had a Starlet in the 80's and he loved it, said it was the most reliable car he had ever had, bearing in mind he had a Triumph Dolomite before which was very unreliable, lol
Here in Finland all of these were destroyed in rallies, or still rallying. It´s a legendary rally car, for the short wheelbase and rear wheel drive. I have seen only 3 that are actual road cars
Hey Steph, you've got new hair! Beautiful! I love this little Starlet. Nice clear gauges, and an overall handsome dash layout. I didn't see a stalk for signal lights, and I'm wondering if the signals are built-into the headlight stalk. As always, thanks for bringing this.
great presentation. beautiful car, presenter, and dress! such colors! love, love it. top 5 video of yours for me. good job as always hun. the starlet name fits you and the car.
My aunt had a new 78 or 79 Starlet in the same or very similar color while she was in high school that my grandparents then kept around as a second car for visiting family well until the late 1990s. I have many memories of sticky vinyl seats in Florida summers.
5-speed box, intermittent wipers, refined engine, superior build quality and starts like it's injected. They may not have drove as well as European rivals but I wouldn't hesitate to jump in this and do a 200-mile journey. Awesome little car. I had one of those late '90's bubble-shaped Starlets. It handled like a boat but despite its 150k miles, everything worked, it felt solid and the 1.3 engine was nippy as anything. It was utterly reliable and I only sold it because I didn't need a car. Regret it now.
Love the plaid seats. Unfortunately in the USA they were massively out sold by the fwd toyota Tercel. I've seen a few turned into drag race cars with V8 engines
great review.......great car......in my experience anything....and i mean anything that has Made in Japan on it is top notch...costs more ....but worth it....👍👍👍
Wow you looked so relaxed in this video Steph. The car seemed solid and quiet. I see that it was Ziebarted by the sticker on the rear window which will have helped keep the rust at bay. I believe rustproof treatments would have been between £100 and £200 in 1979. Gorgeous colour. Which car did you use to travel to the edge of England then?
Best wee cars ever, and you will need a bank loan to buy one now £6k plus should get you a nice one, 5 doors are cheaper £4.5k plus for a good one.. great review.
You hit on many of the things that made Japanese cars so successful over the years. Equipment levels were very good, the materials were very good quality, and the details were just right. Build quality was possibly the main reason though. Everything would continue to work for many years. Rust was a problem but by the mid to late eighties they had improved in that area too. So glad you liked this car and I'm sure you'll love other models if you get the chance to try them out.
These are hugely popular for modders here in Costa Rica, and not hard to find. They're expensive, but can be redone with spares off the shelf at a convenience store.
Hi mate, I'm from Costa Rica. I have a 1982 U.S. version Toyota Starlet since 31 years ago. I bought it in 1990 with 42,000 miles ( 64,000 kms. ) and now it has 250,000 miles ( 400,000 kms. ) in original condition. Pura Vida mae !!!
Sweet little car.. When I was in my teens around 2000 you still saw the facelift model ('83) around over here, mostly at old folks homes in the blue metallic colour.. I always liked them, unlike the successor(s) which were too boring I think. Most of them came in the wrongs hands indeed due to the RWD.. All Starlet 5 door versions are rare over here strangely enough, unlike the Yaris 5 door.. Btw your presentation skills have improved, your reviews are just as nice to watch as Ian's or Matt's. Keep it up!
We didn't get the Starlet until 1978 because Toyota kept selling the Toyota 1000 rather than introducing the 1973 Starlet. The 1000 was a decent little car but was getting long in the tooth by 1978. If you can get hold of a 1978 Honda Civic you should try one, I had an automatic version and it was a hoot to drive.
Starlets were the surprise of the Toyota line. Really small cars did not sell well here in the States, the Corona and Corolla were the big sellers. But the handling and power was great. I cannot say the Tercel, which replace it here, or the Yaris are near as fun.
Excellent video. I’ve only seen a few in Canada over the years, not sure if they were sold officially here, the tercels of the same era were very popular but alas the rust gods have claimed most of them. Not sure when I last saw one. They are definitely rare these days. Oh and cute hair steph. Btw the last starlet I had come across was in a ghost town up the bc coast in Canada parked in a abandoned apartment complex parking lot. It had been ravaged by people seeking parts and was looking quite sad. Say on old ford rims. Shes probably still there, I’d imagine.
Toyota Nissan etc were the first to offer built in radios /cassettes etc in everyday car models. Before this you had to pay extra or install your own unit in european brands. Thanks for raising the bar lads!
It has quite a few extras, the intermittent wipe is very useful. I don't like it when they have a custom fit radio. It's a hell of a pain when you want to put a better one in. What surprises me is how quiet the engine is. If you don't know why they didn't import the mark I - take a look at it on Wiki. Toyota may have not wanted the an image in the UK for making cars that look like the wacky races. To this day, Toyota outside Japan does have a reputation for fairly conservative cars. I love the colour, but as for the shape. It really isn't a lot to write home about. The front looks like a surprised frog, and the back lights look like the designer slipped on his pad.
Steph's comment about wishing that this had more chrome was interesting. By the end of the 1970s chrome was going out of fashion on cars and didn't come back until the early 1990s. The Starlet looks great. Strong demand for these if I am not mistaken because of the rwd layout in a supermini body style. The USA got the mark 1 Tercel around the same time which I think was quite a charming little car.
Thru numerous upgrades the Starlet was kept in production until the original Yaris replaced it. A 70s supermini…with a rev counter, a clock, integral radio, 5 speed gearbox. I think modern classics inc those from Japan are beginning a surge in classic popularity…..the “new” relationship U.K. has with japan could have benefits for U.K. collectors and therefore Japanese suppliers of parts too. And you know why round headlights….that’s a story in its own right.
my grandfather tested one of those back in the day, they were difficoult to have because of the import quotas. he came home and said "toyotas are cool but probably won't last, i'd prefer a more reliable car". obviously nobody ever asked him opinions about new cars again.
2 reasons none are left rust is the 1st & 2nd stock racing the kp toyota starlet was the most successful oval racing car of all time and so many was used i for one had 25 in my time !!
These were sold briefly in the States but had few buyers, they chose the Corolla or the FWD Tercel. For some reason the Starlet was more expensive but a more basic car so it didn't stay on the market for long
Another rare hatchback Toyota Starlet Ziebarted when new the sticker in the back window I owned it's successor the Yaris which I've owned 3 since 2012 great video Steph
The Yaris is a really fun little drive, I can understand why there are still so many of the original models left, people recognise they're good and want to hang on to them!
@@Howlingd0g Yep still see some Mk1's still around just a great little car loved my 1st one a black MK 2 2007 model T Spirit Turbo Diesel back in 2012 just so spacious it was and compact then another in 2016 a 2013 model then a 2016 top range Icon model in 2018 been just great cars did have Fiat's since the early 90's never have Fiat's again my Dad has owned 2 RAV4's
@@neilmustow368 I love Fiats of that era, but as my parents had a couple I do recall how flimsy and prone to rot they are. We had an Uno where you could hear the rust falling down inside the doors when you closed them!
@@Howlingd0g Do agree I had an 1983 Uno 45 ES Super 5 Speed 903cc engine in black bought in 1992 when I was 18 needed some doors tailgate and bonnet driver's door had no bottom in to at all was only £400 quid loved it no matter what it's problems did leak into the driver's footwell passed my driving test in it in 1995 aged 21 lasted till 1997 engine at a rusting engine bay got in in the end but great driving memories of it
@@neilmustow368 I think it's the "imperfections" like that which give a car so much of its character and lead to it becoming weirdly cherished despite it all.
Noticed the dealer's name on the plates, James Fleming Toyota in Ayr, Scotland - sadly gone. The registration number isn't local so was probably registered somewhere else when new. I recall that dealer as a young boy. Think it closed in the late 80s or early 90s, the owner was a bit or a rally driver and the local rallies (group N?) would start from outside his showroom. Link here to the dealer's obituary with some of his rally spec Celicas...www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2015/07/07-jul-obituary-jimmy-fleming/
Would this be a carolla or a tercel? In north America? 5 speed they were way ahead back then. As well the Rabbit or Golf as it was known in Europe was considered the best hatchback, and the GTI was the quickest and had many firsts, but looking at this Toyota was first in this area.in Canada my neighbor had two dark blue 1980 Corollas they were both automatic and RWD springy seats and he had both from new he is now 93 years old and the older carolla cars went to junk in 2005 and he bought a new 2006 carolla and was blown away. 25 years is a long time. My mom bought a 2001 echo by Toyota new in 2000 and she drove it until 2019...19 full years with little repair other than fluids,brakes, tires, swaybar link bushings, flex pipe alternator and a shifter cable. All in about $ 1600 in repairs...that's it. Until the body went and just wasn't worth fixing. I went and found her a 2005 echo with 80,000 miles and she loves it for $2500. Toyota will last forever if u do maintenance.
I grew up in the seventies. Japanese cars had build quality, loads of kit, were usually light and easy to drive, were at a bargain price and - more than anything - quickly had a reputation for great reliability. No wonder at all that they were successful & so many people gave up on British stuff that was more spartan & unreliable. Most people put up with some dodgy/ naff styling & very conventional underpinnings. Yes, they rusted, but so did Fiats, Renaults, Alfas, Vauxhalls....
Great video Steph! I think if you lay your hands on one, you will love it. They are very simple and straightforward cars and have the bulletproof K series Toyota engines. Just watch out for the rust. Starlets do rot badly, that's one main reason why there aren't many left. You might also check out the later FWD P7 series Starlets, I have an 1985 EP71 and it's also a very fun and reliable little car!
@@markdowling5962 Very interesting! I understand you've still got a decent amount of Eastern Bloc cars about too - Ladas, Skodas, FSOs, Yugos and so on?
Starlets were very popular in Australia too but we never got them as early as this one as far as i am aware. More so the later 80s. Run on the smell of an oily rag.
Oh my. You have just made me so happy watching this.
I had the same car, same colour, same year and virtually the same registration,
My car was solid and it drove perfect until some one hit the car in a accident 😢.
But the car was 100% reliable until them and had 99,000 miles on and apart from normal wear and tear and a new radiator at 90,000 from a scarp yard. I loved it and still wished I had it.
And you know something. Nothing squeezed or rattled.
For a v reg car. It was amazing. Happy memories.
Oh memories. My parents had 2 starlets. A blue 79 5 door and a red 81 5 door. Both purchased new and mega reliable.
Great video,
Starlet anorak here - this car has a lot of nice subtle modifications. The rev counter dash for example is out of a JDM car, but has had the original speedometer fitted to it. Notice those little red dots on the speedo? In the original non-rev counter dash setup those dots indicate the red line speed for each gear. The fact that only 3 gears are shown indicates this car originally had a K40 4 speed gearbox, so the 5 speed was also added. One more modification I would recommend the owner perform is to add an electronic distributor from a Japanese starlet - also could be worth checking the dodgy rev counter isn't caused by the wire at the coil, otherwise they could end up stranded.
I own the injected Starlet that HubNut drove in NZ
Hi there it is an original UK spec 5 speed gear box car and your right about the rev counter dash. My rev counter started to play up a couple of days before Steph drove her but a little tap at the top of the dash sorted that 😊
@@debwade73 Hi Deb, thanks for that. Yes, upon paying closer attention I see the chassis tag says K50 with the 3.909 X-code diff - the 3.909 must give it some good pep. It's a nice car you have. Hopefully the rust doesn't spread too much further on it. The most deadly place for these cars is at the top of the C pillar - as I'm sure you're aware of.
It brings back memories of my very first car. Here in Ireland most were 1.0 models. We got the DL version which had a 4 speed gearbox and a lower spec. There was no rear wash wipe, no tachometer, no clock but it was very reliable, cheap to tax and insure and very light on petrol. Radios, heated rear windows and headrests were standard on a Starlet but extra on many competitors at the time. My first one was red and I also had a blue one.I have very fond memories.
Another ex owner here, I had 2 of them. Loved them both. One was a stolen recovered I hand painted Landrover Blue (Blew the engine in the centre of London), second a much plusher & better condition version which I blew the clutch taking the short way over the Welsh mountains with a car full of people. This second one ended up buried under the local Pit tip as I lived next to the local mine. My dad got fed up of waiting for me to put a new clutch in so he called over the fence into the pit yard and a digger picked it up so they could play car football (the car being the football) between them before burying it. BTW I heard the engines were sort after as replacements for another Toyota model so many Starlets were used as donors.
That dog leg reverse always gets me when I jump out off my MG ZR and get into my Audi A4 lol. Nice review spot on. 👍
Another great video Steph. I drove a friends Starlet in the same colour in the late seventies. It was lovely to drive and was so smooth and quiet. My dad had the model that followed, it was a 1987 model and he bought it new. He had it for 14 years and it never let him down and it didn’t rust like the mk2.
This is, I think, the only car you've driven that I've ridden in. A girl in my high school had one and found me on the side of the road after my Firebird broke down. She gave me a ride back to my house to grab a truck and a trailer to take it back and I was impressed with the little car. It was 13 years old I think and looked and ran like new. When I sold the Firebird a few years later I bought a Toyota pickup used; it was basically unbreakable. Toyota just made good cars and still do. My mom has a Toyota Highlander and in eight years nothing has gone wrong. Nothing.
Thats a stunning little car.
I had one of these back in the day. Very light steering and a delight to drive. I remember the engine reminded me of a sewing machine noise. Good car.
I did my driving lessons and test with a local driving school with a 1983 Starlet 5 door. It was great to drive.
Wow, what a little stunner! Japanese cars always have been so ahead of the curve when it comes to the technology in them. Like you, I've never seen an example of a Starlet as early as this, I've seen late 80s examples but didn't know they go back as early as the 1970s.
Really love that stag design on the steering wheel, not ever seen that on any other Toyotas before!
Great to see videos on classic Japanese cars! Great to see this video! Regards from an Australian based Honda and Nissan enthusiast.
Great review as always... the car looks superb sure the Ziebart treatment has helped preserve the stunning condition.. the equipment shows how’s well equipped it was for the time typical Japanese lots of standard stuff like 5 speed which others charged extra for or not even available on!
Excellent review Steph👍🏾 These were really great little cars. This one is in amazing condition. Here in the US, I do still see them, but they're always heavily modified. How I wish Toyota, Nissan, Honda & VW would continue to sell cars like this in the US. Everyone here is into massive SUVs and pick up trucks unfortunately.
Wow! This Toyota is as old as I am! And it’s in amazing condition, considering it hasn’t been restored, just kept properly!
A friends Mum had one back in the 80's, metallic gold, used to get a lift to school in it
I like your channel
You reviews of types of cars are really interesting 👍💯
Great review. I can see why you want one. Very nice 70's design. Hope you find one. Cheers
Awesome review...Once you drive a toyota you realize just how good they are!!!
Another great video from Steph! I always learn a lot from her in-depth details.
I used to own one of the later Toyota Starlet and it was one of the best cars I ever owned.
Slightly disparaged by Fiat and rotting Pandas, I visited a Toyota dealer and bought an almost new 1332 cc. The dealer fitted a brand new air conn system and it was a delightfully frugal car to run.
I could put it in 5th gear at 30mph and it was happy. The car also had an air bag but crash protection was poor with a low rating.
The car could also be incredibly nippy with its free revving engine. You could keep it in 3rd and still hit 50.
I was told the metal was a special high strength galvanised steel so the cars did not rot.
Nice car Steph, had I seen one before the Panda I might have taken another path car wise.
Great video Steph. I love your positive yet honest review of vehicles. Well done !!
Amazing car for the 70s. It has things that even my Base Micra From 1996 dosent even have like rev counter, Pop out windows, Clock and rear wash wipe. I would happily roll around in one of those. Shame no one would build a Modern equivalent of something like this today.
Hi Steph,
Thank u for driving to the edge of England for doing a testdrive in this fantastic Toyota.
I myself have fallen in love with Toyota, although not A classic. I have an Auris.
In my research to find the best car for me, you showed up on TH-cam! Since that time you have a big fan in Holland.
And am getting more and more into Classic cars. This is due to your enthusiasm!
If you ever be in Holland and would like to drive a newer Toyota, you’re more than welcome😊
Keep up the good work!
Wish you the very best
In the seventies, there were voluntary quotas on imports of Japanese cars - I'm guessing that Toyota preferred to sell their bigger models, which were more profitable?
Great job Steph you are so good at the car reviews
Very impressive motor. You definitely bring out the good points in all cars. The wiper and indicator stalk placements remind me of the Renault 18 you tested last week. The wiper cycle reminds me of the mk2 Vauxhall astra.
My mates Mum had one in 1979! Nice car in its day.
Late '70's my girlfriend 's Mum bought a brand new yellow/orange Toyota Starlet five door .
Girlfriend got her 'old' ' 1976 red FIAT 127, ..I had a VW Beetle 1302S at the time.
Starlet was hugely more fun to drive than eithier of them.
Rear wheel drive, such precise gearchange, steering, positive brakes..terrific little car.
Wish that I owned one now!
Great Stuff Steph havent seen too many road versions of this but seen them aplenty on the short oval Hot Rod racing scene,
Such an appealing little car in every way tbh. I love that it was still RWD too! Great review Steph and loving the hair colour btw!
Thanks for another good one, Steph! I’m an MG Midget owner in the US, and the Starlet came up on our radar a few years ago. Seems the 5-speed box in the Starlet is a simple swap into our old 4-speed Midgets.
Never rated them myself but friends of mine swore by them for reliability and equipment levels . Great video , thanks
Our neighbours had one of these. It went on forever!
My mom brought the 1980 model with the square headlamps and it was the car me and my brother learned to drive on. It was woefully underpowered but that hadn't stopped us driving everywhere. After many years of faithful service we sold it in 1993 and despite being worn down it was snatched immediately because there were many people racing them in my country due to its rear wheel drive.
There are very few of these RWD Starlets left in Barbados now; owing to their rear-drive set-up, they were very popular as rally cars (some are still used for that purpose) and among boy racers in the 1980s and it is hard to find one that has not been modified in some way. The 4A-GE used in the AE86 is a common swap.
Fond memories. I got my drivers license in one of these. It was bright yellow. 1982.
Great car.
Here in south america (Uruguay) came 2 versions;
Standard, 3 door hatch-back. 1 litre 4 cylinder carburated, 4 speed manual transmission, vynil seats and vynil carpet.
DL (DeLuxe), 5 door hatck-back. 1.1 litre also 4 cylinder carburated, 5 speed manual transmission, velour seats with headrest on the front ones, velour carpet, aluminium trim on dashboard, brake booster (no booster on the standard), tachometer, armrest for front passenger, read glass defogger, dashboard analog clock (on the standard came a dummy plate with the toyota logo) and exterior mouldings.
My mother had a standard 3 door, white with blue vynil interior, great little car!!!!
My Dad had a Starlet in the 80's and he loved it, said it was the most reliable car he had ever had, bearing in mind he had a Triumph Dolomite before which was very unreliable, lol
It would nice to see classic electric conversation review.
Here in Finland all of these were destroyed in rallies, or still rallying. It´s a legendary rally car, for the short wheelbase and rear wheel drive.
I have seen only 3 that are actual road cars
i really like that the EP81 stayed with the 60 series interior door styling of having the steel dorframe on top visible
Hey Steph, you've got new hair! Beautiful! I love this little Starlet. Nice clear gauges, and an overall handsome dash layout. I didn't see a stalk for signal lights, and I'm wondering if the signals are built-into the headlight stalk. As always, thanks for bringing this.
In typical Japanese fashion, the turn signals and lights share a stalk.
great presentation. beautiful car, presenter, and dress! such colors! love, love it. top 5 video of
yours for me. good job as always hun. the starlet name fits you and the car.
My aunt had a new 78 or 79 Starlet in the same or very similar color while she was in high school that my grandparents then kept around as a second car for visiting family well until the late 1990s. I have many memories of sticky vinyl seats in Florida summers.
5-speed box, intermittent wipers, refined engine, superior build quality and starts like it's injected. They may not have drove as well as European rivals but I wouldn't hesitate to jump in this and do a 200-mile journey. Awesome little car.
I had one of those late '90's bubble-shaped Starlets. It handled like a boat but despite its 150k miles, everything worked, it felt solid and the 1.3 engine was nippy as anything. It was utterly reliable and I only sold it because I didn't need a car. Regret it now.
Love the plaid seats. Unfortunately in the USA they were massively out sold by the fwd toyota Tercel. I've seen a few turned into drag race cars with V8 engines
I'd absolutely run one of these as a daily car now. It's got pretty much the same equipment as my 2004 Clio has.
long time since see one was 19 in 79
WOW Steph, what a lovely little car - everything you need in such a compact car. still very usable today :-)
great review.......great car......in my experience anything....and i mean anything that has Made in Japan on it is top notch...costs more ....but worth it....👍👍👍
Thx Steph, Great video.
What a great little car.
Wow. What a little gem Steph!.
Another good one steph
Wow you looked so relaxed in this video Steph. The car seemed solid and quiet. I see that it was Ziebarted by the sticker on the rear window which will have helped keep the rust at bay. I believe rustproof treatments would have been between £100 and £200 in 1979. Gorgeous colour.
Which car did you use to travel to the edge of England then?
Best wee cars ever, and you will need a bank loan to buy one now £6k plus should get you a nice one, 5 doors are cheaper £4.5k plus for a good one.. great review.
My dad taught me to drive in a C reg starlet, nice cars
You hit on many of the things that made Japanese cars so successful over the years. Equipment levels were very good, the materials were very good quality, and the details were just right. Build quality was possibly the main reason though. Everything would continue to work for many years. Rust was a problem but by the mid to late eighties they had improved in that area too. So glad you liked this car and I'm sure you'll love other models if you get the chance to try them out.
The Starlet is the classic starter rally car for a lot of Finns!
These are hugely popular for modders here in Costa Rica, and not hard to find. They're expensive, but can be redone with spares off the shelf at a convenience store.
Hi mate, I'm from Costa Rica. I have a 1982 U.S. version Toyota Starlet since 31 years ago. I bought it in 1990 with 42,000 miles ( 64,000 kms. ) and now it has 250,000 miles ( 400,000 kms. ) in original condition. Pura Vida mae !!!
@@ramonmora4293 ¡Pura vida desde Alajuela, mae!
You can’t beat Toyota quality
Sweet little car.. When I was in my teens around 2000 you still saw the facelift model ('83) around over here, mostly at old folks homes in the blue metallic colour.. I always liked them, unlike the successor(s) which were too boring I think. Most of them came in the wrongs hands indeed due to the RWD.. All Starlet 5 door versions are rare over here strangely enough, unlike the Yaris 5 door..
Btw your presentation skills have improved, your reviews are just as nice to watch as Ian's or Matt's. Keep it up!
We didn't get the Starlet until 1978 because Toyota kept selling the Toyota 1000 rather than introducing the 1973 Starlet. The 1000 was a decent little car but was getting long in the tooth by 1978. If you can get hold of a 1978 Honda Civic you should try one, I had an automatic version and it was a hoot to drive.
Japan Had all kinds of models, in all sizes as well like you mentioned with the 1000/Starlet. It reached to such an extent it got very confusing.
Wou beautiful car iam hassan from Pakistan karachi this starlet my naibour few week left sale out fist owner full original what a master piece
Legendary (good) car. Fun to drive, and fuel economy that would make today's cars blush with envy.
Absolutely x
Starlets were the surprise of the Toyota line. Really small cars did not sell well here in the States, the Corona and Corolla were the big sellers. But the handling and power was great. I cannot say the Tercel, which replace it here, or the Yaris are near as fun.
Best cars for stock cars and hotrods in the 80s
Excellent video. I’ve only seen a few in Canada over the years, not sure if they were sold officially here, the tercels of the same era were very popular but alas the rust gods have claimed most of them. Not sure when I last saw one.
They are definitely rare these days.
Oh and cute hair steph.
Btw the last starlet I had come across was in a ghost town up the bc coast in Canada parked in a abandoned apartment complex parking lot.
It had been ravaged by people seeking parts and was looking quite sad. Say on old ford rims. Shes probably still there, I’d imagine.
Australia missed out on this Starlet I'm pretty sure, but we had the 90s models 😂
I live in Gibraltar and there is three still going around
Great video one day can you do a video on the classic Range Rover
Once l had a yellow one with beige interior, Reliable car
Hope your search finds you a nice one.I was thinking from the start of the video this car is you.
Toyota Nissan etc were the first to offer built in radios /cassettes etc in everyday car models. Before this you had to pay extra or install your own unit in european brands. Thanks for raising the bar lads!
It has quite a few extras, the intermittent wipe is very useful. I don't like it when they have a custom fit radio. It's a hell of a pain when you want to put a better one in. What surprises me is how quiet the engine is. If you don't know why they didn't import the mark I - take a look at it on Wiki. Toyota may have not wanted the an image in the UK for making cars that look like the wacky races. To this day, Toyota outside Japan does have a reputation for fairly conservative cars. I love the colour, but as for the shape. It really isn't a lot to write home about. The front looks like a surprised frog, and the back lights look like the designer slipped on his pad.
I know some one who's got an early eighties one sat in a garage for years now
For sale?
Steph's comment about wishing that this had more chrome was interesting. By the end of the 1970s chrome was going out of fashion on cars and didn't come back until the early 1990s.
The Starlet looks great. Strong demand for these if I am not mistaken because of the rwd layout in a supermini body style.
The USA got the mark 1 Tercel around the same time which I think was quite a charming little car.
some markets still had the chrome bumper bars on starlets,but by now UK were following the trend of painted bumpers
@@harveywade4112 Do you own a Celica? I think I follow you on flickr. 🙂
@@mattw8332 yes i have a blue1972 TA22 celica ,and another im restoring at present
I had a Hyundai pony and a datsun 120y loved them
Thru numerous upgrades the Starlet was kept in production until the original Yaris replaced it.
A 70s supermini…with a rev counter, a clock, integral radio, 5 speed gearbox.
I think modern classics inc those from Japan are beginning a surge in classic popularity…..the “new” relationship U.K. has with japan could have benefits for U.K. collectors and therefore Japanese suppliers of parts too.
And you know why round headlights….that’s a story in its own right.
my grandfather tested one of those back in the day, they were difficoult to have because of the import quotas. he came home and said "toyotas are cool but probably won't last, i'd prefer a more reliable car". obviously nobody ever asked him opinions about new cars again.
2 reasons none are left rust is the 1st & 2nd stock racing the kp toyota starlet was the most successful oval racing car of all time and so many was used i for one had 25 in my time !!
Passed my test in one 1981
These were sold briefly in the States but had few buyers, they chose the Corolla or the FWD Tercel. For some reason the Starlet was more expensive but a more basic car so it didn't stay on the market for long
My OH had the Toyota 1000 kp30 the predecessor of the Starlet.
Another rare hatchback Toyota Starlet Ziebarted when new the sticker in the back window I owned it's successor the Yaris which I've owned 3 since 2012 great video Steph
The Yaris is a really fun little drive, I can understand why there are still so many of the original models left, people recognise they're good and want to hang on to them!
@@Howlingd0g Yep still see some Mk1's still around just a great little car loved my 1st one a black MK 2 2007 model T Spirit Turbo Diesel back in 2012 just so spacious it was and compact then another in 2016 a 2013 model then a 2016 top range Icon model in 2018 been just great cars did have Fiat's since the early 90's never have Fiat's again my Dad has owned 2 RAV4's
@@neilmustow368 I love Fiats of that era, but as my parents had a couple I do recall how flimsy and prone to rot they are. We had an Uno where you could hear the rust falling down inside the doors when you closed them!
@@Howlingd0g Do agree I had an 1983 Uno 45 ES Super 5 Speed 903cc engine in black bought in 1992 when I was 18 needed some doors tailgate and bonnet driver's door had no bottom in to at all was only £400 quid loved it no matter what it's problems did leak into the driver's footwell passed my driving test in it in 1995 aged 21 lasted till 1997 engine at a rusting engine bay got in in the end but great driving memories of it
@@neilmustow368 I think it's the "imperfections" like that which give a car so much of its character and lead to it becoming weirdly cherished despite it all.
Nice car steph
Noticed the dealer's name on the plates, James Fleming Toyota in Ayr, Scotland - sadly gone. The registration number isn't local so was probably registered somewhere else when new. I recall that dealer as a young boy. Think it closed in the late 80s or early 90s, the owner was a bit or a rally driver and the local rallies (group N?) would start from outside his showroom. Link here to the dealer's obituary with some of his rally spec Celicas...www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2015/07/07-jul-obituary-jimmy-fleming/
Would this be a carolla or a tercel? In north America? 5 speed they were way ahead back then. As well the Rabbit or Golf as it was known in Europe was considered the best hatchback, and the GTI was the quickest and had many firsts, but looking at this Toyota was first in this area.in Canada my neighbor had two dark blue 1980 Corollas they were both automatic and RWD springy seats and he had both from new he is now 93 years old and the older carolla cars went to junk in 2005 and he bought a new 2006 carolla and was blown away. 25 years is a long time. My mom bought a 2001 echo by Toyota new in 2000 and she drove it until 2019...19 full years with little repair other than fluids,brakes, tires, swaybar link bushings, flex pipe alternator and a shifter cable. All in about $ 1600 in repairs...that's it. Until the body went and just wasn't worth fixing. I went and found her a 2005 echo with 80,000 miles and she loves it for $2500. Toyota will last forever if u do maintenance.
There was also an 5 door Estate version, although I don't know if that was available in the UK. In the Netherlands it was, but only for a short time.
I learned to drive on one of those Starlet estates back in 1987!
I own a 1974 Reliant Scimitar and a 1967 BMW you could review :)
Please email me 😊
@@idriveaclassic I will!
You are soo cute ! And really a lovely car 🚗💗💗💗👍 My father had it when I was only 8 and sold it due to some financial resn.
Nice car Steph......still not a SEAT 127 though lol
one of the unsafest cars to have a crash in even back in the day it was bad. be carefull
Correction FJ60.
I grew up in the seventies. Japanese cars had build quality, loads of kit, were usually light and easy to drive, were at a bargain price and - more than anything - quickly had a reputation for great reliability. No wonder at all that they were successful & so many people gave up on British stuff that was more spartan & unreliable. Most people put up with some dodgy/ naff styling & very conventional underpinnings. Yes, they rusted, but so did Fiats, Renaults, Alfas, Vauxhalls....
The first models of Starlet were beatiful, just beatiful. Later models was so boring and ugly. But mostly boring.
Hello Stephanie my darling, looking utterly ravishingly delicious as always.. And another sensational review. Keep up the good work dear one .
Great video Steph! I think if you lay your hands on one, you will love it. They are very simple and straightforward cars and have the bulletproof K series Toyota engines. Just watch out for the rust. Starlets do rot badly, that's one main reason why there aren't many left. You might also check out the later FWD P7 series Starlets, I have an 1985 EP71 and it's also a very fun and reliable little car!
RWD Starlets are a cult classic in Ireland! 😁 Still plenty of them about, despite their enthusiasm for rust!
I'm starting to get the understanding that Ireland is a good place to head to if you want some lovely old cars!
@@Howlingd0g If it's old Japanese cars that you're after, then definitely! 😁
@@markdowling5962 Oh no, did you guys have one of those idiotic scrappage cons too? Classic car genocide, I call it.
@@markdowling5962 Very interesting! I understand you've still got a decent amount of Eastern Bloc cars about too - Ladas, Skodas, FSOs, Yugos and so on?
Starlets were very popular in Australia too but we never got them as early as this one as far as i am aware. More so the later 80s. Run on the smell of an oily rag.