Here’s the deal: I love old rear-wheel-drive Japanese cars, especially ones that have been hot-rodded. So, when the latest “TheSmokingTire” video popped in my youTube feed with the title of “Cobra-Blown, Lexus V8 swapped 1975 Corolla”, you best believe I was more excited about watching this video than Chad finding out that he actually had won a life-time supply of Tapatio Doritos.
The video starts as most TheSmokingTire videos do, with Matt Farah introducing the car and its owner, Mark Still. 30 seconds in and so far so good: Home build car that is function over form, matte-black, flares, SC400 front and rear suspension, giant roots blower; what’s not to like? Then, the exhaust note hits and confusion sets in…I know it’s a Toyota V8, but I’d still expect a bit more rumble to go along with that fantastic supercharger whine. As Matt explains later in the video, Mark was going for a flat-plane crank V8 sound by using a tuned header. Ah, that explains the mystery.
All in all, I really dig the car as it really nails the All Function look, is home built with over 4000 hours of labor invested, and has the performance to back it all up. That said, I can’t help but wonder if I’d like the car even more with a more traditional V8 exhaust note. So, I’ll leave it up to you guys: Do you dig Mark Still’s self-proclaimed “No Style” Corolla as much as I do?
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO WATCH THE SMOKING TIRE’S REVIEW OF THIS “NO STYLE” 1975 COROLLA
I miss my ’82 Corolla SR5 5-speed liftback w the 3TC engine… I swear that thing ran stronger as it got older…
I love the car straight off the bat but I have to say I really dislike the exhaust note. Sounds like a 4 banger. Emulating a Ferrarri? Why? they don’t , in my humble opinion, sound very nice at all. Yes, I know the GS’s and fanboys will crucify me for that but I dislike the high pitched effeminate noise that most Ferrarris make. So sue me.
It’s just mad that McTag hates the gray paint job . . . .
BTW, that high-rasp exhaust note is super-popular among the braided beard set.
I love cars like this. Built from scratch. I have a 1976 BMW 2002 that I am in the process of installing a mild SBC 383 into. So much work and at times I think I have gotten in over my head but seeing cars like this Corolla are motivation. So far it has parts from BMW, Chevy , Ford and some VW rabbit stuff.
If the car started life a 75 Corolla it stayed a 75 Corolla. It doesn’t matter what they did with it.
I love it. A well executed ride, better than it should be, tons of home made fab, oddball choice of body and drivetrain… I’d just like to see more of the mechanic and fab work that went into it.
I like the way Mark attempted to get the exhaust note similar to a Ferrari, it sounds cool!
I would like to do the same to a 75-76 Celica but LS power, but that’s just me.
Sounds like ass.
The cool factor is exclusively in the realm of “DIY” – from me, he gets no points for using a Yota, for SC400 guts or for the “no style” paint. C’mon, haven’t we all caught on by now that primer & flat black are as often affect as representative of the budget?
Still, nice job grafting all the bits / pieces together to make it happen.
Damn, that exhaust sounds crappy though.
ok to everyone that gives this guy grief for one thing or another…SHUT UP!!!..I would like to see one of you build a bad ass car with all of the same companies parts,,,its all Toyota…and then email a webcast and have them come out and drive it…That takes balls….I think this car kicks ass even the exhaust…..
ok the blower is off a cobra