For some, the AE86 is just another ’80s econobox with a cult following. For others, it’s the gateway to a lifelong obsession.
For Jon Guillermo, it became the centerpiece of a decade-long journey that started with a rusted TE27 and evolved into a garage stacked with AE86s, each one telling a story about a different chapter of his life. This specific F20C-powered AE86 you see here was originally owned by Travis Higa of Hypersports Racing—which, if you’ve been around the Hawaiian car scene long enough, you’ve probably heard of.
Growing up, Guillermo always looked up to Higa and his shop Hypersports Racing. He can still recall when he saw this very AE86 at the shop when it was in its stock form, way back in 2002, and even when it debuted at a local car show called Streetcar Show Off.
“I remember telling myself I would like to buy an AE86 with an S2000 motor swap like that one day,” Guillermo said.
In 2006, he saw the car go up on Craigslist for $16,000, and he wished he could’ve bought it, but it wasn’t in the cards. Fast-forward five years, and he saw it back on Craigslist, surprisingly for $7,500. It seemed too good to be true, but Guillermo and his father went to check out the car anyway.
Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t as nice as it once was: It was clear that the car had been in an accident, and the driver’s front unibody was bent. But Guillermo wasn’t going to let the AE86 slip away again, and considering the amount of money he put on his other AE86s, there was no way he could duplicate Higa’s old AE86 for that price. He picked up the car on the spot.
From there, Guillermo fixed the little things that bothered him. He did an alignment on the car, swapped out a bent axle, and adjusted everything to be as even as possible considering how badly the frame was bent. Then the AE86 headed to Munky Wurks Garage, where tuner Sean Igawa brought up the boosted F20C to a healthy 314 hp.
For the next few years, Guillermo would bring the AE86 to car shows, cruises, and meets with his crew. But life, like drift cars, doesn’t always stay straight—work, family, and other car projects moved up on his priority list. The AE86 sat, and Guillermo only did the basic maintenance it needed, plus changing the look a bit with different wheels and fenders.
“I’ve been slowly collecting parts in anticipation of redoing the car,” he said. “I’m planning on installing a new suspension, straightening the front unibody, rust repair, and repainting the car. I also have a Ford Explorer 8.8-inch rear axle to handle the more horsepower I plan to add down the road.”
In classic enthusiast fashion, Guillermo didn’t plan on bringing out the car until it was completely refreshed. Unfortunately, Higa died in 2024, and Guillermo put together the AE86 as much as he could just in time for a memorial car meet. Now the car stands as a tribute—not just to Hypersports Racing and its legacy but to the decades of island-built car culture.
Tuning Menu
1985 Toyota Corolla SR5
341 hp at 12 psi, 92-octane pump gas
- Owner: Jon Guillermo
- Hometown: Oahu, Hawaii
- Engine: F20C; Garret 2876; custom turbo manifold, 3-inch exhaust, downpipe, intercooler piping; Inline Pro 3mm head gasket; AEM 400lph pump; RC 750cc injectors; 44mm Tial wastegate
- Drivetrain: AP1 transmission; ACT clutch; Ae86 SR5 axle 3.9 r/p with Wier performance spool, custom driveshaft
- Engine Management: AEM Version 1
- Footwork & Chassis: T3 weld on coil-overs; Tokico HTS short front and rear shocks; TRD springs; Carbing front tri brace bar; Cusco 6-point cage; Battle version tension rods, panhard bar
- Brakes: Steel braided brake lines
- Wheels & Tires: Work Equip 03 15×9 -13, 15×10 -3(25mm wheel spacer); Bridgestone Potenza RE11 195/50r15, 205/50r15
- Exterior: Shine Auto Project Spec R front bumper, Runfree side skirts and rear bumper, J-Blood front fender and rear wing, J-Blood style rear quarter panels, East Bear mirrors
- Interior: S2000 instrument cluster; Charge Speed bucket seat; Sparco steering wheel; IS300 clutch, brake, gas pedal covers
Thank yous: “Thank you to my father, who helped me buy this car. Shout out to the crew, Section D. Travis Higa and Hypersports Racing, Sean Igawa of Munky Wurks Garage. Thanks to all the friends I made along the way owning this car and my other vehicles.”