BUILDING THE ULTIMATE EP82 STARLET TURBO

In 2006, I bought a Starlet Turbo from a friend as a project car. I'd always liked the EP82 (having owned one years before) and, with no real plans other than having a bunch of Japanese car magazines, a desire to learn how to build a track car and access to the Yahoo.co.jp auctions...I made a start on what would become the craziest build ever. The car went from being a hot hatch, to being a fire breathing monster, with a power to weight ratio of almost 600hp per tonne.
This video is the two year story of how it came to be.
------------------------------
Nostalgia by Tobu / 7obu
Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported- CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/Nostalgia-Tobu
Music promoted by Audio Library • Nostalgia - Tobu (No C...
------------------------------
🎵 Track Info:
Title: Nostalgia by Tobu
Genre and Mood: Dance & Electronic + Bright
---
🎧 Available on:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/2311Yk...
iTunes: / album .
Deezer: deezer.com/us/album/14538430
KZbin: • Tobu - Nostalgia
SoundCloud: / nostalgia
Google Play: bit.ly/GooglePlay-Nostalgia
---
😊 Contact the Artist:
[e-mail]
tobumusic.com
/ 7obu
/ tobuofficial
deezer.com/us/artist/4514572
itunes.apple.com/us/artist/to...
open.spotify.com/artist/1feoG...
play.google.com/store/music/a...
/ tobuofficial
/ tobuofficial
/ 7obu
---

[@EP91STARLET]

No way man! I LOVED this starlet back in the day! I bought the fuel cell and roof scoop from you when it got broken for parts on the owners club years back! Brilliant video! I remember the build well!

[@SoloLap]

Amazing! Still to this day I find the odd mention of the 'nightspirit ep82' parts. I wish I hadn't broken it, such a shit end to a car's life.

[@EP91STARLET]

@@SoloLap yeah Ive seen parts floating about! I still have the roof scoop! Do you have any in car footage of it on track?

[@SoloLap]

@@EP91STARLET that is awesome!!! I think I may have footage from the Ring on that first trip, I'll have to have a look. I really couldn't drive for shit back then 😂 so any footage looked pedestrian...

[@EP91STARLET]

@@SoloLap would be good to see!

[@SoloLap]

@@EP91STARLET will see what I can find

[@tonymwangi7632]

Honestly I smiled watching this whole video. Seeing someone do something from start to finish is amazing. Congratulations man

[@SoloLap]

Thanks Tony. This car was the one that got me hooked on tuning cars, it didn't deserve the end but when I eventually gave it to a garage to do some work on it, it just wasn't the same after that 😪

[@Beardchanics]

Another amazing project. Love those little pocket rocket. When you said the driver wasn't got scared a crash photo was going to follow!

[@SoloLap]

Thank you! Luckily I drove straight on at Adenau Forst at the Ring. Back then I really couldn't drive well, not that I'm much better now 🤫

[@obidullahjamy6701]

yeah man.. me too.. i wasted a deep sigh there.. but thank god no accident to that beautiful beast 🥺🥺🥺🥺

[@0pixmedia]

P8 was my fist car, lowered and big wide tires made it a gokart. What a dreamcar❤

[@Sykoturtle69]

WELL DONE!!!! I was hooked from the start of the video! I just aquired a 96 EP91 Glanza V and I love it!

[@SoloLap]

I had a Glanza too, many years ago...such good and simple cars.

[@NikosDIY]

Amazing! Great story!

[@SoloLap]

Thanks Nikos!

[@TuningCustomUpgradeCarParts]

Thanks bro appreciate it... looking for more videos on starlet

[@huseyinhsc]

Perfect. Love the whole project.

[@SoloLap]

Glad you liked it!

[@chaddixon1502]

Thanks bro appreciate it 👍

[@Shadowcloud1]

This is hella inspiring. Loved the video :)

[@SoloLap]

Glad you like it @Shadowcloud1!

[@michaeloduorbusiness5861]

wow the passion

[@AdzyStu]

What an epic build, def a few ideas to take away for my own!

[@SoloLap]

Drop me a message if you have any questions I can answer!

[@bhojnauthramgobin1099]

Great build👍🙌

[@77Pera]

it was a long way to go, but also a beautyful way too, for sure, congrats man on your amazing project, the car is mindblowing !

[@SoloLap]

Thanks Michel, I learned a lot with that car.

[@obidullahjamy6701]

finally found one ..a starlet mod go through video

[@BadgerGT500]

Awesome

[@ZAZitu]

You nailed it.

[@SoloLap]

Thanks Mohesh! 😊

[@alexwangechi7175]

My god, what a beast!

[@SoloLap]

It really was Alex. I wish I'd have kept it longer, but we parted ways after the best roadtrip of my life still to this day!

[@nafeeshosein4487]

I love this build so much....this has inspired me to a next level..im a starlet lover and you made me love it MORE

[@SoloLap]

Thanks for that and that's awesome to hear! I still love the old eps, not seen one in a long time though in the flesh.

[@nafeeshosein4487]

I wanna do a build like yours...ill have to ship my parts from hrf

[@SoloLap]

@@nafeeshosein4487 aren't hrf no more? I think they shut down many years back! Best bet is to search the yahoo.co.jp auctions for parts. I have no clue if EP parts are still common?

[@nafeeshosein4487]

I think there's a company called racetech they have 4efte's built for 400+

[@btechmaman2283]

Great work brother.. Loved it 😍

[@SoloLap]

Thank you! It was a great car that one...

[@Roscoc5]

I recall the lad who built this beauty up.. i had my glanza around the same time. this brings mega fond memories

[@SoloLap]

They were some fun days! I learnt so much building this car...man yahoo.co.jp was a goldmine then.

[@adiwidodo8466]

Wowww,,it's awesome,,you built the 4 wheel little rocket 💪💪💪

[@SoloLap]

it was many years ago now but what a great car it was!

[@DubSe7en]

I remember the nightspirit ep82 well 👍

[@SoloLap]

Always amazed me how many people knew me because of that car...

[@JamieKellyfordgalaxy]

Nice video lovely car have 1 myself such a nice car best of luck with it👍👍

[@SoloLap]

This was many years ago now Jamie...how time flies 🥴

[@salvatoremertoli6493]

Congratulations my friend! You've done incredible engineering work. You have greatly improved the performance of a city car and transformed it into a perfect racing car. 400hp for only 680kg. There is no car that can compete with these numbers. Outstanding video. Congratulations, you have the best Starlet in the world. Bye 😃👍👍

[@SoloLap]

Thank you Salvatore! It was very funny to drive on the street, especially when the engine was in the sleeper car...nobody expected how fast it accelerated away 🤪

[@salvatoremertoli6493]

@@SoloLap yes. You can potentially beat every car with same hp. Because each car nowadays is about 1400kg. You are a genius like Colin Chapman, but addicted to jdm😃👍

[@SoloLap]

@@salvatoremertoli6493 it made my m3 seem standard hah!

[@Amansingh-wt2yn]

Amazing build mann.. My dad bought a ep82 12valve starlet back in 2004 and now i got the chance to experience what a 1990's jdm feels like. I am really trying to modify it and make it a sleeper build

[@SoloLap]

The drag car I imported was a real sleeper, it was hilarious pulling up on people and then leaving them behind 😂

[@TehBluebear]

This randomly popped up on my KZbin homepage, and having instantly recognised the car in the thumbnail, I'd never clicked on something so fast in my life. What an absolute nostalgia trip from following your thread on the old forums! Hope you're doing well Mark!

[@SoloLap]

Amazing!! Glad it found you 😀 that car still to this day amazes me how many people knew of it!

[@user-fk8rc7uk6g]

I never thought that I would build a car based on that video, even swapping from a HRF complete engine car. ...... I can't help but feel the respect for that video when they chose HRF instead of FRS or Cruze, which are still building engines, or JAM Racing, which went bankrupt 11 years ago.

[@SoloLap]

To me (at the time), the gold HRF demo car (and the Option video about it) made them the only engine tuner choice for the EP82. When the drag car came for auction in Japan, I couldn't believe it...and that I won the car!

[@tharinduts2000]

Dream for us live in sri lanka. Happy for u

[@renzoshredchannel9939]

Easily, The sickest starlet IMO. I also own one. You and this vid inspired me!

[@SoloLap]

Thanks Renzo! I caught the trend with the car at the perfect time with Japan, couldn't do it now...The Garage SPL?? Evo ep92 was the ultimate car I reckon. I had the boot lid from that one 😂

[@kurtm189]

Wow this is a trip down memory lane. Ive still got hrf front bumper and carbon bonnet from this car

[@SoloLap]

You have? That's amazing to hear! I think I had 2 or 3 different carbon bonnets on it at various stages.

[@kurtm189]

@@SoloLap i have the gi carbon one. Such a credit to you the car just dont see stuff like that these days, the style the rarest parts

[@SoloLap]

@@kurtm189 I was just ranting about that yesterday 🤣 modern cars are just dull...maybe we're getting old?

[@kurtm189]

@@SoloLap haha yes probably a sign of age. I must say i still have my gt trying to hold onto youth 😂 still shocks some new machines to this day

[@SoloLap]

@@kurtm189 you'll never again see a car like it (or those from that era), sub 900kg from factory. The Yaris GR is supposed to be 'light' 😂

[@astonswai798]

@1.07 there is a beater looking exactly like this on my way to work for sale, it's had me dreaming for months now....

[@SoloLap]

Get it bought! 😊

[@cxbra]

Amazing build! Sure its absolutely horrendous after you did your visual mods to it, but the soul is done right!! Like the kit made it look cheesy, like pimp my ride it takes away from the track pedigree. Like I said, AMAZING build man and keep it up!!

[@SoloLap]

😂 not a fan of the look? It was definitely an acquired taste, but it suited the time and the build (picking up parts from the auctions in Japan) I think the hrf front bumper was pretty functional (and light!)

[@Starfireaw11]

@@SoloLap I'd say it's allowed to look like that, when it's got the performance to match. Sweet car.

[@SoloLap]

@Starfireaw11 it was not a car to pick a fight with 😂

[@motorsportsbd]

starlet is fucking fantastic car always . its a super duper project car man . looks beautiful

[@SoloLap]

They're such a cool car. I think today they're even cooler being so light and simple.

[@K20Starlet]

Great video Mark, used to love the car and was one of the best at the time. Shame the owners club is nothing like it was back then. I remember the little photoshoot we did at JAE like it was yesterday. Cant be tempted back into another one haha?

[@SoloLap]

Hi Rob :) What a long time it's been hasn't it? I wouldn't say no to one, that was definitely the era of cars for me.

[@jamesphayer6116]

Loved this back when I was building mine 😊. Any chance you can remember where you got the roof vent from ?

[@SoloLap]

Hej James! Yes, it's an escort cosworth style item. Go to rallynuts.com 🙂

[@chaddixon1502]

Hey bro awesome build,I have a 92 gt Starlet but I change it from single light to double.i saw that u modefied urs also just checking if u had to change the wire harnesses for the lights under the dash.

[@SoloLap]

I don't think I changed anything other than maybe the wiring/plugs at the lamp end

[@markdavidson1991]

Remember this from TGTT or UKSO! The build thread pictures aren't available anymore Shared with a few starlet friends

[@SoloLap]

I have a lot of the pics still 😇

[@brayanramos2828]

Where can find a big Rear wing? Love it

[@SoloLap]

This one was special, it came from the Evo widebody ep82 in Japan. I managed to buy the boot lid with wing intact. If you wanted to do the same it would be expensive I think to buy a carbon wing element and then make custom legs. They had welded bolts on the boot lid that the legs fitted to.

[@olliebert2788]

Nice build mate, what was ylir gearbox setup? You leave it untouched?

[@SoloLap]

Yes it was the factory box, it seemed pretty reliable from m experience! Just a triple plate clutch was installed.

[@stephencarr7263]

That was a nice watch, do you still have the Gt?

[@SoloLap]

Sadly no Stephen, it ended up being broken for parts. 😔

[@stephencarr7263]

@@SoloLap that's a shame. I have a Gt myself for the last 6 years. I have been in to starlets all my life got my first 1ltr at 17 and first gt at 19. I am 36 now and still own a gt. I will never grow up 😊

[@user-jo7ry9cq3c]

メカニズムと質感を磨き上げた小さな大物

[@SoloLap]

Thank you!

[@MixaL1s6804]

Some people think cars are pieces of metal put together, others find themselves in one. Amazing project. Whats the song at 18:55?

[@SoloLap]

Thanks! It was a royalty free track, will try and find it for you.

[@SoloLap]

The song is Falling (Ft. eSoreni) from Sappheiros :)

[@MixaL1s6804]

@@SoloLap appreciate it man

[@SoloLap]

@@MixaL1s6804 no worries at all.

[@keriesenpereira3587]

Watching from Antigua #268

[@SoloLap]

Nice Keriesen!

[@Cero834]

Can you help me to where I can get parts mods for my ep71? I would appreciate it as it's a little bit hard

[@SoloLap]

What are you looking for? I think like with my Spider, it's getting harder and harder to find things now 😫

[@mmolokikwadiba4777]

I have a Toyota tazz with starlet engine I was wondering how do I make my turbo sound like yours

[@SoloLap]

All I did was run the big blitz air filter straight off the turbo pretty much, it was running the stock recirc valve if I remember right...but you could always block off the recirc valve to make the flutter sound. Everyone gets upset about doing that but honestly, it's not that bad for a road car on standard turbo/boost.

[@NazimUddin-yk2tz]

Nice , what's the spec of the engine and how much did you pay in pounds ?

[@SoloLap]

The engine is a HRF V300 conversion. So modified intercooler, Greddy TD05-16G turbo (with 18G exhaust), tubular manifold, Power FC, big injectors, cams, head work, 1.5ltr block. I paid round £1600 for the car landed in the UK! Bargain of the century :)

[@stephencarr7263]

@@SoloLap is that all you paid for the Full car omg

[@SoloLap]

@@stephencarr7263 yup, it was 180k yen and I was the only bidder...couldn't believe I won it 😂

[@PP-vs3jd]

Great vid. HRF ecu as well?

[@SoloLap]

The ecu was an Apex'i Power FC but modified by HRF 😃

[@PP-vs3jd]

@@SoloLap I have a HRF ecu that is straight plug & play. Noticed the rev limit is around 8500 rpm. Just trying it out and I'm inspired by your build.

[@SoloLap]

@@PP-vs3jd the only one I know they did was the FC with v300 sticker on it. Nice piece of history you have!

[@PP-vs3jd]

@@SoloLap yes, it has a sticker on it. Opened it and saw another curcuit board with a few chips that are not in the stock ecu's.

[@SoloLap]

@@PP-vs3jd nice! I wonder what they control?

[@sophnarith971]

ចង់ទិញមួយថ្លៃប៉ុន្មានបង

[@diovanirankin1088]

Hey can i tell me a website i can get genuine parts for my starlet pls

[@SoloLap]

Hej Diovani, I'm not sure anymore. What country are you in and what parts?

[@DC597.]

not a big fan of the hrf front bumper but overal a very good build , I am currently in the proces of building my ep91 Glanza V you can check out the progress on my channel

[@SoloLap]

Definitely function over form, feeding everything to the intercooler. I'll check it out, I loved the Glanza too!

[@_reggee_]

is it still running?

[@SoloLap]

You know, I don't know...the guy who bought the engine all those years ago reported no issues!

[@TukundaneYonna]

Hello, I recently got my ep82. Could learn from you.

[@SoloLap]

It was a long time ago this car but happy to try and help Tukundane!

[@TukundaneYonna]

@@SoloLap Thank you so much. Will be intouch.

[@galabaabdul3850]

It.s good Toyota starlet gt turbo single door

[@SoloLap]

It was a great car :)

[@carlosortega3256]

Que tan cierto es que este auto es? bien economico en el consumo o solo es un mito

[@SoloLap]

In standard trim, it's just a 1.3ltr turbo engine and is very light so it is good on fuel economy.

[@DimZin]

What turbo was on the 400hp engine?

[@SoloLap]

Hi Dim, it was a HRF spec TD05-16G with 18G exhaust housing. I can't remember the psi it ran at.

[@DimZin]

@@SoloLap I guess the engine was 5efte from how good the response was

[@SoloLap]

@@DimZin The engine was 1.5ltr yes, however HRF achieved that my memory has let me down!

[@DimZin]

@@SoloLap Usually they put a 5e block from a Paseo. Anyway nice build, wish i could do mine like that but i use it as a daily

[@SoloLap]

@@DimZin 5e block but 4e head right? I wish I could remember all the things with these cars...it was pretty reliable, why not do it? :D

[@marvondgeneral8736]

Can you put links for the parts

[@SoloLap]

Which parts are you looking for? I bought almost all mine through yahoo.co.jp auctions though.

[@nicholasbernard9611]

Hey good morning I need 2 headlamps for my GT turbo starlet not the bug eye type

[@SoloLap]

Have you tried ebay in the uk? They're all the same fitment for early ep82

[@curtiselkin9688]

How much was the car in pounds?

[@SoloLap]

The one I won at auction? It was under £2,000 if I remember right!

[@curtiselkin9688]

@@SoloLap bloody hell that is a good price. Did you use a company to import it or did you sort it all yourself?

[@SoloLap]

@@curtiselkin9688 It was a steal, I couldn't believe it. The parts were worth a fortune and I sold the shell with my old engine in too! I used isicar.com back then to import lots of parts and cars...fun times but now, much like overfishing the seas is leading to no fish, over exporting of 90s cars has left Japan with nothing left worth buying 😵‍💫

[@hairul7191]

For sale you?

[@SoloLap]

The car was stripped for parts and sold a long time ago now sadly.

[@Starletas]

12:40 :πως να καταστρέψεις ένα αυτοκίνητο..

[@SoloLap]

everyone is entitled to an opinion!

[@dylannranschaert8042]

How to fuck up a starlet turbo gt ,

[@SoloLap]

Each to their own Dylann 😉

[@serebbi]

I never understood why people destroying those piece of art cars..... You have no idea what im going through to make GT conversion on my starlet and how much and long( currently 2 months of searching for stock GT exhaust) i search for items to make it complete Starlet GT and watching videos like this where you throw away the stock items, really hurt me....

[@SoloLap]

It's subjective though right? You think it's destroyed, I thought it was the best thing ever. I did used to sell the parts I removed but now on my Evo, my GTiR, I just store all the factory parts...I learned that lesson. You also have to remember, I was working on that car while it was still popular in Japan and the part market was solid, you're doing it now when the EP has become a rarety.

[@serebbi]

@@SoloLap I say you are "destroying" these cars because its so hard to find one stock these days. You are the reason I cant find a stock engine. The "you" its not to you personally, its generally speaking. And final, i am not hating on you, for real! Ofcourse you are free to do whatever you want, I just dont agree with these projects. :'(

[@SoloLap]

@serebbi each to their own exactly. But this project happened maybe 15 years ago now, back then eps were silly cheap (this car cost me £750 to buy stock)

[@George-pp1ph]

I don’t want to hear one hour story I want the cure for your teeth

[@SoloLap]

I don't quite understand George?

[@richardturk7162]

Never cared for the sound of those.

[@SoloLap]

What sound Richard?

[@richardturk7162]

@@SoloLap The engine sound. To me they sound like an old Honda trail 90 motorcycle. Ring,ding, ding. Pops and farts when you get on it.

[@SoloLap]

@@richardturk7162 I never thought it sounded like a bike, with a decent exhaust etc they just have that generic jdm note.