THE BIG SHOW AT 58
January 21, 2026
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THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
QUIET DOWN
If you’ve ever hopped out of a classic pickup into a modern daily driver pickup, you have probably noticed the startling difference in noise and heat levels within and throughout the interior. This is because some time in the mid-’80s, pickups began receiving the same noise and heat control attention as auto manufacturers spent on cars, as they filled every nook and cranny with noise cancellation foam, sealant and padding. These insulations greatly helped cancel out noises and improved temperature control, as well as help dampen vibrations.
Older classic trucks are among the worst in all these areas. They squeak, they are noisy, and do little to control heat buildup inside the cab, especially around the floorboard. Since all these trucks were originally workhorses, not much attention was paid to these areas, but this problem is easily solved. Whether you are just beginning your interior and building from scratch or retrofitting your existing truck, Dynamat offers a wide selection of noise and sound cancellation products. Dynamat engineers have designed a complete line of products, ranging from speaker kits to complete sound and noise cancellation solutions from the floor to the roof.
ONE REMARKABLE DAY WITH THE LEGENDARY XR-6
It was summer of 1981 when the phone rang. On the other end was Bob Juliano, calling to tell me about a car we might be interested in for Rodder’s Digest Magazine. The car was none other than the 1963 Oakland Roadster Show winning, XR-6. While the XR-6 remained on the show circuit well into the sixties, it had become somewhat forgotten of late.
Vendor Spotlight
The Holley LS Fest West 2024 descended upon the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, drawing horsepower enthusiasts from far and wide to celebrate the iconic LS and LT engine platforms. Under the scorching desert sun, the air reverberated with the roar of engines, creating a scene straight out of every gearhead’s dreams, with the scent of burnt rubber lingering in the air. Amidst the bustling midway, vendors showcased the latest LS performance parts and accessories, offering exclusive discounts and limited edition gear that had attendees reaching for their wallets in excitement.
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’80s FLASHBACK
This Is One Bad-Ass, Old-School Hatchi
Everyone is talking about old-school-this and old-school-that, but we here at The Auto Builder don’t really care about old school, true school or new school. What we do care about is bringing our readers the best damn cars from around the world. Whether we are featuring drift, show, street or drag cars, one thing is certain: we will bring you the best cars that are out there. And sometimes the best is simple and to the point, as if you built the whole car in your garage.
Author
Neil Tjin
Photos: Justin Saiki & Lance Akagi
Even though Brandon Lee’s ’85 Toyota Corolla has been featured in two mainland magazines, that hasn’t discouraged us from presenting it to you AutoBuilder-style. We’re going to provide you guys a different twist and explore this great drift machine in a way that many readers have never seen. In this article, we break down the car from top to bottom, showcase the drift suspension and unbelievable motor, and share the details that make this Corolla such an impressive show car and daily driver.
Dominating the Show Scene
While it’s important to note that this car is a very impressive drift machine and has been burning up some serious rubber, it has also taken Hawaii’s show scene by storm, becoming one of the top Toyotas on the show circuit. The suspension and wheel and tire combo found on Lee’s Hatchi are some of the best that we have ever seen on a car of this caliber. However, drifting is not the only thing that Lee’s Corolla is good at. A rare mixture of show, go and drift is what makes this car exceptional—not to mention that it’s older than some of the enthusiasts competing against Lee! From the one-of-a-kind exterior to the wicked motor setup, this Hatchi is definitely a work of art.
Eye-Catching Exterior
The first thing that caught our eyes was the beautiful exterior. The custom blue paint screams for attention and is the perfect shade to accent the Jubiride accessories. Lee’s Corolla sports a Jubiride front bumper, rear bumper, side skirts and fender flares, plus a j-blood vented hood, Japanese OEM rear taillights, Crystal Body side mirrors and H4 crystal headlight housings. Before the car was sprayed with the custom hue, Lee had the bodyshop shave the door locks and side marker lights.
Rare Wheels and Suspension Makeover
To accent the Hatchi’s new exterior, Lee decided on some pretty rare wheels. A set of SSR MK III rims matched with SSR spacers were bolted onto the car. Next, it was time for the suspension to get its makeover. Here’s where Lee went with some of the sickest components around, starting with the Endless Garage custom chrome-moly rollcage, all the way down to the J-spec rear coilover kit. He also had Battle Version coilovers installed in front and a set of Tokico front and rear adjustable shocks and struts. Next was a Battle Version camber kit, negative roll blocks, rear traction brackets, adjustable traction bars and lateral, Cusco adjustable front and rear stress bars, and Suspension Techniques front and rear sway bars. Once all the suspension components were completed, Lee upgraded the brakes with Brembo front and rear cross-drilled rotors.
Wild Interior Upgrades
Then it was time for the man to go wild on the interior. The Endless rollcage already scored major show points, but Lee wanted some more goodies to really spice it up. For starters, he installed a set of Sparco racing seats, harnesses, steering wheel, pedals and shift knob. A TRD short shifter and Japanese drift e-brake button go along with the Sparco shift knob. The rest of the interior has been done up in a custom black finish and features an Eclipse head unit, HKS turbo timer and an assortment of Auto Meter gauges in a custom pod.
Extreme Motor Buildup
Lee decided not to go crazy on his motor buildup—he went wild! The Spearco intercooler is only a slight indication of what lies underneath the vented hood. Moving on to the car’s performance side, you can see that it’s received its fair share of modifications as well. The main weapon of choice is a Garret T3 turbo mounted on a J-spec 4-into-1 exhaust manifold. For increased airflow, Lee had a one-off, one-piece aluminum intake manifold made, as well as a one-off air box housing the 20-volt individual throttle bodies. A TiAL blow-off valve was used with the custom turbo and the gases are released via a GReddy exhaust unit.
Long Block and Cooling Enhancements
Moving on to the long block, Lee had a mild 85mm port job done. Up top he added a set of HKS cams matched with a pair of Jubiride cam gears. Of course, not to be forgotten are the 440cc Supra injectors Lee had installed. For cooling purposes, a Koyo radiator and an FAL electric fan were used. Lee also had a Permacool oil filter relocation kit/cooler installed. Transmission upgrades include a Cusco two-way differential and 20-volt flywheel with a TRD three-puck clutch. All of this is kept in check by the SDS standalone computer system.
Final Performance Touches
To complete the performance aspect of things, Lee got himself a MagnaFlow fuel regulator, a set of Hyper ground control wires and MSD spark plug wires. Miscellaneous goods added for aesthetics include a GReddy oil catch can, TRD oil and radiator caps, and yards of Battle Version steel-braided lines matched up with Earl’s fittings.
Wow, what a car! Now you see why we had to feature Lee’s Corolla here on The Auto Builder. Not only does this car deserve respect in Hawaii, we think it deserves respect everywhere.
