By The Community
Let's Talk About What Everyone Else Is Doing
You know the drill.
Somebody wants to build a drift car in Pakistan. They go for the KE70 Corolla. Cheap. Common. The starter platform everywhere kyunke saman mil jata hai easily and its a decent car in itself....
Or they stretch a bit more and grab a Cressida. Or an E36 BMW. Or if they have real budget, a car of even more potential...
Nothing wrong with any of those. They work.....beshak
But here's the thing. Everyone is doing the same thing. And when everyone does the same thing, parts get expensive. Competition for clean shells gets fierce. And the cars themselves? They stop being special.
That's why I want to talk about a car that nobody in Pakistan is talking about.
The T140 Toyota Corona.
The Chassis Nobody Notices
The Corona isn't flashy. It's a sedan. Box-shaped. Four doors. The kind of JDM car that doesnt look very special unmodified
But here's what most people don't know.
Worldwide, the Corona is a renowned drift chassis. In Russia, they slide them. In Japan, they slide them. The wheelbase is longer than a KE70 or an AE86, which means it's more stable. Less snappy. Easier to hold angle in such a car.
It's not as big as a Cressida, but it's not far off. Somewhere in between. And that's the sweet spot.
Long enough to be forgiving. Short enough to be playful.
Plus, the boxy design? With the right stance, right wheels, right paint? It can look absolutely beautiful.
It just needs someone to see the potential.
Hamza's Corona
A friend of mine, Hamza, built one.
He took a T140 Corona and dropped in a 1UZ VVT-i Toyota V8. he later sold it to Taimur bhai but this car is perhaps one of the most legendary projects we've seen.
And the Corona handled it.
That's the thing. People underestimate this chassis. They think it's just an old sedan. But it's sturdy. It can handle serious power. Hamza's car was fast. Properly fast. And it slid beautifully.
It wasn't just functional. It was fun. A 1UZ Corona sideways is a sight you don't forget.
The Engine Choices
Here's the beauty of the Corona platform. You're not locked into one option.
You can go mild.
Drop in a 3S-FE. Nothing crazy. Just a reliable engine that gets the job done. You'll have a budget drift car that won't break the bank.
Or go medium.
Maybe a 1G-GTE. Turbo. Six-cylinder. More power, more noise, more smiles. (Agar mil jaye , 3SGTE bhi karsakte)
Or go full crazy.
1UZ V8. Or even a 3UZ if you have the courage. Hamza proved the Corona can handle it. So why not?
The chassis is forgiving. The engine bay is roomy. You've got options.
The Budget
Let's talk numbers.
You can get a clean T140 Corona shell for around 500,000 to 600,000 rupees. That's the starting point.
If you don't care about the interior, rip it out. It's a drift car. It's supposed to be stripped.
Drop in a 1UZ swap. Budget around 5 lakh for the swap, the labor, and everything to make it run.
That puts you around 10 to 11 lakh.
Now you've got money left.
Suspension. Paint. Wheels. Angle kit. Maybe a better diff. Maybe a hydraulic handbrake. Yani your options to stick to a budget or go full out
All in, you can build a very capable drift car for around 15 lakh.
Compare that to an E36. You have options , OFC the E36 has more aftermarket support but this corona perhaps can to some extent compete nicely , looking at the fact the E36 market is climbing in Pakistan.
The Corona is a bargain.
Why This Matters
Every drift scene has its golden child. The car everyone wants.
But the real scene is built by people who look at ordinary cars and see something extraordinary.
The T140 Corona is that car.
It's cheap. It's capable. It's different.
And when you show up to a track day in a 1UZ Corona, you're not just another guy in an E36.
You're the guy who did something different.
The Challenge
I'm not saying sell your KE70. I'm not saying the Corona is better.
I'm saying it deserves a chance.
There are clean shells sitting in garages, under trees, behind workshops. Nobody looks at them twice. Just dont mention the "drifting" kahani to the Baba G you get your corona from....they get offended and dont sell....mazak ni kar ra.
Maybe these cars are worth looking at twice huh....as a classic....as a show car...as a drift car....jo bhi
If you've got the budget and the vision, give it a shot. The parts are out there. The engine options are endless. And the result? A drift car that turns heads for all the right reasons.
What's Next?
This is the first article in what could be a series on underrated platforms.
If you've got ideas for other cars that deserve attention, let us know. This scene is bigger than just the usual suspects.
THE FULL STORY
Find more guides and stories in the Carnama magazine.
Special Thanks
To Hamza, for proving the Corona can handle a V8. And for showing us what's possible when you look past the obvious. To All those Who drift coronas worldwide and to Taimur bhai who has this specific corona
From all of us who were there, and all of us who still are.