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Nostalgic Wednesdays: “Countach” Manga by Umezawa Haruto.

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October 27, 2010

JohnP did a Nostalgic Wednesday on both the ever popular Midnight Wangan and InitialD series Manga in a couple of past entries. I love both of these series, but let’s face it, I’m sure you guys have heard of both before you saw it here. If you’ve been searching for more of these types of Mangas, then you’ve probably came across Shakotan Boogie as well. I’d like to show you guys another Manga in that same style, featuring a very well known Italian car called “Countach” by Umezawa Haruto.

Just another normal day in a Lambo.

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The Chreeno Archives pt. 2: Greg Lilly’s Honda S2000 AP1

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October 25, 2010

Up next in the Archives of Chris Reno is a car that belongs to a long time Houston tuner, and huge supporter of what we would call the local tuner “scene”, Greg Lilly. Greg, like many of us just cant seem to shake the tuner habit, and has devoted his life to ricerhood. Now, a father of two he has to juggle his business (Underground Graphics), children (he has 2), and a marriage ( to a very patient wife ). With all of this juggling around Greg still manages to pull off some petty sick builds. Note I said builds, with an “s” because this is the first of two cars that we will be putting up on Mayday Garage from Greg. Although this car has been out of Greg’s possession for a long time and no longer exists in this form it is still a rad ride. Note: The car was shot 2 years ago, for your viewing pleasure.

Badda Bing

Badda Bing

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We Need Your Vote! Vote For This MotorMavenette!

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October 25, 2010

Hey guys, MaydayGarage recently got a chance to meet Tailyr Monette, a MotorMavenette during our FormulaD trip out in LA. Tailyr is a down ass chick that’s into cars, and has a chance to be featured in an upcoming Import Tuner Magazine. But she needs your help! Import Tuner is hosting an online competition for upcoming models, and not only is Tailyr a friend of ours, she’s without a doubt, the hottest girl in the competition!

All you have to do is click on this Facebook link, “LIKE” Import Tuner if you haven’t already done so, and “LIKE” Tailyr’s picture! That’s it! You don’t have to leave a comment (although that would be nice), just click on “LIKE”, and you’ve helped us all out!

Click on this picture, and don't forget to "LIKE" her photo!

Do the right thing!
Import Tuner’s Online Competition
MotorMavens

–David–
David@maydaygarage.com

Random Snap

True Love & Devotion: One Rad GF!

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October 21, 2010

At last month’s Houston Cars & Coffee, I had the opportunity to meet up my buddy Law and his friend Warren that early morning at a nearby Sam’s Club just 10 miles west of the Cars & Coffee meet. I was driving my car, Law was driving his LS430, and Warren was driving his black AE86 alongside his girlfriend, Liz. So as we took off, we had somehow lost Warren on the way. I didn’t think too much of it as Law had told me that they got held back. After snapping off a few photos already, I saw Warren’s car in the lot, and Law had informed me that the bolts holding his throttle position sensor had come undone and that they didn’t have any way to keep it from completely coming off, so Warren and his girl got creative. When Warren popped open his bay, I just stared. 0_o

An AE86 on Advan Oni's. Very unsuspecting....

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International, Time Attack

Nostalgic Wednesday: The Chevy-Toyota J-Body Cavalier

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October 20, 2010

Yup that’s right, it is not a typo, the title says Toyota Cavalier. I figured I would throw this up today because of a funny story that happened to me the other day. I was at a mall on the south side of Houston when I saw a pretty riced (not in a good way) out Chevy Cavalier. The owner however the owner was super proud of his accomplishments with his car so I went up to him and started some rice talk for shits and giggles. Turns out that this guy was pretty damn knowledgeable about the ricer industry and the way he built his car was just his taste, bad taste IMO, but to each their own. He did however continue to refer to his beast as a Toyota Cavalier, which I found strange because although I am familiar with the “J-Body” Cavalier from the 90’s I knew that all of them were manufactured in the USA. So, that leads us to this Nostalgic Wednesday, the Toyota Cavalier.

Toyota Cavalier, J-Style

Toyota Cavalier, J-Style

Source Toyota Cavalier Guy.

“The Toyota Cavalier first appeared in Toyota dealerships throughout Japan on January 20, 1996. They were built at the Lordstown Assembly Plant, in Lordstown, Ohio, on the same assembly line as the Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire. The most obvious difference, of course, being that they were all right-hand drive! The Toyota Cavaliers were shipped by rail and ship to Japan. Toyota Cavaliers were available in both coupe and sedan form. GM states that the Toyota Cavalier was “tailored specifically for the Japanese consumer” and sure enough, there were some features on the Toyota brand that were not even options on the Chevy models, including leather options, a carpeted trunk lid, folding side mirrors and more.

Yup, that's the 90s alright

Yup, that's the 90s alright

Toyota Cavaliers had a single standard drivetrain: the 2.4L “Twin Cam” (LD9) engine mated to a four-speed Hydramatic 4T40-E automatic transmission, with overdrive. The Isuzu (96-99) & Getrag (2000) 5-speed manual transmissions found in North America were not available on the Toyota Cavalier.

Many features were standard on the Toyota Cavalier:

Air conditioning
Tilt steering
Dual air bags
Anti-lock braking system
Power windows
Power door locks
Leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift knob and emergency brake handle
Rear seat with integrated centre armrest
Side markers
Wider-flared fenders to cover front tires

There were many other differences on the Toyota Cavalier, including:

Cruise control was not available
The fuel door was flat, with an inside release handle
The radio antenna was integrated into the front windshield
Manual folding mirrors were added mid-1996, and power folding mirrors were standard for 1997

Toyota had aimed to sell 20,000 of the vehicles annually, or about 1,700 per month. The cars were released on January 20, 1996 and by February 19 Toyota had received orders for about 950 sedans and 850 coupes. Unfortunately, strong initial interest died off and by July 1996 sales had totalled only 6,700 vehicles. In an effort to perk up sales, Toyota’s Technocraft subsidiary introduced upgraded models featuring automatic folding side mirrors, rear spoilers and emblems. The 2.4 TRD coupes, equipped with an 11-piece TRD designed body kit, retailed in Japan for 2.29 million yen, up 240,000 yen from the standard issue Cavalier coupe, which sold for 2.05 million yen.

TRD continued with additional aftermarket support, producing a set of lowering springs. Bomex also offered aftermarket support for the Toyota Cavalier, developing body kits, a spoiler, and sleek side view mirrors. The Toyota Cavalier was available from 1996 through the 2000 model year, until finally discontinued due to poor sales.”

I think with some aggressive TE37s and a big ass front mount, this could work.

I think with some aggressive TE37s and a big ass front mount, this could work.

“In 1997 and 1998, the All Japan GT Championship (JGTC, GT-300 class) saw the #60 Kraft Toyota Cavalier driven by a variety of drivers: Kumi Satou, Minoru Tanaka, Masaoki Nagashima, Junko Mihara and Akira Watanabe. Unfortunately, this Toyota Cavalier’s best finish was 18th place in two of it’s races. ”

I'd hit.

I'd hit.

So, if before today you were unfamiliar with this epic 90’s collaboration of GALACTIC proportions, you now know when that guy at a local meet is spouting some jibberish about his Chevy Cavalier being a Toyota Cavalier, he isn’t completely crazy.

— JohnP