Throwback to decade ago...the first speculated image of our cars.

[enouf]

First time I laid eyes on the photo above, I knew I had to have it as my first car paid full in cold hard cash. Every subsequent bit of info that I researched and dealer visits that I made cemented the fact the car was made just for me - I was in my own little dream world. I put down a deposit for a spot on the waiting list (up to 12 months at that time) before I sat in or test drove one. I got lucky and jumped the queue when a red one (I ordered a "velocity orange" one) popped up after two months. It was one of the most tedious waiting periods of my life refreshing the tracking details from factory to cargo ship and finally landing in Australia. There were no regrets on the colour as I came to think of it as my poor man's Ferrari, getting looks and questions wherever I went in the first few months before the 86 scene exploded into existence.

Before the 86 I had absolute zero interest in cars (drove a 2001 Corolla). Since then, I've learnt to service the car, modify parts to my satisfaction and generally become a car nut. It says a lot when one of the first things I do now when I get in to work is click on the FT86 bookmark and then 'new posts'.

It's great to see the original concept from the cutout and read the stories of everyone picking up their twin for the first time. I like to think I will never sell my 86 and it will take its rightful spot next to the Ferrari or Lamborghini in my dream garage.

[FR-Sky]

When I first see this car, I feel like it is made for me!

[Dadhawk]

I guess it's a good thing I didn't see this when it first came out because I would have had zero interest in THAT car and probably wouldn't have paid any further attention to it.

Originally Posted by Veloist

[Veloist]

I never anticipated a GT-Type Coupe. I really wanted a Hatchback because of the AE86. When I saw that picture I thought it was ugly and I knew they'd change it up. The thing that got me the most excited was Rear-wheel drive.

By the way I don't think that's an official render from either manufacturer, it's just artwork from a magazine artist.

[Veloist]

This is was the first time I saw the production version plus my reaction. I wasn't too surprised because it looked a lot like the FT86 II Concept.



When it was officially revealed I was in love!

[Zaku]

Lol to the days where @ichitaka05 and I just sat around typing stuff on an old chat platform trying to figure out what this thing is gonna look like. And everyone and their mother hated me because I kept saying the Subaru wont be AWD....

Yeah those were fun day pre 2012, I wouldn't be who I am now today if it wasn't for this car.

We came a long way

[ichitaka05]

Haha here are some throw back for you guys.

First prototype 86 that Tada-san made both Toyota & Subaru drove and everyone was convinced on FR layout NA high rev engine potential.



From there, they made this to test newly design FB engine... which we all know as FA engine.

[Teseo]

Even engineering got gheto...

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by Teseo

Even engineering got gheto...

Haha most of the auto companies do same frenkinstein prototype to make it new cars.

[Overdrive]

That first prototype is particularly rough looking, lol. Wow!

[mazeroni]

Didn't know speculation of the car went that far back.

I do remember seeing the first round of concept cars and immediately loving it.





Of course, I think they botched the execution of the final product. While the production front end has grown on me, I still can't tolerate the production rear design.

Give me the first concept car's front, and combine it with the 2nd rear design.



Would have been perfect!

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by mazeroni

Didn't know speculation of the car went that far back.

Project go all the way back to '06 iirc.

A lot of design concept came from FT-HS (which was shown in '07 NAIAS)


From there, nothing really happened til '09 TMS, Toyota show FT-86 which we call it MkI


From there went on dark age... for about an yr. Year later, they show FT-86 G Sports aka Mk1.5


Then another dark age happened... for another yr. Then they showed FT-86 II aka MkII. They displayed both black and orange.

Black ver which a lot of ppl know/remember


Orange ver not a lot of ppl know/remember


From here, a lot of concept was shown. Subaru displayed BRZ Prologue


But a lot of ppl remember and became 86/BRZ is after seeing FR-S Concept which was shown at NYIAS which we call it MkIII


Subaru fought back with BRZ STI Concept same year


Everyone went mad crazy and excited to see sweet looking FR-S Concept and Subaru teasing us with STI thinking they gonna bring some awesome car... but they went on 3rd dark age again killing good chunk of fans/members. No info from Subaru and Toyota is only showing off their 86 in VLN 24hr Nur race with camo.


THEN finally '12 86/BRZ came out.

[Veloist]

All those concepts really helped cement the value into the car as I know it today. It's like, I look at the concepts and I come to the realization that the development and engineering team put a crazy amount of effort into the car. I bet there was a lot of back-and-forth going on before finalizing on design and specs, and you can tell because of how different the shift from FT86 to FR-S/FT86 II was.

That's why in every discussion about "why didn't car come with this" or "the car needs more of this" I don't even bother explaining anything. But after following the car for so long I'm convinced that the final product and specs we have today had so much thought, purpose, and detail during the development and thus I perceive it as a car without any shortcomings.

[MJones_RB]

I've seen design sketches going back to 1991.