Toyota RWD in the 80's: MA/RA/TA60 vs. AE86

[Emohawk]

It identifys generation. This is quite usefull if you want to talk about a Corolla that isn't AE86 or a Supra that isn't JZA80. Usually I say MkI, MkII, MkIII etc. for most Toyotas, but I don't know the generation number of the hachisprinturinorollaroku.
Also, with some cars it also identifys trim levels (these are Celicas):
ST-165 = GT-4
ST-164 = GT-S
Same generation, different trim.
As well, it provides potental for obscurific Toyota geekery. Say I swapped a 2JZ-GTE into a MkII Supra. I could say "I swapped a 2JZ-GTE into a MkII Supra" or I could say "I have a JZA61". Then almost everybody wouldn't know what I was talking about. That's much better.

 

[Ghost C]

Great. I have a CD53 with an L26 in it. Now you have no clue what the hell car I'm talking about because I've just acted like an asshat who thinks calling cars by their chassis code is k3wl d00d.

Calling cars by their chassis code is stupid.

I have a '91 Sedan DeVille with the 4.9 V8. See how easy that was? And now you know what the hell car I'm talking about.

 

[1X83Z]

Wasn't the Chevrolet/Geo Prizm a rebadged previous-gen Corolla?

A detailed list of Toyota and General Motors collaborations sold on the US market:

- 88-92 Toyota Corolla hatch/sedan = 90-92 Geo Prizm
- 93-97 Toyota Corolla sedan = 93-97 Geo Prizm
- 98-02 Toyota Corolla = 98-02 Chevrolet Prizm
- 03-_ Toyota Matrix = 03-_ Pontiac Vibe

General Motors and Toyota really haven't collaborated that much - GM and Honda have done even more.

By the way, I would take whichever is worth most - then sell it and get a real car.

 

[Firebird]

The Mk. II Celica Supra is still the coolest car Toyota has ever produced.

 

[Emohawk]

Ghost C: I try to reserve my use of various code numbers to situations where my audience can be reasonably expected to know what I'm talking about. Also, if you told me you had a CD53 with an L26 in it, I would not think you were an asshat, I would look it up. I like knowing things though, which segues nicely into...

M5Power: Do you have a newsletter or something I can subscribe to? All this information you have is just great. Speaking of great...

Firebird has an opinion that I agree with and which makes me happy. Yay!
I know I've seen that picture before, but I don't know the owner...

 

[1X83Z]

M5Power: Do you have a newsletter or something I can subscribe to? All this information you have is just great. Speaking of great...

Check GTP Insider for now.

 

[Duke]

I have a '91 Sedan DeVille with the 4.9 V8. See how easy that was? And now you know what the hell car I'm talking about.

But that's precisely the point, GC. They don't want anybody but the little "insiders club" to know what they're talking about.

I drive a PL 420A, by the way.

 

[Ghost C]

But that's precisely the point, GC. They don't want anybody but the little "insiders club" to know what they're talking about.

I drive a PL 420A, by the way.

If I ever get the opportunity, I'm running over an 80's model Corolla with the Cadillac out of spite. I'll just have to buff the scratch it leaves on the front bumper out with a good strong cleaner.

By the way, chassis codes are only supposed to be four digits, Duke. You're so not l33t d00d.

 

[Emohawk]

If I ever get the opportunity, I'm running over an 80's model Corolla with the Cadillac out of spite. I'll just have to buff the scratch it leaves on the front bumper out with a good strong cleaner.

By the way, chassis codes are only supposed to be four digits, Duke. You're so not l33t d00d.

What about the AE101, SKA## series, RZN/VZN## series, etc?

 

[Ghost C]

What about the AE101, SKA## series, RZN/VZN## series, etc?

Who cares, really? The cars are given names for a reason. If the manufacturer wanted you to call the car by part of it's VIN number, then they would call the damn thing by part of it's VIN number.

 

[skip0110]

Heh. I drive a ED6 with a D15B2.

Damn Honda chassis codes are too well known, most people probably know what this is.

 

[Small_Fryz]

when i get my learners im drivin a 2000 RAV4, dont know what the chassy number is and dont care.

Id drive the AE86 as its little, cheap and not many people in Aus would know what it is, so i dont have to worry bout it

 

[Emohawk]

when i get my learners im drivin a 2000 RAV4, dont know what the chassy number is and dont care.

Id drive the AE86 as its little, cheap and not many people in Aus would know what it is, so i dont have to worry bout it

My chart only goes up to '97 (SXA1#)
Anyway, I'd venture a guess that it's SXA2#
where # is:
2wd 2dr: 5
2wd 4dr: 6
4wd 2dr: 0
4wd 4dr: 1
Whee!

 

[cmetom]

I'm assuming you mean 'Vauxhall' not Chevrlolet? Although I'm not sure since the Chevy Nova was discontinued in the mid 80's.

heheh Fry on Futurama had a Chevy Nova. It caught fire and lit up the night sky!

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

Who cares, really? The cars are given names for a reason. If the manufacturer wanted you to call the car by part of it's VIN number, then they would call the damn thing by part of it's VIN number.

They do. Go check out some of the documents issued to the dealers for parts. They've got the same familiar chassis codes we're used to hearing. Last time I was at Nissan, their little chart had 240SX listed as "S14", and so on.

And don't think it's new, either. I've got a book about Japanese automotive history, published in 1985, and chassis codes are everywhere.

 

[Ghost C]

They do. Go check out some of the documents issued to the dealers for parts. They've got the same familiar chassis codes we're used to hearing. Last time I was at Nissan, their little chart had 240SX listed as "S14", and so on.

And don't think it's new, either. I've got a book about Japanese automotive history, published in 1985, and chassis codes are everywhere.

Shops and dealers who do work use chassis codes because sometimes manufacturers change a part during a production year, and there's an actual use for the VIN code. Other than that, only a jackass would bother remembering random strings of numbers and letters for totally obscure and worthless decade or more old vehicles.

As I said, if the manufacturer wanted YOU, that is the consumer, to call cars by their chassis code, they wouldn't bother paying people to name the car in the first place.

 

[extreme car]

Toyota AE86 sprinter trueno all the way

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

Shops and dealers who do work use chassis codes because sometimes manufacturers change a part during a production year, and there's an actual use for the VIN code. Other than that, only a jackass would bother remembering random strings of numbers and letters for totally obscure and worthless decade or more old vehicles.

As I said, if the manufacturer wanted YOU, that is the consumer, to call cars by their chassis code, they wouldn't bother paying people to name the car in the first place.

I'm not "the consumer", though. I sell auto parts for a living, and I work with a tuning shop on the side. I also am active in competition events. So, if what you say is true, I have every right to use chassis codes.

There are other very logical uses for chassis code, as well. How about when a car has gone through several generations with the same name? Take, for example, the RX-7. Under that name, it's been through the: 1979-1985 body style, with 1.2l rotary engine, 1979-1985 body style, 1.3l rotary engine, 1986-1991 body style, early version, 1986-1991 body style, late version, and 1993-1995 (in US) body style. It's just much clearer and easier to say "SA22C", FB3S", "FC3S S4", "FC3S S5", and "FD3S"

Silvias are even worse. You say Silvia, you could be talking about a car anywhere from the early 60s to 2001. Chassis codes make distinguishing between them much easier. And, even with the '89-93 (98 in Japan), there are many minute variations. Four different engines )CA18DE(T), SR20DE(T), KA24E, and KA24DE), two body styles, the option of HICAS. Rather than having to go through all of that, it's possible just to say "PS13", meaning an SR20 Engined Silvia, or RHS13, meaning a hatchback with a SOHC KA24 motor.

 

[Ghost C]

I'm not "the consumer", though. I sell auto parts for a living, and I work with a tuning shop on the side. I also am active in competition events. So, if what you say is true, I have every right to use chassis codes.

My point apparently went over your head. I've never seen any shop or dealer using a chassis code by itself, they refer to VIN's when getting parts for a car when the part was changed during a model year. Only Jappanabes actually call cars by their chassis code.

There are other very logical uses for chassis code, as well. How about when a car has gone through several generations with the same name? Take, for example, the RX-7. Under that name, it's been through the: 1979-1985 body style, with 1.2l rotary engine, 1979-1985 body style, 1.3l rotary engine, 1986-1991 body style, early version, 1986-1991 body style, late version, and 1993-1995 (in US) body style. It's just much clearer and easier to say "SA22C", FB3S", "FC3S S4", "FC3S S5", and "FD3S"

Or you could say an '82 or an '87 or a '94, and then even non-car people would know what the hell you mean.

Silvias are even worse. You say Silvia, you could be talking about a car anywhere from the early 60s to 2001. Chassis codes make distinguishing between them much easier. And, even with the '89-93 (98 in Japan), there are many minute variations. Four different engines )CA18DE(T), SR20DE(T), KA24E, and KA24DE), two body styles, the option of HICAS. Rather than having to go through all of that, it's possible just to say "PS13", meaning an SR20 Engined Silvia, or RHS13, meaning a hatchback with a SOHC KA24 motor.

There was never a US-Spec Silvia. Ever. Get over it. '91 240SX with HICAS. Oh my, that's so hard, isn't it? The only reason you people call cars by their chassis codes is because you think it makes you cool somehow. It doesn't.

 

[neanderthal]

Shops and dealers who do work use chassis codes because sometimes manufacturers change a part during a production year, and there's an actual use for the VIN code. Other than that, only a jackass would bother remembering random strings of numbers and letters for totally obscure and worthless decade or more old vehicles.

As I said, if the manufacturer wanted YOU, that is the consumer, to call cars by their chassis code, they wouldn't bother paying people to name the car in the first place.

as someone already mentioned, when a car has several generations that use the same name, then chassis codes become important.
ive yet to need a part (aside from a key for my mercedes) that required a VIN number. never in 10 years of owning a car have i needed the VIN number but that once.

all over the internet are forums for various makes and models of cars and people who dont work in car parts ask questions based on their chassis code and engine designation.

see here
and here
and here two click on all forums to see
and here three on this one, for demo purposes, i linked the page for sentras from the model page, in case you didnt want to click on "all forums" in the above porsche link.

Other than that, only a jackass would bother remembering random strings of numbers and letters for totally obscure and worthless decade or more old vehicles.

from reading this;
any car over ten years old is worthless.
any car ten or more years old is obscure
and the people that own and use such vehicles are jackasses if they know their cars chassis code.

talk about the pot calling the kettle black. and a burnt pot at that.
some people need to know those numbers. some of those people own shops that perform work on those vehicle. some sell parts for them. some own them. some just drive them.
of all those people, i bet you most of them have a family; food to put on the table, rent/ mortgage to pay etc. thier jackassery ("knowing random strings of numbers and letters for totally obscure and worthless decade or more old vehicles") is allowing them to live thier life and feed, clothe and house theira families as they see fit. i would bet that some even enjoy a life of relative leisure because of it.

should they all just stop what they are doing, and join the ranks of the unemployed because YOU think what they are doing is foolish?
and are you going to feed house and clothe their families while they recieve job training for jobs more worthy in YOUR esteemed opinion?
and are you going to provide the owners of those "obscure and worthless decade or more older vehicles" with a brand new replacement vehicle?
and are you going to garage, dispose or recycle all those "obscure and worthless decade or more older vehicles" ?
and if so, are you then going to build new vehicles with as much recycled content as possible as encouraged by law?

because if thats the case youll be making the new "worthwhile" cars out of worthless parts, rendering them worthless themselves.


whose the jackass now?

 

[Ghost C]

as someone already mentioned, when a car has several generations that use the same name, then chassis codes become important.
ive yet to need a part (aside from a key for my mercedes) that required a VIN number. never in 10 years of owning a car have i needed the VIN number but that once.

You realize that the chassis code is part of the VIN number, right? I think I've also mentioned several times that, get this - You can tell someone what year the car is. Oh my, a revelation, isn't it?

For instance, they've been making the Cadillac DeVille for about a half century or so now, and I've never had to bust out my insurance card to look up my VIN (Read: Chassis code) so I could get a part. I just told the shop what year the car was. And guess what? They knew what part it was.

talk about the pot calling the kettle black. and a burnt pot at that.
some people need to know those numbers. some of those people own shops that perform work on those vehicle. some sell parts for them. some own them. some just drive them.

Uh, didn't I already say that the only people who need to know VIN numbers are shops and dealerships that do work? Of course, you had no idea that the chassis code was part of a VIN number, so I'm sure you missed the point as a whole.

of all those people, i bet you most of them have a family; food to put on the table, rent/ mortgage to pay etc. thier jackassery ("knowing random strings of numbers and letters for totally obscure and worthless decade or more old vehicles") is allowing them to live thier life and feed, clothe and house theira families as they see fit. i would bet that some even enjoy a life of relative leisure because of it.

What does that have to do with anything?

And in the rest of the post you ramble on with poor grammar, bold text, and randomly capslock'd words. I'm not even going to bother.

 

[Emohawk]

And you just go on raging in your head about the elitist dogs that use model codes.
AW11s are sweet, I want one.
RZN60s are bulletproof, pity about the rust.
Too bad about the VZN65, they're sort of poser cars now.
I never liked the SXA1#'s. They seem like just segment filler, and they're freaking everywhere!

Makes you want to punch a hole in the wall, doesn't it?
Am I hurting your head?
Maybe you should just never bring it up again, because it doesn't really affect you at all.

 

[neanderthal]

...blah blah blah...

if im a parts guy, i dont want to hear your VIN number. i want the chassis number. if the part has changed during the gestation of the models run, i might then ask for a chassis number. year of vehicle doesnt really say anything when a car has thesame name during a model changeover. and from my experience, a lot people are not very good with even knowing what year thier cars are.


to your question; they are making a life knowing numbers and codes for those old worthless cars. perhaps you are too dim to realise theres a much larger population of cars that is over ten years old than new, and they are more likely to need parts, but some people have and 💡 its called business opportunity. if im getting into parts, im not gonnamake new car parts as big a part of my business as older car parts. new cars are too well made.

as for my poor grammar, bold text and randomly capslocked words;
1) its the internet beeyotch. 'taint english 101.
2) its called emphasis
3) see 2 above.

 

[Ghost C]

if im a parts guy, i dont want to hear your VIN number. i want the chassis number. if the part has changed during the gestation of the models run, i might then ask for a chassis number.

No mechanic will ever ask for any part of a VIN number, ever. Including a chassis code. If he does, he should be fired on the spot. Also, if a part changes during a model year, the chassis number stays the same, it's the production run number they look at.

year of vehicle doesnt really say anything when a car has thesame name during a model changeover.

How so?

and from my experience, a lot people are not very good with even knowing what year thier cars are.

It's nearly impossible to not know what year your own car is, and if you can accomplish the feat, you don't pay your own insurance and don't ever look at the insurance card.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

If the VIN number is unimportant, then why is it that my store sells different parts based on parts of the VIN? I had one car today where there were three parts for the same year, based on different VIN numbers.

I also will mention again, the local Nissan dealership (Universal City Nissan), and the nearby Toyota dealership (Toyota of North Hollywood) both use chassis codes. In the parts and service departments, I've seen documents showing, and heard employees referring to, cars by chassis codes.

Additionally, don't forget that a large number of aftermarket companies refer to cars by chassis codes in their literature.

 

[neanderthal]

It's nearly impossible to not know what year your own car is, and if you can accomplish the feat, you don't pay your own insurance and don't ever look at the insurance card.

this clearly tells me that you have never worked in the auto industry. you have no idea how many people dont even know what kind of car they drive.
most know the make model and year. they dont know which partilcular model ( eddie bauer, EX, V6, 4WD etc)
some know only the make and model
a smaller numebr know only the year and make.
some know only the make.

as for the mechanic who doesnt want to know my chassis model, id fire him. thats the only basis for ordering parts.
model changeover years are important when the car doesnt change its name. 535i E28 vs 535i e34 vs 535i E39. all bmw 5 series with a 3.5 liter spanning nearly 20 years. 6 cylinder and v8 engine. tell me thats not important.

 

[Ghost C]

this clearly tells me that you have never worked in the auto industry. you have no idea how many people dont even know what kind of car they drive.
most know the make model and year. they dont know which partilcular model ( eddie bauer, EX, V6, 4WD etc)
some know only the make and model
a smaller numebr know only the year and make.
some know only the make.

Ok, every company badges their car. They badge it with the make and model name, and usually with a specific model, like LX, EX, so on and so forth. If you don't know what the hell you're driving, you're an idiot, plain and simple.

as for the mechanic who doesnt want to know my chassis model, id fire him. thats the only basis for ordering parts.
model changeover years are important when the car doesnt change its name. 535i E28 vs 535i e34 vs 535i E39. all bmw 5 series with a 3.5 liter spanning nearly 20 years. 6 cylinder and v8 engine. tell me thats not important.

That's the whole point - They span 20 years. Cars are designated with a production year for a reason. As I've stated about six hundred times now, it's impossible to not know what the hell year, make, and model car you're driving unless you're a complete asshole and have NEVER EVER EVER EVER looked at your insurance card, or in the case of make and model alone, the entire outside of your damn car.

This discussion is over.

 

[neanderthal]

well, guess what. theres a lot of idiots out there.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

Yup. For example, I had a couple girls in my store the other day, looking for a battery. Well, it quickly becomes obvious that they don't know what kind of car it is. One says Olds, the other says Buick! Year and model were a mystery. Eventually the driver calls her dad, who says it's a Lincon, and gives me the info.

 

[Duke]

So if these people are too stupid to know the make and year of their car, you expect them to know the chassis code? And if they can't tell you the make and year, how are you in your infinite knowledge supposed to assign the correct chassis code to the car?

Either way, I think this horse has been flogged enough, and lets all move on with our lives.