Ae71 Spirit Identification.

[B.L.Z.BUB]

Its hard figuring out those codes in that site it doesnt seem to work.F:

[Trev]

lol yeah, it does with some models.

[Ben-89]

It'd be good if there was a way to de-code build plates on these cars, as its readily available on more mainstream cars.

 

Trev that code was similiar to my red ae71 cs from memory, the Spirit was based on the CS trim level. A give away for noting a Spirit which not many would think of is that the headliner is vinyl - like the s and cs, and that it rode on the known 13" Corolla wheels with chrome trims and centre caps. Velour headliner and alloys was reserved for CS-X. As you mentioned it lacks the boot/fuel relese and velour interior but still gets the passenger mirror, tacho dash and of course the 5peed box with 3.889 ratio diff. Which differentiates the Spirit from the CS-X.

[Trev]

So it is a CS, CS-X, Spirit? :P

 

It has/had 13" stockies and a vinyl hood lining.

 

I actually emailed the dealer that the car was purchased from but they said to go to toyota aus as it dates back too far.

[LittleRedSpirit]

A spirit would have the stripe up the side and the decals, otherwise its just a csx where someone has had the $66 option of the factory fitted spoiler. I once bought and wrecked out a rusty white ae71 csx with a factory optioned wing and all receipts. Might still have it somewhere. Anyhow, the seats I can't explain, I didn't think they were in anything other than spirits. Sometimes manufacturers stuff in different bits towards the end of a series. My CSX is AE71 emsfa also.

 

Spirits were white blue and red only, with red by far being the best colour. If its one of those colours, then it may have just had the decals removed early on in its life.

Edited August 14, 2012 by LittleRedSpirit

[Jono.C]

The seats may have come from the wreckers or another car even.. hard to say I guess

[Trev]

But if it was a CS-X it would have a boot/fuel release and velour hood lining.

 

It is just confusing.

Edited August 14, 2012 by Trev

[LittleRedSpirit]

Then maybe its a CS that had the wing option and the spirit seats were a wreckers find. Maybe the guy found a spirit and took the dash, and seats. I don't think spirits ever had a boot/fuel release cable. It came in my csx but my spirit never had it.

[Trev]

Yeah but how do I explain the "SPT" in the model code?

[Ben-89]

Its the Spirit, based on the CS trim level. I have this stated in a wheels or motor manual magazine from 84.

.13" steel wheels and chrome trims/centre caps

.Vinyl headlining

.Colour coded grill

.The spirit covered seats

.Spirit decals (Decals on the blue and red tended to deteorioate more compared to the whites) which explains none on yours.

Its more cost effective to remove the whole lot rather than replicate.

.Spirit wing

.Tacho dash

.Passenger mirror

.And of course the manual package (which was initially available on the CS-X only).

 

Its the best of both the CS AND CS-X, it was cheaper and was made to appeal to a driver buy marketing it as we knew it. I don't think most people had $11,000 back in the day to fork out on a Sprinter so I believe this was Toyotas local alternative to not only supplement the Sprinter, but to finally acknowledge the criticism given to Corollas from the late ke20 - bang for your buck not just transport.

 

It had rivals such as the Gemini ZZ/Z, Twin Carb Laser-s/Mazda 323ss, Colt GSR the list goes on. It was the locally built sporty rwd alternative which arrived too late in the market.

[Trev]

Ok, I still don't understand the cs-x badge since it is a Spirit or CS.

[Ben-89]

Its definetley a Spirit, Looks like someone had stuck on some white ae82 badges, that corolla one is defientley obvious and I'm sure the cs-x is too.

Also Spirit models had the sill panels painted black, which your one features.

Its a spirit all the way.

 

As for compliance plate codes, it sounds the same as my old red 71 sedan. I don't think Toyota were that articulate in stamping different codes for colour/trims or options like what Holden and Ford did when the cars were optioned up from the factory. However though, its a big help when you try to decipher what it all means.

Edited August 15, 2012 by Ben-89

[Trev]

That makes sense, cheers mate.