Little Yellow Different: 1981 Toyota Starlet

You won't see this next car on the road very often, but it isn't some rare one-off oddball that you'll swoon for one first sight.  It also isn't a car that you'll talk about the good times you had in your high school year or the romanticized stories of how your mom and dad met.  To be clear, if you have any memories of this next car, that aren't repressed, they are of the plebeian kind that involves driving 10 miles out of your way to use double coupons to buy white bread in the town down the road, or trying to coax that last few drops from the gas spigot in the hopes it'll get you down the road to the next gas station...because the Toyota Starlet wasn't just owned by poor people...it was owned by cheap people...my kinda people.  Find this 1981 Toyota Starlet offered for $6,500 in Kathleen, GA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Blown Rotary Swapped: 1981 Toyota Starlet

The Toyota Starlet KP61 generation was the first and only Starlet sold in the US Market and in 1985 it was replaced by the Toyota Corolla FX-16. Unfortunately, the FX-16 that replaced it was a front drive un-fun box, but the Starlet was setup with proper rear wheel drive...not that you could tell with the 3 squirrels under the hood provided by the stock K-series engine.  Thankfully, many of the remaining Starlets you'll find have been properly upgraded with something that leaves dark streaks on the road and your underwear with equal aplomb.  Find this 1981 Toyota Starlet with 13B power offered for $13000 in New York, NY via craigslist. Tip from Art C.

My Kind of Starlet: 1981 Toyota Starlet 4AGZE Power

The Toyota Starlet KP61 generation was the first and only Starlet sold in the US Market and in 1985 it was replaced by the Toyota Corolla FX-16.  It is a shame because the Starlet was setup with proper rear wheel drive and the FX was front wheel drive.  It probably didn't matter because both cars were mildly motivated by low powered 4-bangers, but when swapping in a more powerful engine the Starlet will give you the rear wheel drive experience you want. Find this 1981 Toyota Starlet 4AGZE Power offered for $8000 in Carmel Valley, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Rock On!

JDM Toy: 1992 Toyota Starlet GT Turbo

The Toyota Starlet was a small sub-Corolla/Tercel pint sized jelly bean that was produced starting in 1973 and ending in 1999 when it was replaced by the Vitz. The Starlet was sold new in the USA, but this next one comes as a JDM import (YO!) complete with right hand drive and a clean federalized NC title.  Find this 1992 Toyota Starlet GT Turbo offered for $8500 in Asheville, NC via craigslist.  Tip from Rock On!

Future Classic: 1982 Toyota Starlet

Let's face it, the stock market has been a roller coaster of booms and busts for the past 20 years and frankly if you plan on retiring without perfectly timing the peak of the 7 year cycle, you'll need to put your money elsewhere.  I suggest you keep it under your mattress in rare/exotic plant seeds*, but what do you do if you own a waterbed?  Maybe you put your money into future collector cars from the 1980s...like this 1982 Toyota Starlet offered for $2,500 near Seattle, WA via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

Repeels: 1981 Toyota Starlet KP61

What better way to keep up today's string of Toyotas than with a classic Starlet? The KP61 generation Toyota Starlet was the first and only generation of its model sold new for the North American Market. In 1985, the little rear wheel drive compact was replaced by the front wheel drive Toyota Corolla FX-16, a great car in its own right, but prone to fits of understeer.  Find this 1981 Toyota Starlet KP61 offered for $7,900 in Long Beach, CA via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

5k: JDM Yo: 1987 Toyota Starlet Turbo S

By 1987, the Toyota Starlet was long gone from the US shores, being replaced with the FX-16 Corolla here in North America, but you could still get a Starlet in the land of the rising sun.  This next car is a 4th generation Starlet that was originally sold in Japan but has made a trip across the ocean and is somewhere between an undocumented migrant and a naturalized citizen.  Find this 1987 Toyota Starlet Turbo S offered for $6,900 in Ansonia, CT via craigslist.  Tip from Jdah.

5k: Seller Submission: 1981 Toyota Starlet

If you paid attention at the beginning of the classic 1984 film The Last Starfighter, you might have noticed that the trailer park was called StarLight StarBright.  It was a reference to the late 19th century nursery rhyme that goes: Star light, star bright, The first star I see tonight; I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight.  I'd like to take the opportunity to wish for an inexpensive, rear drive, reliable, hatch-back and...here it is.  Find this 1981 Toyota Starlet offered for $3,000 in San Diego, CA via craigslist.  Seller Submission from Mauricio.

9k: This Is How We Do It: 1982 Toyota Starlet, 4AGE-powered

Update 9/16/14: The seller (Andres) sent us a note saying he found the write up and has dropped the price to $7,500, plus more pictures here.

Original post 9/7/14:  Every once in awhile, someone builds a car with such meticulous craftsmanship that you lose an afternoon in its build thread. Sometimes those cars are listed for sale. Sometimes they're posted by someone who knows how to operate a camera. And in even rarer circumstances, the listing includes the type of information necessary to inspire purchasing action. Nearly everything in this listing has been done the way it should be, and it's extremely refreshing. Find this 1982 Toyota Starlet with 4AGE power in Miami, FL for $8,990 via craigslist.

5k: Star Light Star Bright: 1981 Toyota Starlet

There's no shortage of rear-drive hatches in America. Corvettes, Supras, and Mustangs all fit the description. "But but but," you whine, "I want something boxy like a Golf that I can stuff a 13B into." Ah yes, the much-heralded hot hatch. Few are rear-wheel-drive. In America, your best bet is the 1978-1984 Toyota Starlet KP61. They're far from "hot" in stock form, so here's a 1981 Toyota Starlet with an upgraded 1.5L engine for $5,900 in Santa Fe, CA.  Original content by DT commenter & contributor  slowcarSLOW-MPGlol. 

5k: Survivor, Econobox Edition: 1983 Toyota Starlet, 63k Miles

The Toyota Starlet is an unassuming little rear-drive sh*tbox that we at Daily Turismo have avoided  featuring (except the 13B turbo hot rod custom...that one was cool) for a number of reasons.  The biggest reason is that there are scores of better built, faster and more competent cars available...but why not give the little guy a win today.  Find this 1983 Toyota Starlet with 63k Miles on the odometer for sale in Sacramento, CA for $4999 via craigslist.  Tip from Kaibeezy.

5k: Turbo 13B Rotary Powered Hatch: 1982 Toyota Starlet

The Toyota Starlet KP61 generation was the first and only Starlet sold in the US Market and in 1985 it was replaced by the Toyota Corolla FX-16.  It is a shame because the Starlet was setup with proper rear wheel drive and the FX was front wheel drive.  It probably didn't matter because both cars were mildly motivated by low powered 4-bangers, but when swapping in a more powerful engine the Starlet is preferred.  Find this 1982 Toyota Starlet KP61 with 13B Turbo Rotary for sale in Norcross, GA currently bidding for $3,550 reserve-not-met and $8,500 buy-it-now on ebay.  Tip from Andy L.