This Toyota Corona is a Lexus-Powered Hot Rod
This custom 1968 Toyota Corona is heading to auction and it might be the only Lexus hot rod in the world.
To be offered on June 26, 2016 at an Auctions America Santa Monica, this custom one-off hot rod was conceived and created by Mitch Allread in Southern California. Allread essentially took a 1968 Toyota Corona two-door hardtop body, chopped it up and fitted it over a custom tubular-steel space frame with a 106-inch wheelbase. From there, a 4.0-liter V8 engine borrowed from a Lexus SC400 was fitted in the bay. It provides 250 horsepower and is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.
Not only does this Toyota Corona look like nothing else on the road, its Gulf Racing Blue paint job screams sports car inspiration while combining both classic and modern influences.
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According to the auction listing, this custom Toyota Corona was originally built with the intention of competing in the Silver State Challenge in Nevada. Reportedly, it has fewer than 8,000 miles on it since the build was completed in 2004. To date, it has never participated in any competition.
Auctions America expects the 1968 Toyota Corona to fetch between $25,000 and $35,000 at the upcoming auction.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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