Dubbed the Boogeyman, you have to watch this monster in action.
While the 1971 Toyota Corolla exudes old-school JDM charm, this particular TE27-generation Corolla called the “Boogeyman” is wildly different. It comes with a rotary engine from a Mazda and a transmission from a Hilux – a crazy combination, thanks to the mind of Hawaii native Riley Kamahele.
Why Boogeyman? It's because Kamahele used to race it exclusively at night or in the wee hours of the morning, terrorizing everything in its path. Famous car photographer and Datsun 240Z owner Larry Chen dug deeper into this Frankenstein Corolla to see what makes this one of the most exciting cars we've seen.
This TE27 Corolla is Kamahele's first car, given to him by his dad at age ten. It's now powered by a modified 1.1-liter 12A Wankel rotary engine, turbocharged and borrowed from a first-gen Mazda RX-7. He deliberately chose the smaller 12A over the typical 13B to make a statement. We're not complaining, though, as both engines produce an impressive sound when tuned.
Pineapple Racing, known locally as a rotary specialist, took care of the extensive modifications on Kamahele's Corolla. It now has a CX Racing turbocharger, an ethanol/methanol fuel system, a Haltech ECU, a second-generation RX-7 Turbo II clutch, and a five-speed W50 transmission from a Toyota Hilux – a similar build to another TE27 Corolla drag car, also from Hawaii.
Larry Chen / YouTube Larry Chen / YouTube Larry Chen / YouTube
On the strip, Riley says the Boogeyman does 10.3 seconds at 137 mph. However, he wanted to keep his ride usable as a daily driver. This was made possible with two fuel tanks: one that carries ethanol for high-octane madness around the track and the drag strip, while the other is filled with pump fuel for the regular work commute to his job at a local Toyota dealer.
With the Toyota GR Corolla starting to build traction as a potential future classic, it's nice to know that there are still enthusiasts building up old Corollas and turning them not just into beasts on the track but absolute Frankenstein monsters.
Larry Chen / YouTube Larry Chen / YouTube Larry Chen / YouTube
Keyword: 1971 Toyota Corolla Has A Turbocharged Mazda Rotary Engine And Spits Flames For Fun