Max and His First Car

For Max, his first car wasn’t just a starting point—it’s something he’s still held onto.

A 1981 Toyota Corolla 4-door, simple on paper, but built into something much closer to him.

What started as a basic platform quickly turned into a hands-on project. With help from friends, he swapped the original 3TC and automatic for a 4AGE paired to a manual from an AE86—changing the entire feel of the car.

It didn’t stop there.

Running T3 AE86 suspension all around and sitting on 13” Riverside wheels, the car carries the same balance found in his BMX riding—controlled, functional, and styled with intention. Even details like the custom fiberglass front lip, built with his dad, and the AE86 center console swap show how personal the build really is.

“It’s basically like driving a 4-door AE86,” Max says. “Honestly feels better and is way more practical.”

But like any real build, it came with its challenges.

With no off-the-shelf solution for the header and exhaust, and almost no clearance around the steering column, Max had to take matters into his own hands—building a full custom setup from scratch.

That process didn’t stop with his own car either.

A lot of the parts and ideas that come from builds like this eventually make their way onto his website—giving other people access to the same solutions he had to figure out himself.

It’s the kind of problem-solving that defines the car.

And more importantly, it reflects exactly how he approaches everything—build what you need, and make it your own.