Regular cars haven't really made an appearance so far, so I figured that it was high time to include one. One of my favourite random spots would be this 1983 Toyota Starlet KP60, especially when this does not exist here any more...
The Starlet was a subcompact car made between 1973 to 1999, as the successor to the Publica. Initially made available as a coupe, sedan and station wagon, it became only available as a 3 or 5-door hatchback and wagon from the 2nd generation (P60) onwards. Its name also means "small star", reflecting Toyota's desire to shine with its small car. The P60 Starlet was the first car to be sold extensively outside of Japan, where it capitalised on the rising popularity of supermini cars.
Various grades were offered, from the luxurious SE with woodgrain interior to the base-model DX version. Its hatchback design was given a unique aerobox styling, providing efficient fuel consumption and the roominess of a big car. The rear seats could also be folded back to form an extra 630 litres worth of cargo space, although the rear-wheel-drive nature of the car made for cramped living quarters for anyone sitting at the back. The steering was noted to be quite precise compared to its competitors and the instrument panel was limited to the essentials: a speedometer, temperature and fuel gauge, and warning lights for unsecured doors. Overall, it was practical and served its purpose well enough. It was powered by a 993 cc Toyota 2K i4 engine, allwing it to reach a top speed of 150 km/h, with an acceleration of 16.5 seconds [0-100 km/h]. It was 3895 mm long and weighed 786 kg, with a fuel consumption of 7.6 litres/100 km.
Production of the P60 Starlet ended in 1984, where it was replaced by the P70 series. P60 Starlets were sold by Borneo Motors (our local Toyota dealer) in 1979, where it retailed for S$20,688 [S$46,153 in today's money]. This unit was the last one remaining when I saw it back in 2015, but it was unfortunately scrapped in 2016. Currently the number plate belongs on a Hyundai Getz--an interesting choice of replacement. I was quite amazed that the owner had kept this quaint little car for so long, although it was unfortunate that s/he had not kept it until now.
Finding these unassuming economy cars is more amazing than exotic classics: you could see how the owner really treasured the ride well enough to save it from the COE monster. While there are still a handful of later-generation Starlets still around, this unit in bone-stock condition was a nice sight to behold. I hope this was a nice trip down memory lane, to learn about a car that most people would not have given a second look!
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