SP Rides: Mango Punch
By Michael Kitchens
Name: Lance Harano
Age: 44
Occupation: Marine Mechanic
Hobbies: Cars, Bodybuilding
Year/Make/Model: 1973 Toyota Sprinter Trueno
Color: Glasurit 55 Orange with Orange Pearl
Engine: 1980 Toyota 3TC block, 1855cc, TRD .320 intake/.350 exhaust cams, Kameari adjustable side-style cam gears and timing belt, Arias 11:1 pistons, Eagle H-Beam rods, 3TC crankshaft, Cometic head gasket, Nippeondenso platinum plugs, Odyssey battery, Holley fuel pump and 1-4psi pressure regulator, TWM rolled stacks intake, Dellorto 48 DHLA twin side-draft carburetors, TRD intake manifold, Kameari high-rise stainlessheader, 2 and 1/2 inch 304 stainless exhaust, Dynomax Ultraflow/aero resonator muffler, Moroso aluminum 6-quart oil pan, Cusco motor mounts
Exterior: Raybrig headlights, Custom polished overfenders
Interior: Re-upholstered stock seats, Sabelt Harnesses, JDM 330mm white steering wheel with Nardi hub
Suspension: Custom front coilover casings, TRD short-stroke 5-way adjustable front struts, 6kg Ground Control front springs, Cusco camber/caster plate; Flex-a-Form monoleaf rear springs, TRD 8-way-adjustable rear chocks, ADDCO sway bars, Cusco front strut bar, Super Pro polyurethane bushingsl Techno Toy Tuning roll center adjusters and adjustable tension rods
Wheels/Tires/Brakes: 13×9 Hayashi Street Alloys, Sumitomo HTR200 Tires 175/50R13, Toyota AE86 rotors and calipers front, stainless steel brake lines
The EJ20, affectionately known as “mango” because of the body’s resemblance to the fruit, was the second-best selling car in the world at one time. Today, it maintains a sweetness that’s irresistible to some. Just one look at the muscle-car physique jammed into the econo-box shape is enough to put a grin on your lips. The car oozes personality, and this right-hand drive example that graces these pages, a 1973 Toyota Sprinter Trueno, comes straight from the shores of Japan. Perfection on wheels, this car is owned by Lance Harano, and will be featured at The MDA Aloha Custom Car Show & Cruise March 21-22 at Aloha Stadium.
What makes this 42-year-old car special is its absolute attention to detail. One simply has to look at the car to experience a moment of euphoria. It’s that good.
The first thing that has to be mentioned is the Glasurit 55 Orange paint swirled in with a mix of flaky-good Orange Pearl. It covers a primarily stock exterior that demonstrates what makes classic imports so awesome to look at. Tons of ports, vents, badges, chrome accents and more have all been loving replaced, polished, or added by Lance to bring this car back into line with its heyday. Polished over-fenders have been added to complete the look and everything is cleaned to a mirror shine. It’s absolutely phenomenal.
Underneath the steel skin sits an engine so clean and well modified that most passersby stare in awe at its internals. A 3T-C 1.8L engine bored out to 1855cc resides at the heart of this orange beauty and features a cornucopia of parts, including valve covers, cams, cam gears, carburetors and more all polished to a dazzling shine. I can honestly say that there isn’t one speck of dirt anywhere in this engine bay, and everything is flawlessly installed and presented. It’s one of the top five engine bays I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing.
The drivetrain consists of a Toyota T50 5-speed gearbox mated to a TRD two-way rear differential. A Fidanza flywheel and Superior clutch help transfer the power from the engine. The HP/TQ issued forth is then put to the ground via 13×9 Hayashi Street Alloys fitted with 175/50R13 Sumitomo HTR200 tires. The alloys have a very tasteful design that complements the overall look.
Interior-wise, the bare necessities are in place, but in this case, less is more. The interior is immaculate and the dash looks only a few years old, at most. Although Lance once had Bride Brix seats, he’s returned to his roots with a pair of reupholstered stock seats that look classically cool. Sabelt harnesses and a JDM 330mm white steering wheel are attached to a Nardi hub. The carpet has also been refreshed continuing the “fresh from the factory” look for this car.
Lance’s build philosophy is simple: “There is no goal. No deadlines. You build the car until it’s finished. You do not rush the build.” It must be working for him as this ride just won Best of Show at last week’s Wekfest, beating out an entire complex full of impressive rides. You could say this mango packed a bit of punch.
