DAILY DRIVEN
NZPerformanceCar : Hey, Nic. Tell us how you got into cars?
Nic: Hi. It would have been just growing up around friends who all had a passion for cars, and I always dreamed of owning a low clean-looking car as a kid. My first car was a ’80 KP60 Starlet, which I owned at about 14/15 years old — [I] swapped it for a Honda CR80 motorbike, which, at the time, I thought was a good idea, until I brought it home and got an earful from the parents and [was] forced to sell it two weeks later.
That’s the age to make dumb decisions though. Have you had many cars since?
I’ve had five cars since I got my licence but, hands down, this Corolla has been my favourite. There’s just something about it that means I would never be able to bring myself to sell it, no matter what!
And what was it about the KE36 that drew you to it?
My KP61 had just been written off, so I was looking for another old Toyota. As soon as the KE36 popped up, I fell in love with it and pretty much bought it as soon as the insurance money from my Starlet went into my account.
It is one of the better Corolla shapes, that’s for sure. Did you always intend to modify it?
From day dot, I had big plans for it, but, being 17 at the time, I didn’t have much coin, so it meant saving up. The first thing to come was the Star Sharks, and I had them refurbished at local outlet Pine Engineering. Then I cut the springs and put two-inch blocks in until the WOF expired, and it sat around for months while I stripped it back for a repaint. It was a decision made to get rid of the ‘poo brown’, which was a big mistake, although the red is still extremely nice!
That it is! Is the build over now, or is there more to come?
It’s never over; I’m just enjoying it till the next chapter rolls round. I don’t want to say too much at this stage, but ... brap.
Oh yeah, we know what you’re talking about. Enjoy the future braps, Nic.
NAME: NIC BALL // AGE: 21 LOCATION: CHRISTCHURCH // OCCUPATION: BUILDER