Olli’s Starlet: Finishing The Imaginative and prescient

Maria Ahvenlampi at all times knew that her husband Olli’s love for his 1986 Toyota Starlet EP70 ran deep.

Olli Ahvenlampi was a DJ with a love for ’80s music and ’80s vehicles. He noticed potential in these older Japanese machines – particularly Toyotas – and already owned a bunch of Starlets earlier than embarking on this construct.

Again within the fall of 2019, across the identical time that Olli obtained his most cancers analysis, he, Maria, and pal Niko picked the EP70 from a close-by metropolis in Finland. It was manufacturing unit black, authentic and in wonderful situation for its age. In different phrases, the proper place to begin for a brand new challenge.

Olli had an formidable plan and imaginative and prescient for the automotive: a model ‘2.0’ construct to hold on from his then present EP70 challenge.

The unique plan was to finish the Starlet in time for the 2020 American Automobile & Tuning Present (ACS) in Helsinki, the place Olli already had a present spot reserved. However little did Olli that he’d quickly be confronted with the ‘worst case state of affairs’ of his most cancers analysis.

Earlier than the sickness took management of his each day life, Olli visualized and shared his plan on how the Starlet would look. So when all of Olli’s therapy choices had been exhausted in Finland, and he travelled with Maria to Belgium for a brand new personal most cancers drug trial, his family and friends saved the construct going. The fixed updates that Olli obtained from these who had stepped in to assist with the challenge offered much-needed pleasure and happiness throughout this horrible time.

“In Could 2020, the [ACS] tuning present was canceled because of the pandemic, and we knew straight away that Olli is probably not alive presently subsequent 12 months when the occasion can be organized once more,” Maria recollects. This prompted a critical dialogue about what would occur to the Starlet if Olli handed away. In fact, everybody near him promised to see the construct via to completion.

In June, Olli was nonetheless capable of get to the storage and witness firsthand the challenge taking form. Simply hanging out together with his finest pals Riku Tujunen, Teemu Rinne and Niko Sulander, in addition to Ville Hämäläinen, was a very essential and empowering time in Olli’s last weeks, says Maria. She noticed that the storage ambiance made any dangerous ideas really feel distant.

Right now, all of the essential bodywork components had been restored and widened rear wheel arches had been welded in place.

Olli peacefully handed away with Maria by his facet on July 7, 2020. They Starlet was not talked about throughout Olli’s last days; there was no query that it will be completed when the time was proper.

The challenge was paused for the rest of 2020 as everybody near Olli got here to grips together with his passing. ACS was canceled once more for 2021 so there was no have to hurry the construct alongside, however because the months glided by the Starlet slowly started to tackle its last kind. Maria and Olli’s pals focused on the outside and the inside, leaving the 1.3L engine inventory for the time being.

The long-lasting HKS ‘oil splash’ livery matches the little Starlet completely, complementing the low, extensive bodywork. The Starlet rides on D2 Racing coilovers, touching the bottom with period-correct Tramont TY2 wheels wrapped in grippy Toyo Proxes TR1 tires.

The entrance lip spoiler got here straight from an AE86 whereas the Toyota MR2 facet skirts had been modified to swimsuit. The customized rear ducktail spoiler with Speedhunters katakana brand was carried over from Olli’s earlier EP70 and feels utterly in tune with the theme, as do the fender mirrors.

The inside obtained Momo bucket seats and TRS harnesses, a dished steering wheel, stylistically-fitting gear knob, a much-needed tachometer and a customized rear strut bar.

Maria says that each minute of her first actual car-building expertise – and the emotional rollercoaster that got here with it – was completely price it. She knew that Olli would have been pleased with her and all his pals for ending what he began.

Regardless of all of the difficulties, twists and turns, the 2022 American Automobile & Tuning Present present weekend was a completely superb expertise. Maria says that she is going to keep in mind it ceaselessly: the ambiance, new pals, and all the good reminiscences made.

Since then, Maria has taken the Starlet out for a drive every time she desires to deliver again reminiscences or must clear her head. The EP70 has turn into her little sanctuary, a spot she is aware of that Olli is together with her, in spirit, using shotgun in his beloved automotive.

Vladimir Ljadov
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