![]() ![]() Swathed in the same orange hue that adorned Michael’s deceased KP, the reincarnated hatchback commenced its competition life in a very similar guise with the same 5K powerplant, suspension and wheels encased within stock bodylines.įollowing a year-long rebuild in recent times, outwardly there are clues to some changes in the Starlet’s underpinnings, starting with the flared arches courtesy of serial hi-po KP Starlet tinkerers Peltonen Motorsport in Finland. This prompted a re-shell into the ‘drophatch’ style KP61 shell the pair run today – a genuine ‘lady-owned-and-only-driven-to-the-shops-on-Sunday’ example ripe for transformation into a weekend warrior. With a respectable 128hp at 7,200rpm on tap courtesy of Kevin’s racecar preparation experience, the father and son team campaigned the car across a variety of hillclimbs and rally sprints until an incident involving Kevin, the Starlet and a ditch put paid to the early incarnation. The KP Starlet chapter began in 2006, when Kevin’s youngest son Michael purchased an orange KP60 Starlet running the perennial Toyota 5K pushrod lump. So it’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about building a capable racecar, and furthermore, making it work. Upon dropping off some parts of my own KP61 Toyota Starlet project for a touch of vapour blasting, I was privileged enough to meet Kevin Sanderson, who was more than happy to allow a shoot and talk me through his very unique KP61 Toyota Starlet build with an infectious enthusiasm, in that typically proud-but-humble Kiwi fashion.īefore we detail this build it’s worth noting Kevin’s history in motorsport – starting in a Holden Torana XU1 circa 1974 on gravel, before building a VW Beetle featuring Corvair flat-six motivation which was a two-time winner of the Auckland (NZ) Hillclimb championship in his capable hands.įollowing a 285hp works FJ24-engined Nissan Sunny, Kevin progressed to working alongside the late Kiwi rally legend Possum Bourne, engineering everything from Group N to WRC-spec Subaru rally machinery until ultimately taking over the reins of the Possum Bourne Motorsport business until 2010. Swapping war stories about that time you very nearly came to grief in a ditch due to the particular handling nuances of your mutually preferred steed, and comparing ideas and methods of personalisation and modification just never really gets old when you’re engrossed in conversation with a kindred spirit. ![]() Meeting a fellow enthusiast for your chosen make, model or even style of modified car is rarely an unrewarding experience.
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