Overseas, the principals of Toysport have worked with TOYOTA (Japan) since 1965, and TOSCO (the original corporate name of TRD (Japan) since 1972. The relationship continues into the next millennium.

The initial thrust of Toysport was engine development and accessory distribution. Working with "grassroots" Toyota racing teams and U.S. aftermarket parts manufacturers allowed Toysport to be in the center of parts development and competition preparation. Toysport's commitment to Toyota racers and enthusiasts was total and encompassing. This commitment earned us the continued cooperation of TOYOTA, TRD (Technocraft), TRD USA, the aftermarket manufacturers and importers. Toysport has worked continually in expanding and developing our product lines. Affiliated businesses have also responded to our needs by adding and supplementing our product lines on a continuing basis. This evolved into Toysport becoming the leading Toyota Tuning Specialist and Warehouse Distributor for Toyota sports parts.

In1985 Toysport had achieved the highest level of product and technical support for Toyota enthusiasts. From the leading winners in Toyota's contingency program to the top Toyota Racing Teams worldwide (TOM's Racing and TRUST of Japan), Toysport was actively involved in Motorsport activities. Our customers were entered in various SCCA, IMSA, SCORE and HDRA events. Our customers have won National championships for Toyota. Toysport entered international FIA sanctioned events and always placed in the top two positions in their classes, a perfect record. Multiple race track records were also set in the U.S.

Attention away from Motorsport activities was a result of the tremendous business in the Toyota aftermarket. 1985 and 1986 model years saw the strongest Toyota sports model line-up in U.S. Toyota history. This started in 1972 with the Celica and SR5 Corollas, both milestone cars. The Toyota 4X4 Truck business started in 1979 added to the frenzy. The introduction of the 3rd generation Celica GTS and Supra in 1982 greatly expanded the business. The arrival of the Twin Cam Corollas and MR2 in 1985 was followed by Turbo models- Toyota enthusiasts were abundant, and Toysport was THE SOURCE.

By 1988 with the continued infusion of sporty Toyota TwinCam models in the U.S. market, Toysport was busy attending consumer and trade shows and preparing magazine vehicles. The influx of more Japanese parts alleviated the need to develop parts locally. At this time more than 60% of our inventory were locally sourced, 30% were still imported, and the remaining parts were Toysport proprietary products.

In 1990 we purchased our present building. Just like the cars we worked on, we have continually upgraded the facility. Our showroom, which is in continuous changing flux, has the most comprehensive display of sports parts; our service facility prepares engines and prototype work non-stop; our engine and chassis dyno allow continuous engine tuning and development. Expanded foreign sales keep us busy identifying correct applications for foreign Toyota market models. We were exporting sports parts and accessories to Toyota enthusiasts and racers all over the world. Our expanded parts support for Old School and Milestone Toyota models has proven very successful and rewarding.

We have aggressively imported more varieties of Toyota engines than Toyota dared to bring in. Two, Four, Five valve TwinCam engines. Turbo, Super-charged, and Twin-charged. Single plug and Twin plug. Street, Prototype, Rally, and Racing. Been there, done that. Toyota Technicians from the different Toyota Regional centers (in town for official Toyota corporate business) regularly visit to see engines and cars that they only read about and see in pictures. Toyota dealers call us for their customers’ special needs. Every year we tease Toyota employees with Toysport prepared vehicles in the Toyota Oktoberfest car show at Toyota headquarters.

The performance aftermarket changed in the 90's, affecting Toyota's sports image seriously (and our business as a result). The sporty new models from Toyota stopped coming, current models disappeared, and Toyota lost it's following for new entry-level sports car buyers. Ironically, the sports aftermarket was expanding with all the other sporty and exotic offerings from other manufacturers. We participated in that boom. We tuned and modified a lot of Nissans, Mazdas, and Hondas- but we proudly kept our Toyota hat on.

By 1995 it was clear that the strong popularity of sporty Toyotas to the consumers was gone. The Toyota diehards insisted in RWD and kept all the older RWD models rolling. The Toyota Turbo models trickled in but the widely based Corolla and Celica market was passed over by the sports minded consumers. Fortunately, we have managed to capture more of the Toyota specialty market. The different Toyota clubs send us membership business. Our resources for Toyota parts remain phenomenal and unbeatable.

Toyotas never die; they just get modified and restored. The Starlets, Corollas, Celicas, Supras, and MR2s continue to come for fresh power, suspension upgrades, or total restoration. Yes, the exotic 2000Gts, Sport 850s, Century, Crowns, and Soarers still come or call. Tercels, Camrys, and RAV4s are regulars. The pick-up truck and Land Cruiser market has never been our focus, but we have prepared the best ones for the magazines and won National Championships!

Our expertise in Toyota tuning has opened other major venues. Our reputation led to some unsolicited factory contracts. We worked with Nissan Competition on some prototype turbo vehicles and raced Showroom Stock 300ZXs. We worked with Mazda in the introduction of the 2nd generation RX7 Turbo. We worked with Honda Research and Mugen on Honda turbos (when they were in their old Gardena location). Naturally no important information was shared. It was exciting times and a continuing learning process.

We continued working with Toyotas and have turbocharged and modified more Toyota models, than any other company. We are honored to be "a pioneer of the import high performance industry", for "being around forever", as the "premier Toyota aftermarket specialist" and being "the ultimate skunkworks for modified Toyotas". Yes, we have had to defend Toyota and Toyota products to non-Toyotaphiles (and unhappy Toyota owners). We are proud that our organization has maintained the longest continuous management effort of any Toyota tuning and sports parts related business. Magazines continue to give us editorial space despite remaining basically non-advertisers.

Our business ties to past and current suppliers is one of mutual support and technical exchange. We have been the first distributor for TRD and HKS. Kaminari, PIAA, Tokico, Centerforce, Sway-Away, Momo, Suspension Techniques, Eibach- all used Toysport to help fit, test, and launch their products. We were early distributors for Greddy, K&N, Cibie, Mikuni, Recaro, Dough Thorley, and others

Our friends, customers, and dealers in North and South America, the islands in the West Indies, the European Economic Community, and the deserts and oasis of the Middle East, the African continent, Australia, and all the nations in SE Asia- has given Toysport an international presence. We have associates in the Toyota Network- in the US, Japan, and the different foreign markets were Toyotas roam and race. Friends and former employees work in the different Toyota Race Teams, Corporate office, in the US and Worldwide.

The Internet allows us to reach and service more Toyota customers. Our website is a frequent stop for Toyota enthusiasts. We are challenged to keep up with E-mail inquiries and requests. It has saved a lot on postage and long distance phone bills, more important it allowed a much faster and accurate order turnaround and better customer service. With our new distribution center in the Philippines, we will be able to serve all our international markets better, with additional product lines and expanded inventory levels.

The next millennium, 2000, Toysport will celebrate 20 years of service to the Toyota enthusiasts in the U.S. The first 20 years have proven challenging but very rewarding. Our clientele base, which has changed demographically and geographically- has continued to grow. We have met so many enthusiasts, made so many friends, and faced so many different characters that a book can easily be filled with amusing and amazing stories. We thank all our past and current customers for making all this activities possible. We look forward to servicing new customers, making new friends, and helping everyone get the most out of their Toyotas. We welcome you to come join us.

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