There are few people more passionate about the Aussie modified car scene than Jason Lowe, owner and builder of this beaut little KE20 Corolla. An automotive painter-turned-powdercoater for his brother Damien’s business, Lowe Fabrications, Jason lives and breathes it. He’s one of Street Machine’s most vocal proponents, and has even contributed to the mag from time to time as a hobbyist car photographer. He’s the man behind the regular Old School Jap & Euro meets in Sydney, and enthusiastically supports any other show, event or cruise he can. Any opportunity he can find to pull the Corolla out of the shed is a good one, he reckons, and he manages to do that most weekends.

First published in the March 2026 issue of Street Machine

Jason’s love of cars is broader than most. Street machines, hot rods, Japanese cars – you name it, he’s into it. That’s why the ’Rolla is a little bit genre-defying. “I wanted to build something I could take to all different car events, as I’m not biased when it comes to car styles,” he says.

“My dad and brother are Commodore-mad, but I’ve always had a soft spot for Jap cars since Dad had a hotted-up Gemini when I was a kid. With this build, I tried to take influence from the 90s-style street rods and street machines, and the German VW Golf scene, but especially Troy Trepanier’s ‘Pro Box’ Chevy Impala.”

While a KE20 Corolla is a damn sight smaller than a 1960 Impala, you can see how Pro Box inspired Jason’s choices, from the types of colours used through to the impeccably detailed engine bay, late-model EFI engine transplant and billet wheels.

It’s a far cry from how the car looked when Jase bought it for just 80 bucks way back in 2001 – a dented, rusty mess in need of a ground-up rebuild. The rust was handled by Jason’s mate, the late Ken Godfrey, who also performed many of the custom body mods. While the car might at first appear fairly simple compared to some of the builds we see in SM, there was a deceptive amount of fab involved.

The engine bay and underside of the bonnet were completely smoothed and welded, and the rain gutters were shaved and smoothed. All original badges and moulds, the aerial, and the front guard blinkers were dispensed with, and the beaver panel was welded smooth. The factory grooves in the door handles were also smoothed, and the passenger-side door lock was removed. The bumper bars were then narrowed and tucked into the body, then made into one piece and welded to the brackets so the bolts could be shaved. An Earl’s alloy fuel filler replaces the stock item. There are so many subtle mods that combine for a smooth and beautifully finished result without appearing outwardly modified.

Naturally, the paint was applied by Jason himself – Spies Hecker Ford Blood Orange clear over base two-pack. All the chrome was deleted – another of-the-era mod – with Jase applying silver two-pack to the bars, grille, and head- and tail-light surrounds.

The Corolla was never destined to be a street-and-strip weapon, but Jason needed a bit more shove than the factory 60hp, 1.2-litre 3K could bring to the table. In went Toyota’s 4A-GE 1.6-litre twin-cam – a rev-happy, characterful four-pot lifted from the iconic AE86 Corolla Levin and Trueno, among other classic ’Yotas. It’s internally standard but smoothed and detailed to the nines, with a K&N air filter and custom headers and exhaust aiding breathing. It’s paired with an AE86 T50 five-speed manual, and in turn a Chrysler Lancer diff sporting 3.9:1 gears.

The interior is a real highlight, with purple vinyl chosen for its high contrast and impact. Again, there are a tonne of custom touches, including a false floor, custom-designed embossed door trims and parcel tray, sheet-metal dash, and one-off custom billet gearknob, pedals and gauge panel by Alan McDonald. The headlight and wiper switches and heater controls were relocated to a custom underdash panel, while Billet Specialties window winders and rearview mirror were fitted. The luggage compartment is a neat match, with the battery and washer bottle hidden behind custom embossed panels that tie back into the interior design.

“Even though it took over nine years to build, I never deviated from my original plan,” says Jason. “A lot of the mods are probably outdated by now, but it’s been on the road since 2011 and has only suffered a blown fuel pump and water pump in all that time. I’ve won over 110 trophies at all different shows including hot rod, street machine and Jap car shows, with the highlight being winning Top Car of Show at Toyotafest three years in a row. I just really enjoy driving it and showing it.”

So neatly put together is the Corolla that when Jason debuted it 15 years ago, plenty questioned whether or not it actually drove. The car attracted more positive feedback from the street machining set than it did Japanese car enthusiasts, perhaps due to the style in which it was built.

“I don’t think they ‘got it’, but now there are a lot more Japanese cars being built with a street machine influence,” says Jason. “I’m actually in the process of building a KE30 Corolla two-door now. This new one won’t be as modified; it’ll be more of a Jap-style build with a Warspeed 5K engine.”

Knowing Jason and the kind of company he keeps, you can bet the farm that the new car won’t be half as understated as he’s managed to convince himself it will be!

JASON LOWE
1974 TOYOTA COROLLA KE20

THANKS
My wife Ali and daughters Hannah and Bella; my parents; my brother Damien ‘Chubby’ Lowe; Matt Sims at Hi-Tech Modifications; John and Joe at JS Auto Electrics; Colin Sultana; David Littlejohns; Kev at Specialised Brake & Clutch Services; CC Tyres; Greg Ormerod Automotive; Alan McDonald; Steve Gosbee at Juice Polishes; my old work mates Dale, Joe and Trent; Ken Godfrey; Troy Warspeed; Craig Parker; the boys in my club, Radrollaz; my mates Danny, Glenn, Cameron, Brett, Norm, Arron, Wazza, Greg and anyone else I forgot.