Somehow, the Toyota 86 turning 10 this year suddenly makes us feel a little old. It felt like just yesterday the return of the affordable, rear-wheel drive coupe gave enthusiasts hope and now it’s turning a decade old. That said, Toyota is primed to capitalise on this by extending its GR Garage services to include a refurbishment programme for the car.

The GR Garage was introduced a few years ago and caters to the enthusiasts of the marque that are seeking improved performance and handling. It carries Gazoo Racing products and will carry out work on GR models borne from the factory.

Since October 2022, that’s now grown to include the ZN6 86 at the GR Garage in Fukuroji in Shizuoka province. The centre here specialises in used sports cars, has an auto auction site and a used car retail section.

Also Read: Buying a used Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ? Here are the common problems to look out for

There’s also a used car test drive course, and a cart area (under construction). Customers can jump into the racing simulator to kill some time or sharpen their driving chops.

Dubbed the 86Re:Project, a customer’s car was given a full check up in the garage. The inspection areas primarily focussed on the engine and handling components.

Also Read: The cult of the Toyota AE86 in Malaysia - An over-glorified anime car?

Although the engine itself wasn’t torn down, some of the bolt on parts were removed a borescope to access the valves and examine their condition.

A decade’s worth of driving saw plenty of carbon deposits on the valves and they were promptly cleaned up. From there, other major wear and tear components as well as engine bits were replaced to rejuvenate the 86 with the hopes it’ll handle like a brand-new car again.

Also Read: 2022 Toyota GR86 could be priced over RM 300k in Malaysia

Once all the mechanical work was carried out, the 86 was strapped to a dyno for tangible differences that the reconditioning has resulted in.

Of course, the coupe was also taken around a circuit to finetune its handling and ensure that nothing is out of place on the road.

After all the work, the owner is clearly overjoyed with his reborn 86 following a quick run around the factory.

The success of the reconditioning programme for the 86 will now see it implemented at GR Garages nationwide. Just to clarify, nationwide refers to its native Japan and not Malaysia.