page_title: Toyota Starlet
section_title: Second generation (P60; 1978–1984)
hierarchical_section_title: Toyota Starlet / Second generation (P60; 1978–1984)
caption_attribution_description: 1980-1982 Toyota Starlet photographed in USA.
context_page_description: The Toyota Starlet is a subcompact car manufactured by Toyota from 1973 to 1999, replacing the Publica, but retaining the Publica's "P" code and generation numbering. The first generation Starlet was sold as the Publica Starlet in some markets. In Japan, it was exclusive to Toyota Corolla Store dealers.
  Starlets were typically dependable but austere vehicles; however, some upgraded versions were produced. Turbocharged Starlets were offered in three generations: the 1986–1989 Turbo S, the 1990–1995 GT turbo, and the 1996–1999 Glanza V. Another variant was the Sera, made in the early 1990s and officially sold only in Japan; the Sera had a unique two-door coupe body and butterfly doors but shared the Starlet's chassis and mechanicals.
  The Starlet was briefly exported to North America from 1981 to 1984.
  In 1999, the Starlet was replaced by the Vitz—sold as the Echo or Yaris in international markets—and the bB mini MPV, which was later sold as the Scion xB in Canada and the United States and as the Daihatsu Materia in the United Kingdom. However, Toyota effectively vacated the European city car market until the Aygo was launched in 2005.
context_section_description: The 60 series, introduced in February 1978, was better known, being the first to be extensively sold outside Japan, being imported to Europe, including the United Kingdom, from 1978, by which time superminis were soaring in popularity. It was offered with a 993 (KP60 2K), 1,166 (KP62, 3K) or 1,290 cc (KP61, 4K) engine. Three- and five-door hatchbacks were offered in export markets, although a longer five-door wagon variant (also known as the "Van" in the Japanese market) was sold in Japan and certain Asian and European markets. The Van arrived in October 1978. In Japan, the Starlet was only available with the larger, 1.3 litre, engine once it had been introduced, excepting the Van model which retained the smaller, 1.2 litre, 3K-HJ type. The 60 series Starlet was the first Toyota passenger car to utilize rack-and-pinion steering. Suspension on 60 series Starlets is in the form of MacPherson front struts accompanied by four link rear suspension with coil springs for hatchback models and leaf spring suspension on van models.
  Trim levels were Standard, De Luxe (also known as DX in some markets), GL, XL, S, Si, Sprint, SE and Lisse. Si models have a fuel injected 4K-E engine. Sprint models include a tachometer, five-speed (K50) transmission, 1,290 cc (4K) engine and a different, "racy", interior compared to other models. Sprint models also feature Toyota Sports Handling Suspension and the external trimming on the car is clipped into place, as opposed to being glued on as in other models. Sprint models also include the same alloy wheels as featured on early AE86 Corollas. Japanese market models did not generally have self-retracting rear seatbelts. Japanese and New Zealand market models have 203 mm front brake rotors, as opposed to many other markets receiving Starlets with 228 mm front brake rotors.
  Vehicles fitted with a 2K engine received a smaller differential (X code, 5.6 in, 142 mm) than vehicles fitted with a 4K engine (U code, 6 in, 152 mm). Differential ratios depend on the trim model and market for each car, with 3.909:1 being common for vehicles with a 2K engine, 4.3:1 for European van models, 3.727 for Japanese van models, 3.417:1 for vehicles fitted with an automatic transmission, 3.583:1 for general applications with a 4K engine, and other ratios existing for various Japanese market vehicles.
  In 1980, the Starlet was facelifted to include square headlights and a second facelift followed in 1983 to incorporate a slant nose front end, and a lower hatch opening.
  Tidy 60 series Starlets are becoming more difficult to acquire due, in part, to their age and proneness to rust, and due to the fact that many are being converted into track and rally cars, and are thus beginning to become a valuable collector's car.
  The 3-door KP61 was the only Starlet ever sold in the US from 1981 to 1984. The 1981–1982 models came with standard five-speed manual transmissions and tachometers. It is an equivalent to other markets' S model. The 1983–1984 models were additionally offered with electronic fuel injection (EFI) with the 4K engine, but with a four-speed manual transmission, and similar to other markets' XLi model.
  Common rust locations on a 60 series Starlet are under the rear hatch seal, around the front window wiper mount, behind the front fenders and the bottom of the doors.
caption: 1981–1982 Toyota Starlet 3-door hatchback (KP61, US)
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