That JDM Body Kit Giving the Toyota 86 Pop-Up Headlights Actually Works

Remember that funky Toyota 86 body kit out of Japan? The one designed to give those cars pop-up headlights? I blogged about it back in January, and I know I wasn’t alone. It debuted at the Tokyo Auto Salon and appeared to be fully functional, but you can’t always trust trade show demos like that. Fortunately, the parts are starting to land in the United States, and they appear to be as good as promised.

Built by Result Japan, the kits turn the 2013-2020 Scion FR-S/Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ into what the shop calls the NEO86. They give the two-door coupe exceptionally wide hips, not to mention an altogether new front profile. Now, it’s fairly common for radical reworks like this to fit poorly and function even worse, but this YouTube video from Dustin Williams seems to show a legit bundle of aftermarket components that won’t result in immediate buyer’s remorse.

Williams bought a used GT86 from Carmax and promptly started hacking away at it. He says that disassembling the front end—removing the bumper, headlights, fenders, and hood—took all of 20 minutes to complete. Installing the NEO86 kit is a more involved process, as you have to make cuts to the factory bodywork while also sealing those incisions and wiring up the new pop-ups. In other words, this isn’t solely a bolt-on kit, but it’s not outrageously complex to put on either.

A walkaround inspection of the kit after fitment shows the fiberglass reinforced plastic panels all nice and snug. It’s a fairly comprehensive transformation, with the most obvious change at the front being backed up by side skirts and the thick rear haunches. Williams and his crew did have to trim the top of the bumper slightly in order for the headlights to fold down, but that was quickly handled with a rotary tool and a cutting wheel.

If you own a Toyota 86 and want to revamp your car with one of these kits, you can—but pay attention. Result Japan doesn’t ship the parts internationally, so you’ll need to link up with a reseller like Evasive Motorsports. That company has the NEO86 kit listed for $8,600, and there’s also a $400 oversized freight charge. When all is said and done, it could cost you $10,000 or more if you decide to paint it.

Good thing you can pick up these cars for cheap.

I Bought a GT86 to Turn it Into America's FIRST NEO86!

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