Ryan Tuerck’s ’66 Toyota Stout Drift Pickup

We take a deep dive into Ryan Tuerck’s latest wild creation, which caused a stir at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, while revisiting his other awesome builds.

Ryan Tuerck, one of Formula Drift’s most successful drivers, continues pushing drifting boundaries with his latest creation, a 1966 Toyota Stout, which he’s transformed into one of the most epic tire-shredding drift builds we’ve ever seen. This unlikely JDM pickup truck, which features an 85 horsepower engine in stock form, is converted into a high-spec drifter that stunned the hard-to-please crowds at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Following his previous incredible builds, which include his highly competitive rear-wheel-drive GR Corolla FD car, the viral Ferrari-powered Toyota GT86 (GT4586), and the Judd V10-powered “Formula Supra,” Tuerck and his team sought a new challenge. Initially unveiled at the 2022 SEMA Show, the project is a collaboration between Tuerck, Toyota TRD, and Mobil 1, another display of the growing investment of major players in the world of professional drifting.

The Stout’s transformation from a mediocre pickup with disappointing sales figures to a high-performance drifter capable of turning heads at arguably the world’s greatest car event showcases Tuerck’s continued ability to pull the least suspecting drift builds out of the bag. Despite initial setbacks that meant it couldn’t shred tires at The SEMA Show, the team got back to work, and believe us when we say that the end product is well worth the wait.

The Stout’s Tire-Shredding Spectacle At Goodwood

The Stout drift truck made a jaw-dropping debut at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed, making an immediate impression by launching sideways off the start line before doing a manji with some huge angles for much of the climb up the Hill.

Not holding back, Tuerck threw it into the donut showcase spot in front of Goodwood House before continuing his sideways smoke assault on the Hill Climb course.

The Stout’s unique blend of period looks, modern performance, and four-cylinder bark in place of the expected V8 rumble made it one of the most intriguing machines to tackle the Hill, with fans proclaiming it a welcome change from the dull modern EVs that are having an ever-increasing dominance at the event.

Tuerck’s 1966 Toyota Stout Drift Pickup Specs

As with most old-school builds, transforming the ’66 Stout wasn’t simple, and the team faced unexpected hurdles from the start. What Tuerck was sold as a freshly restored pickup turned out to be a can of worms, with poorly filled body holes and hidden rust that threatened to derail the project.

The setback meant the team couldn’t showcase the truck’s tire-shredding capabilities at The SEMA Show in 2022 as planned. After getting back to work following the show, Tuerck and his crew eventually transformed the troublesome Stout into a drift sensation that would stun the crowds at Goodwood in 2024. However, before that, they took the opportunity to throw it down on the Appalachian touge.

Engine

In stark contrast to its original 85 horsepower powerplant, Tuerck opts for a modified 3S-GTE engine built by John Reed Racing. This unique build combines a 5S-FE block, known for its strength, with a 3S-GTE crankshaft and a first-generation 3S-GE naturally aspirated head. The bore is increased to 87mm while the stock non-stroker crank is retained, resulting in a capacity of 2.1L. Its 10:1 compression ratio and mild-performance camshafts are designed with both output and longevity in mind.

A Garrett GTX 770 turbocharger helps the engine produce around 650 horsepower, with a maximum power output of nearer 780. While it’s not the craziest power, it’s more than enough for ripping up the rear tires and throwing out huge clouds of smoke, with the extremely lightweight chassis providing an excellent power-to-weight ratio. Reliability was a strong focus, with the team aiming to get three seasons out of the setup before a refresh would be due.

Chassis & Body

The foundation of Tuerck’s Stout drift car is a custom chromoly tube-frame chassis designed by Rob Parsons and crafted by KibbeTech. The body features custom fiberglass panels designed by renowned automotive stylist Jon Sibal and produced by ADV Fiberglass.

A widebody kit gives the truck an aggressive stance, with the entire body laser-scanned and refined using CAD to ensure perfect fitment, combining modern fabrication techniques with classic styling to create a unique and stunning design.

Drivetrain

Power is transmitted through a Holinger Engineering 6-speed sequential transmission, known for its durability and quick shifting capabilities. The Winters Quick Change differential is used to handle high torque output and sideways forces.

Suspension

The Stout utilizes a modified PoweredByMax suspension kit with a sophisticated pushrod setup originally designed for Corvettes. This double A-arm setup, typically seen in high-performance race cars, has been adapted to meet the demands of drifting.

Electronics

A suite of high-end electronics from MoTeC includes an M150 ECU, a C1212 dash logger for real-time data analysis, and a PDM30 power distribution module. The PDM30 eliminates the need for traditional fuses and relays, simplifying the electrical system while improving reliability.

Ryan Tuerck’s Other Notable Builds

Tuerck has built a reputation for creating some of the most unique and high-performance cars in the drift scene. Alongside having arguably the most unique car in FD, two of his most famous builds showcase his innovative approach to automotive engineering and his willingness to push boundaries:

Ferrari-Powered Toyota GT4586

Tuerck’s GT4586 is a Toyota 86 powered by a Ferrari 458 Italia V8 engine.

Key features:

• 4.5L Ferrari F136 V8 engine producing 562 hp at 9,000 rpm
• Custom headers emulating the original Ferrari design
• Fortin Racing 5-speed sequential transmission
• BC Racing coilovers with custom suspension components

The GT4586 isn’t just a track monster; it’s also street-legal in New Hampshire, making it one of the most insane street machines we’ve ever seen.

For different reasons to the Stout build, it’s journey to fame wasn’t without drama. During a touge run for their viral video, Tuerck lost control and crashed the GT4586 into a dirt wall. The impact was severe enough to deploy the airbags, but thankfully, he walked away unharmed. This unfortunate incident only added to the legend of this unique build.

Judd V10-Powered “Formula Supra”

Alongside the Stout, Tuerck’s other recent creation is a current-gen A90 Supra powered by a Judd V10 racing engine.

Key features:

• Judd V10 engine, similar to those used in late ’90s Formula 1 cars
• 11,000 rpm redline (4,000 rpm higher than a stock Supra)
• 730 wheel horsepower (630 hp at the wheels)
• Custom HGK carbon fiber widebody kit

The Judd V10 is a racing engine with a storied history in F1, CART, and sports car racing. Its impressive installation in a street car chassis results in another incredible Tuerck build that sounds remarkably like a Formula 1 car of the late 1990s.

Formula Drift GR Corolla

Ryan Tuerck’s unlikely competition drift car is the short-wheelbase Toyota GR Corolla with a RWD conversion, based on his continued partnership with Toyota and Papadakis Racing.

Key features:

• Heavily modified 2AR four-cylinder engine, replacing the stock three-cylinder
• Approximately 1,000 horsepower
• RWD conversion
• Custom widebody kit
• Fully customized FD-spec suspension

Despite surprising fans with the unlikely drift build, it’s proven successful, with Tuerck claiming the podium’s top spot in FD events, demonstrating Tuerck’s ability to adapt to new platforms and push them to their limits.

Tuerck’s Impact & The Future Of Drift Builds

Tuerck’s Toyota Stout drift truck breaks the mold of conventional drift builds, encouraging further innovation in the sport, which will hopefully continue sparking trends of more unique drift builds. The project’s success demonstrates that even unlikely platforms can be transformed into competitive drift cars with proper engineering.

The involvement of major brands like Toyota TRD and Mobil 1 in Tuerck’s project and Mad Mike getting huge financial backing for his recent MADMAC rotary-powered McLaren drift build signals growing corporate interest in drifting. This increased investment should hopefully lead to more resources for more insane builds and potentially elevate the sport’s profile on the global motorsport stage.

While there will always be space for budget missile drift cars, it’s great to see drifting getting presented positively at some of the most prestigious events on the calendar.

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