Two years since I dusted off this car diary. Better late then never I guess.
Not much lives from the tails of 2014 and the last 3 pages. I remain custodian of the orange Sapporo. The blue one found a home on here but I’m unsure whether its’ gone to live or die. As far as I’m aware both Celeste’s, or what remained of them, have met their sad demise. However from their ashes a great friendship has risen (
pistonpopper ) and it’s infinitely stronger than what the Japanese used to build cars in the 70s’s...and 80’s...and 90’s.
The Galant was MOT’d and sold to a fellow retrorodder. It appeared on Ebay a couple of months ago without MOT, a few more holes and some dubious mods. Sold for twice what I managed. Big rims...that’s where I went wrong. Put big rims on your car and you’ll double your money guaranteed.
The Mitsi love affair continued in 2015 as a couple of FTO’s came my way.
Both V6’s with the yellow one being a MIVEC, similar to Honda’s VTEC. Back on form, they were rescued in a state and given a new lease of life. The red one was a complete transformation from how I picked it up. It also proved my theory above – add big wheels and double your price. Regrettably I didn’t really enjoy FTO ownership. Like the Ford Puma, I love the look and idea of a compact coupe but inside I felt too cocooned. I’ll always be a big car person, which is probably why I went to the ‘States (virtually) for my next fix.
A glorious ‘71 Torino. It was a combo of the two dream cars that are long out of my reach – the engine from the fastback Mustang with the body of a Cyclone Spoiler.
Small block 5.7 V8. Small. Ha! T’was in lovely condition and for a relatively blind Ebay US purchase, I surprised myself. It delivered on the indescribable feeling of driving a muscle car – you plant your foot, the nose rises, the rear squirms, the adrenaline goes in and you realise you’re actually just a passenger for this bit. American’s certainly make power exciting. Big cushy bench seat, big protruding bonnet, big thirst for dino juice. Loved it. However I could only ignore the impracticality of a muscle car for so long and this year we parted ways to fund something smaller. More on that in a bit.
Last year this came up locally, looking a lot less shiny than it does here:
Despite a brown trouser moment in its first day after the brakes failed, its’ been a fantastic purchase. As per MK3 Supra ownership there was a bit of rot to contend with and the seats had fallen apart. The heat from the brakes (which had clearly been clamped on a while) had also damaged the paint. Having sorted it all out, its’ been and remains a blast! We may have lost a few of the 230 horses after 26 years, however the ones that remain are in good health. No troubles during its 1000 mile Autumn road trip.
It’s great to see a few on here and it keeps the positive vibes up. So many are currently meeting their end on the banger circuit. Like the MK2 / Celica Supra, it’s probably unlikely to obtain any recognition until there’s a handful left.
While not fodder for the race track, it’d probably fair to say the Mitsubishi GTO / 3000GT is equally unloved at the moment. Having read the horror stories, its’ been one of those cars I’ve always looked at from a distance. Engine failures, gearbox failures, suspension problems, awkward access, expensive parts. Yikes. In a moment of madness, I jumped in the deep end last month.
An early ‘90 JDM GTO. Wouldn't believe it's the same age as the Supra. It needed a clutch and as expected that meant a lot more besides. Other than learning the last mechanic couldn’t be bothered to bolt things back together, its’ not thrown any big surprises at me. The clever suspension has been replaced with a standard setup and that’s probably a blessing. The active spoilers still work – it pokes out its tongue and lifts its tail. The gearbox clunks. I’m told that’s normal. The diff clunks. I’m told that’s normal. The heater has a mind of its own. I’m told...
This week has been my first with the
And I’ve been able to enjoy all
Thanks to the new clutch. Wooo!
With the mechanical essentials done and the body work tidied up, I’m just waiting on a third heater panel before heading out for a long adventure.
The sale of the Torino meant I had enough to start looking for a MK1 Celica. It’s #1 in my achievable dream cars list, or so I thought. Having learnt from my earlier mistakes, the Celica needed to be a solid running project. Much as I love reading the stories of those who bring cars back from the dead, when the boots on the other foot it’s not so much fun. I can’t even stick paper together without gluing myself so I’d be lethal with a welder. My cap is truly doffed to all the fabricators out there.
The months passed
And with the prices strong in Japan, the YEN falling, negotiations with Australians being surprisingly difficult and life nibbling away at my savings, it became evident I’d missed the Celica boat. Buying a tidy one, especially a GT or fastback, for anything shy of 5 figures requires either incredible patience or knowing someone who knows someone. I don’t have either. Like Steve McQueen’s Mustang, I swallowed hard and accepted some cars will never be. It was time to turn leftfield. What else were the Japanese producing that took influence from the American coke-bottle style?
The answer turned out to be brown. Very brown.
A 1975 Toyota Corona Mark II, or an MX20 for those who love codes.
It’s not a Celica. It’s not a very nice colour. BUT it is super cool, looks like a baby muscle car, has no rot, runs very well and best of all didn’t require a mortgage to own.
Currently closer to the UK than Japan, it should be here soon. The Mark II doesn’t really share anything with the Corona except the name. Has more in common with the CROWN. This particular example has the 2l straight 6 M engine. If anyone can shed light as to whether this engine is happy on unleaded I’d be most appreciative? I’m struggling to find a definitive answer and Toyota – the people who built it – don’t seem to know. At least they appreciated my enthusiasm.
Inside we have a wheel large enough to guide a ship, a brake check device that should have been on my Supra and an 8 track.
I think that gets the check for a retro ride?
Along with unleaded, I’m also trying to find out whether it’s possible to upgrade to power steering. The CROWN had it. I have a feeling I’m onto a dead end with more chance of finding the Queens CROWN than a Toyota CROWN and its related spare parts. But if I’m wrong and there’s a Toyota nut out there, please please please get in touch.
Hopefully this will encourage me to update the diary more often. I’m also keen to reach out to anyone attending Simply Japanese (Beaulieu) in July, especially in something of similar vintage? Be nice to ‘make a stand’ rather than end up in the misc car park round the back.
