Hi everybody. This site is very cool, it is not common in Costa Rica to see british retro cars, they are awesome !!!!
What I have is a 1982 U.S. version Toyota Starlet KP 61
It has the 4K Engine with 1300 cc, and a 5 speed transmission, for 1982 5 speeds were not so common in a econobox, as it was called at hat time.
The car spent its first 8 years in New Mexico, U.S.A., and then it was imported to Costa Rica, where I bought in 1990 it with 42,000 miles.
Starlets were introduced in Costa Rica in 1979 with the 1000 cc engine ( Very underpowered ) and with 4 speed trasmission. They were very popular, they were nicknamed "belly buttons" because "everybody have one ". Models from 1979 thru 1982 were assembled in Costa Rica and from 1983 thru 1985 the fuel injected model were imported directly from Japan. In the late 80s new cars were VERY expensive ( About $ 12,000 for a Nissan Sunny at that time, for example ), so everybody imported "preowned" cars from U.S., like me.
I used it as my daily driver for 16 years and since 2006 I drive it only twice a week ( Now my daily driver is a 2006 Suzuki Swift, far from retro by now!!! ). The Scarlet Starlet now has 211,000 miles in the odometer. It is completely original. It has been preserved, not restored, and the only thing that does not work in the car is the fuel gauge, since I bought it.
The only significant things that I have done to it during all these years, beside its maintenance, is to change the exhaust system for 2 inches with "vacuum silenciators" ( as the ones who installed told me that it was called ), to change the original main lights for hallogen ( originals were not hallogen ), installed a clock, the instrument lights also were changed for a high intensity system and sometime during the 90s I installed a Sony sound system. I didn't put a CD system later because I had problems trying to get a console to put below the dash for fit the CD. If I should installed the CD in the dash, I would had to make a huge hole and I didn't want that. Now thanks to the iPod I that my daughters gave me as a gift, I don't think that I'm would need the CD, at least by now.
The car is very solid, strong as a tank, very fun to drive, and fuel efficient. I always have offers to buy but I hope that it will be with me for a very long time.
With my little red rocket, I would say the slogan that you used in Europe during the 80s: My Toyota is fantastic !!!!
What I have is a 1982 U.S. version Toyota Starlet KP 61
It has the 4K Engine with 1300 cc, and a 5 speed transmission, for 1982 5 speeds were not so common in a econobox, as it was called at hat time.
The car spent its first 8 years in New Mexico, U.S.A., and then it was imported to Costa Rica, where I bought in 1990 it with 42,000 miles.
Starlets were introduced in Costa Rica in 1979 with the 1000 cc engine ( Very underpowered ) and with 4 speed trasmission. They were very popular, they were nicknamed "belly buttons" because "everybody have one ". Models from 1979 thru 1982 were assembled in Costa Rica and from 1983 thru 1985 the fuel injected model were imported directly from Japan. In the late 80s new cars were VERY expensive ( About $ 12,000 for a Nissan Sunny at that time, for example ), so everybody imported "preowned" cars from U.S., like me.
I used it as my daily driver for 16 years and since 2006 I drive it only twice a week ( Now my daily driver is a 2006 Suzuki Swift, far from retro by now!!! ). The Scarlet Starlet now has 211,000 miles in the odometer. It is completely original. It has been preserved, not restored, and the only thing that does not work in the car is the fuel gauge, since I bought it.
The only significant things that I have done to it during all these years, beside its maintenance, is to change the exhaust system for 2 inches with "vacuum silenciators" ( as the ones who installed told me that it was called ), to change the original main lights for hallogen ( originals were not hallogen ), installed a clock, the instrument lights also were changed for a high intensity system and sometime during the 90s I installed a Sony sound system. I didn't put a CD system later because I had problems trying to get a console to put below the dash for fit the CD. If I should installed the CD in the dash, I would had to make a huge hole and I didn't want that. Now thanks to the iPod I that my daughters gave me as a gift, I don't think that I'm would need the CD, at least by now.
The car is very solid, strong as a tank, very fun to drive, and fuel efficient. I always have offers to buy but I hope that it will be with me for a very long time.
With my little red rocket, I would say the slogan that you used in Europe during the 80s: My Toyota is fantastic !!!!
... if you can show us what the old car scene is like in Costa Rica that would be awesome 