I stumbled on some early generation Celica websites - eventually leading me to this one - purely by accident, and now it seems I'm getting the urge to maybe relive my youth!
I had a '71 ST in high school and always thought it was a super neat car. I did all my own maintenance, even rebuilt the motor with help from a mechanic friend. A set of wire mesh wheels (cheapie BBS knockoffs) and some A70 & B60x13 tires gave it the right look. I envisioned more radical mods, but a poor kid's gas station job wouldn't stretch too far! Especially with girlfriends in the mix!
Eventually sold that one, the a few years later got a '76ST (and you know I really wanted a GT!). This one got lowered, AR Vector rims, wide radials, a header and 32/36 carb - a little more mods than the first! I even made my own aid dams for the '76. It too went away when I got around to buying my first new car (a Dodge of all things - but at least it was turbocharged!)
I didn't realize how much I loved those Celicas until they were long gone.
Never seeing any here in the NE (Baltimore area) I figured they had just passed the way so many other "older" cars went - to the scrap yards in rusting heaps. Now I see the following they have.... and starting to envision maybe getting another? I tell you, daily driving a 06 RSX - great car, but no "car lust" for it! Those old Celicas have soul.
Now I'm finding myself daydreaming of rolling in a tricked out 1st gen., 71-74 early bumper style, lowered, flared - sort of an era IMSA look, with IR EFI on some sort of DOHC later model engine transplant......
You can tell - I like projects! And now I can afford them - at least as the kids transition out of college.
Oh well, for now I'll hang around and read up on what you guys are doing. I was mostly concerned about replacement parts, rust repair parts, wear items, trim and all the bits and pieces that go into bringing one of these old guys back up to like new spec. Sounds like most of this stuff is still available, with maybe a little searching around? I sure see some nice looking cars here!
I've still got the project I'm working on now to finish up first, so for the time beaing I'll have to reserve my Celica wants to the daydream dept!
Cheers,
Jeff
