Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 08/07/2013 06:40 PM |
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S I am seriously looking at a 1977 Toyota Celica GT Hatchback as a little project. This was my first car as a teen and given t me by my grandfather (actually a 76, but the same car basically).
While I don't mind having to do some restoration on it (paint, interior will likely need some work, etc) I also don't want to drop major cash just to get it to function reliably.
What do I need to look out for (in general)? I found a guy who does pre-purchase inspections and he travels to the car to do it. He wants to be able to get it on a lift to inspect it from the "bottom up", but he may just have to do it on a creeper with the wheels ramps.
Rust is obviously my major concern (as that is what killed my car originally). Overall, it looked pretty good when I saw it, except for some rust on the bottom corner of the passenger door and some on the driver door. There was some mild surface rust in a fe areas, but the doors looked a little more severe. Fom putting my hands under the wells, they appeared to be in good shape.
The car runs, but I did not drive it yet.
Any suggestions or additional stepss I should take are appreciated!! |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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jacques_anquetil
Posts:245
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| 08/07/2013 07:41 PM |
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sweet ride!
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pabiker
Posts:80
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| 08/07/2013 10:36 PM |
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Prone to oversteer and very poorly balanced so handling is iffy at best. Try a Datson 240z.
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 08/07/2013 11:23 PM |
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Posted By Cosmic Kid on 08/07/2013 06:40 PM
...There was some mild surface rust in a fe areas, but...
Completely magnificent. Even if that was unintentional, my hat is off to you, sir. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 08/08/2013 12:06 AM |
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LOL!!! That is awesome....I only wish it had been intentional!!! Probably one of the few times when my horrific typing skills were a plus.
@pa - I hear ya, but I have zero emotional attachment to a 240z.
This is the car I am looking at.....have a deposit on it and the inspection is tomorrow. We'll see.....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1977-Toyota-Celica-GT-Hatchback-2-Door-2-2L-/231026606603?_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&forcev4exp=true#ht_500wt_1021 |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 08/08/2013 12:50 AM |
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| Fun little cars. Other than rust I don't remember anything specific about them. Check hydraulics. Always give the trunk a good look. Good little. Cars. I was always fond of them. |
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| -----
It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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Big DanT
Posts:19
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| 08/08/2013 06:30 PM |
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I'd take a 240Z with a JTR conversion
"Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the back of the car. Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall. Torque is how far the wall moves after you hit it."
Dan |
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 08/08/2013 09:50 PM |
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A car, like a bike, is never any better than the pilot.
Both cars are terribly fun to drive. |
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It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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pabiker
Posts:80
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| 08/08/2013 09:55 PM |
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When did Toyota make the Celica Supra? I wrecked my father's girlfriends Celica which looked just like the one you got except that it was a rusty brown color (stock).
Looks like a fun project. As noted above all Toyotas from the 70s were prone to rust (esp. the trucks).
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 08/09/2013 02:05 AM |
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Meh....the inspection didn't go well. Guy is recommending I pass. Quote "this thing is well on the way to being parted out."
He also said he found some rust as well. I think he thought I had different intentions with the car (not as much as a project, but a ready-to-drive option) but his comments were enough to put me off.
Bummer.....the search continues. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 08/09/2013 02:06 AM |
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| I think Supras came out with the 82 model year design. The basic Celica had lights that were exposed, but flipped forward when turned on. The Supra had concealed lights that flipped up when turned on. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 08/09/2013 09:19 AM |
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Well, let me ask you this...what are you looking for/what kind of work are you capable of doing on a car?
Sounds like you are looking for a candidate for what we used to call at my shop a "rolling renovation". You want a car that is decently driveable, but still needs a few things.
If that is the case, you want to focus on good bodywork and interior. Assume brakes and suspension will need to be refreshed/replaced, especially if the car has sat for an extended period.
Do some legwork and find out what the fragile parts of the car are mechanically and what the options are to address them. A car with a blown transmission/clutch is not necessarily a bad buy. |
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It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/11/2013 09:13 PM |
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If you wanted to pursue this further I'd suggest looking at the west coast (CA) market and driving one back east. There should be ones driving around with sound bodywork still.
My first car was a Datsun B210. |
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 08/12/2013 09:18 AM |
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The Datsun B210, being based on the 510, was capable of being made into a quick little car. It was a popular cheap race car back in the day.
One of those cars you had to know about to appreciate. Same with the Celicas of the same period. |
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It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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