About

I’ve been interested in early Toyota’s since I was a child.  As a little kid my uncle had this small bright yellow sports car that I grew up thinking was the most amazing car I’d ever been in.  Turned out that little yellow sports car was a 1972 Celica. 

The car I remembered as a kid

Once I was old enough to drive, my first car was a 1972 Celica I’d pieced together from a shell and an old engine I found in a scrap yard (I blame my uncle).  Since then I’ve owned several early first generation Celicas and even a couple Corollas.  I’d been stocking away parts and pieces from all of the ones I’d owned over the years.

For the last few years I’d been looking for another car project to work on.  I’d had a couple muscle cars, but something kept drawing me back to old Toyotas.  I initially was looking for an early Hilux, or Corona.  Every time I’d find one and go look at it, I’d make up some reason not to get it. Ultimately I decided I just wanted another Celica.

After searching for several months and not finding anything, I remembered my uncle still had the Celica I’d ridden in as a kid.  He’d not been able to keep up with it due to the general nature of life and the growth of his family so it had been parked 'around back' for several years.  After talking myself out of it for another couple months, I couldn't come up with any more excuses so I called him up and asked him if he'd ever be willing to part with it.

After a few months of consideration, one day I got a call.  My uncle informed me that I could take his baby home.  It was going to be one heck of a project, but if I was willing to undertake it I could have it.  I just had to promise to do something with it, and he wanted it to stay in the family. 

 

Taking it home to start a new life

This site is my experience with this car.  From obtaining it, to rebuilding it, and enjoying it after it’s been put back together.  Follow along, ask questions, give comments or mention stuff I should do more of!