Steve gee

yes the venerable 18RG serial 12067 fitted to my 1974 GT corona wil be 47; years old and has 242000 km one set of rings, top overhaul and reco carbies. 

Nice name.  I drove mine to car club via a daddy short cut up the zig zag near Coleraine and down the Nareen back road.  All I can say is I arrived with a smile on my face and as I rumbled up the carclub guys came out to see what had just rocked up. Mine had 16 inch wheels with Yokos and wonder why Toyota never learned when they ditched the idea of importing my Corona GT back in 74 cos it was so slippery in the rear end back then. And that was only 150 hp.  

I find the 250 or so adequate to easily lose your licence these days so I bought and fitted gts wheels and brakes which makes an enormous difference. The michies stick better than the yokos.  Just clocked up 16000 km yesterday time to take it in for its 6 year service 

Yeah yaris will drop just like the STi  subies. 

How many times did you take your 86 out for a ride  in past year?

My shed find 2012 GT at 5000 original km has now 15000 km with under 1000 k in past year.

I still have half can of the Toyota Zero oil given to me after last oil change in 2020.

I am now using the annual yearly service times as I am way out of step with the km tear offs, which should be 150000 and is just 15000.

And Toyota have done the 10000 and 15000 three times lol.

There are a heaps of 86s for sale over $20000 which is encouraging but unsure if they are selling.

Mines a keeper for future gens based on its resale price, regardless of history.

I did get an offer of the $40000 GR Yaris but changeover price was $28000 only $12000 for the 86.

So like my GT4 and GT Corona and 1600S which are all keepers and collectors I am considering donating them all  to a motor museum along with the 86GT as representatives of Toyota PVs.

The guy who sold me the GT at 4000 km was Wes Nalders mechanic, the dealer who sold me the AMI purple Corona GT in 1976 which has done 240000 km and still perking along.

So I guess I am classified as an old fart owner of 45 years, trouble is too old to keep the 86 gt for 45 years but just inagine if someone turns up in 2065 with an 86 gt?

When I bought the 1967 corona s from act rego ysa073 a couple of years back for $2500 could not but reflect on the first 1600s bought in ACT when I was 21 in 1969  rego ybw114.

Little did I know YSA073 would wait for me for for 50 years.

Cheers thanks for reading.

Is it just me, or do I sense there are a heap of low K GR Yaris 2020 models for sale by speculators bought at $40000 for sale at $50000?

Also clapped out shed find TA and RA series celica rust buckets in terrible condition, advertised on gimtree from $3000 upwards?

And not a single GT4 anywhere. 

What has happened during covid lockdown?

I guess price is what you pay?

As for value, buyer beware.

I am going through the same deal with a 4R and so far got quoted $43 from repco and 24 from autopro and saw them for $27 0n ebay plus $7 freight.

Oils aint oils Sol!!!

Located western Victoria about 300k from Melbourne are you in Sydney

PROGRESS REPORT

Friday 16th May

started at 0800

Front and rear bumper bars replaced including those stupid round headed bolts that hold the bar to the bracket.

Had to angle grind one off and also the blind bolt on the attach bracket.

I have had new bars for about 4 years never fitted, now I have glad of it.

Then removed the old rotors and fitted the new slotted drilled set I got from Online Performance Autos at hallam.

I thought I had pads but not to be so shoe horned so NOS ones that were in a box.

Spayed a bit of Fishoil around on all the brown covered metal springs leaf springs.

Waiting on rear discs from Hallam, this GT was converted years ago to four wheel discs but the rotors cost a fair bit as they are disc and drum brake hand brake models like the GT4 and Camry rears.

Next week.

Master Brake cylinder.

Clutch master

rear rotors.

Later

Front upper and lower ball joints

radiator third one in 40 years

Water pump

re-upholstery of seats

maybe new moulded carpet set.

decision about wheels and tyres to run with original steelies, or the 5.5 inch BWAs I inherited with the car.

rear windscreen (which was smashed in 1978 have had clear glass in as fitted in Brisbane)

I have tinted rear glass to go in

Trip to Miyazaki and Fukuoka in June

Find a clock from Japan.

Continue talks with Toyota at Nagoya about donating car back to museum.

decision about original long motor whether to rebuild it and fit so numbers match fwiw.

I found this photo set of an RT104GT in Japan, four door

And this two door 1976 RT118GT

A very dusty 18RGU

Very Rusty back area

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HaUsNiP6Fe0

And for now I am otherwise occupied having just put the first JDM GT4 1989 on club plates

• 37575H 1990 Celica GT4 All Wheel Drive. MY October 1989 - Narrow E-ST185-BLMVZ GT-Four Air-To-Air intercooler,

  The E150F with 4.285 final gear ratio was installed in the Japanese market and All-trac, Engine is a twin cam 2.0 L turbocharged 3S-GTE producing 149 kW (203 PS; 200 hp) and 200 lb·ft (270 N·m) of torque.

• The ST185 GT4 won 16 full WRC series, and 3 overall winner in the W2L series. WRC Driver's Titles with Carlos Sainz in 1992, Juha Kankkunen in 1993, and Didier Auriol in 1994. WRC Manufacturer's Titles in 1993, 94 and 95.

So what was it like to own and drive a 2000GT in 1976?

It was a quick, unprententious, orphan, often misjudged by Torana and Monaro owners as a rice burner.

18RG 1111-88210 9.7:1 CR PULP only engine.

Some of the issues:

Slow down the water pump with smaller pulley on crankshaft to stop radiator over pressure and splitting the solder in the top tank.

Head gasket/shims blowing at front due to fine thread bolt holes, rectified by retapping block to 14MM medium thread.

Upgraded to Yamaha head 88230 and variable dowel camshaft gears.

Diff changed to 3.9 for longer legs and lower revs.

P51 gearbox bearings replaced at 100,000 km

Top overhaul at 140,000 new rings and bearings.

Mikuni solex repaired by Shaun Maloney Collingwood in 1995.

Pretty luxurious by old school Corona standards.

5 speed P51 Gearbox, F series 4.111 LSD.

Engine bay 2013

ORIGINAL.

Restoration Stage One.

A few people have criticised the use of such a special car for outback trails, but you must remember this was a developmental car, and the feedback to AMI Toyota resulted in a decision not to import this variation of the RT104 and stick with tried and proven technology.

Near sighted maybe in view of the subsequent importation of countless 18RG engines which were fitted into Celica and Corona clones.

Given that this RT104GT is basically sound and roadworthy 37 years on is testament to its sturdy design.

BUT it was proof coated and dipped with anti corrosion undercoat and did not suffer the fate of so many RT104s that were not treated in this way.

Roads travelled

SHUDDERRRRRRMUDDERRR

AND DUST

Home at last November 1977

Perth, Laverton, Gunbarrel Giles, Alice, Tanami Loop, Port Augusta, Flinder Ranges, Temora, Wilcania, Quilpie, Brisbane, Tamworth, Newcastle, Sydney.

1989 roughly12 years later after kids at school I pulled the 104 out of the shed and washed it.

The lawn was brown.

Then vacuumed out kg of dust from rear boot area sealed off from main cabin by dust barrier.

By 2006 it was fully restored down to the BWA TRD alloys

NOVEMBER 2006

NOVEMBER 1976

November 2013

1976-1977

Singapore Airlines London to Sydney rally

Nalder and Richards Stawell Toyota Class A winners.

60 Victoria Toyota Dealers George Nadler (AU)
Noel Richards (AU) Toyota Corolla

http://www.1977londontosydney.com/

My participation was as a journalist/radio reporter for Macquarie Broadcasting by way of Radio 3HA Hamilton where I was a technician:----I carried spares for Car 60 and was their communications officer.

In Dec 1973 RT104GT-MQFG serial number 012604 was prepared for the Toyota Division in South Melbourne (Australian Motor Industries).
It was driven off a boat in Feb 1974 and registered LUO833 sight unseen by Vic Roads and began its life as a developmental car that AMI was going to assess for suitability to import in limited numbers.
I understand that the MD of AMI drove it around along with a purple GT Celica.
I am told more often it did 180's on wet roads when driven by his wife on Yokaham radials.
It was quite powerful to drive..
It ran the Toyota high compression 18RG engine, P51 F series gearbox and 4.111 7.5 inch LSD.
The live rear axle is totally unique to TRD nothing like a Corona, it has pins and locating rods and the whole car set up more like a sports sedan than a Corona.
It had a top speed demonstrated of exactly 200 km/h at 6500 rpm in 5th.
In 1975 it passed thru dealers including Weribbee and then onto Stawell Dealer Nalders and was driven by mechanic Steve Baird.
In June 1974 Modern Motor did a full page liftout story in full colour.
In late 1976 Nalders called me and said if I wanted it to go to a Toyota Dealer in Campbellfield and offer them $4500, I could buy the car.
It was being trucked to Sydney.
I intercepted the car on a Friday and paid $2000 deposit and the balance on the Monday and acquired it with 52000 km of developmental time on the speedo.
I was told go away take it away do not tell people that these cars are for sale cos they are not going to be offered here in Australia.
In 1977 Toyota approached me to use the car as a service vehicle in the 1977 Singapore Airlines London to Sydney Rally and it was used to service ultimate Class A winner Wes Nalder and Noal Richards in their 3KB Corolla Coupe.
It was seconded to Toyota again in 1978 to support the three Celica GT's driven by Hilton, Hurrey and Nalder in the Repco Around Australia trial and again conveyed personnel and parts to wherever they were needed in the east coast rally.

PHOTO TIME as Promised.

LUO833 RT104GT as imported and tested by Modern Motor Magazine in June 1974

OK in Chrome browser see if I can post photos

http://www.turbocreations.com/corona/rt104gt/

Yay thats the link to the JDM 104 time line.

Here is Stephos LINK

http://members.iinet.com.au/~stepho/

Wow going well here

Here is the crazy car spotter

Wasabi Cars (和錆カーズ) is a website all about car-spotting in Japan. Each car is special. There are old cars, imported cars, abandoned cars, JDM's, plus plus

http://wasabicars.com/

If you ever go to Japan you must go to Western Japan Fukuoka.

And to TOYOTA NAGOYA

1. The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, also known as Toyota Tecno Museum, is a technology museum located in Nishi-ku in the city of Nagoya, central Japan. Another museum is the Toyota Automobile Museum, also located in Nagoya.Wikipedia
2. Address: 4-1-35 Noritakeshinmachi, Nishi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 451-0051, Japan

http://www.toyota.co.jp/Museum/english/

Hard one

I will ask Steve Baird at Stawell Toyota what happened to old MK 2 stuff

Also Gary Mac Toyota in VIC Australia 9or his son) might have a lead.

Suggest you google and google and google.

Could also ask Wasabi car spotter or Fujitsobu in Fukuoka Japan.

Here are some links first of all which I will share with you.

Hi,

Those who don't know me. my name is Steve, I hail from Western Victoria Australia and have been the owner of a JDM (possibly one of the first) MY 1973/12 Corona GT, aka as a RT104-MQFG-012604.

The story of acquisition in 1975/12 is a story in itself but won't bore you to tears. I figure a pic is worth 1000 words so here come the pics.

Current status of the car is some TLC while parts are still around.

This week I have been receiving e-parcels from all over OZ, new rotors (the actually make a drilled slotted now) pads, water pump, battery, even going for new copper radiator and some rechromed front and rear bumpers.

I will add to the time line day by day, but at 67 I am enjoying semi retirement working from when the sun shines under my roller door and the cats and I defrost, until the sun is over the western roofs and I head inside.

Today I managed to get the front and rear bumpers off and replaced the circa 1979 Monroe GT130 and GT139 Monaro dual action shockers with some new generation Monroe reflex action GTs.

The hard part was accessing the back section sealed panel which was fitted before the 1977 Singapore Airlines London to Sydney Rally, in which this car was a service truck carrying spares and fuel over several thousand KM of outback Australian roads.

I have an RT104GT engine on a stand I also have a short block and head.

It is unlikely I will need the engine as my Corona GT engine at 240000km had a top overhaul at 110000k and is still going strong.

You will need to find a celica sump and oil pump I think as it is a corona gt engine.

You can call me or email me

vk3zaz at gmail.com

Hi

Best bet its same dash as LT2000, there are some around but sending you a dash from Australia would cost heaps.

Try searching maybe JAPAN I found a RT104GT there which amazed me.

Being a proud owner of a JDM GT4 for a couple of reasons, I am puzzled to see the huge price drop in GT4 celicas and would like to open a discussion not start a war.

My main reason for buying a GT4 was to obtain a pre-classic car at a reasonable price and wait it out until it is a classic 25YO in 6 years.

Second reason was it was cheap, had lows km and was cheap as I said.

So imagine my surprise when I saw two GROUP A's in recent times go cheap.

The Red GT4 owned by the Adelaide/Weribee car dealer IMO was too cheap at $16,800, well how about one for $10,300?

I was accepted for my offer on a Black GT4 GR A unmolested in Brisbane advertised on ebay at $12,000.

I declined to proceed with the buy as I have no room to store it but I am really puzzled no I am disturbed by the fact that the bottom seems to have fallen out of the GT4 market.

I saw this same trend on Suzuki swift GTis over ten years.

My family owned three GTI's over the ten years and I still have four rolling chassis with all sorts of modifications out on my farm I can only give them away they are worth zip.

Sold all the motors and boxes to NT Finke Racers for $1000.00 recently.

I still have three gearboxes I cant sell.

Question is, is there a common factor between the drop in GTI prices to rock bottom and GT4's which have in many cases sold for under $5000 and some as low as $2000??

In my opinion the mods do it.

All the go fast mods worth kilobucks decrease the resale bvalue to any but those who know what the mods are worth and what they can do to the cars performance.

Trouble is when you see a huge list of extras, no one will buy without some sort of indeminity against the motor or box crapping out in the first few K's

Car yards wont touch modified GT4's unless they get them for low $$ and so this could be one reason why you never see them advertised.

So you are left to sell to the ebayers and carsales, tyre kickers, time wasters, asking all sorts of dumb questions and many many time syou see what should ba a bargain go BUMP BUMP BUMP and never sell.

The reputation of some turbo charged fours web sites in the general car industry has created an opinion and a reputation that most people only want to modify cars and drive them fast and faster.

and in the end the bottom drops on prices, and on that E site and C site they go month after month without selling .

Sure the asking price is there $6500 or $8500 or whatever but they dont sell.

I dont know what you all think but I think the rot has set in and its probably irreversible.

And I think the next price drops will be the GTR Skylines and the WREX Imprezzas, and maybe then the Mitsubishies if not already.

Thats my ten cents worth, good luck if you are selling but dont show how you ripped out the intercooler and put the battery in the boot because apart for the converted no one really cares for that stuff, not if they are buying..

There is also the Roadworthy issue $90 in VIC now and if its modified usually it fails first inspection.

If people do buy they are they want the car for rock bottom dollar in case the motor gearbox or clutch blows iteself a few k down the road.

cheers

Thanks for reading..

Hi all, very new to this forum so go easy on me.

I recently bought a RT72 Corona MKII 2 door built as a rally car. The car impressed me so much. I took it on the Royal Flying Doctor Outback Trek, from Grafton to Darwin, and i couldnt fault the car.

Subsequently i recently bought three more RT72 and a heap of spares with the view to build at least one more rally car out of what i have.

But one of the cars is a GSS, i was wondering if anyone has any more info on these cars. Its been very hard trying to find out anything on them.

If anyone is looking for parts to the MKII i have plenty to go round.

Cheers.

PHOTO OF A GSS sold on EBAY 2 years ago

I have just rediscovered Stephos relocated Toyota DATABASE

STEPHOS TOYOTA DATABASE

Nice buy at $6K

Hi all,

i am new here as I had just discover this forum.

Anyhow got a querry for those rav4 owners-

my headlight is turning yellowish after been in the sun over the years..

had notice other rav experiencing the same thing..

what r my options?any suggestion ?

thanks in advance

I bought a set of four blue globes off ebay light output is 100W and fantastic at night clear crisp light. QED. ABout $50.00

Done 10000 KM 1st oil change getting 500KM from a tank of LPG at about $15 per fill.

:D