1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

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bryanthompson
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1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by bryanthompson »

Hello.

I've seen the Tercel located at the Toyota Museum in Torrance discussed here before, but I wanted to create a thread with extensive photos for people to reference. This should be a great resource for anyone restoring your car to factory specs.

And, well, its just a delightful little car. I visited the museum today, and Susan the curator was so helpful in preparing for my car's restoration.

Please enjoy!

BT
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bryanthompson
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Re: 1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by bryanthompson »

Photo Dec 17, 3 40 50 PM.jpg
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bryanthompson
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Re: 1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by bryanthompson »

Photo Dec 17, 3 46 23 PM.jpg
Photo Dec 17, 3 46 02 PM.jpg
Photo Dec 17, 3 44 27 PM.jpg
Photo Dec 17, 3 43 32 PM.jpg
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Last edited by bryanthompson on Thu Dec 17, 2015 11:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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bryanthompson
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My tercel:: 1983 4WD SR5 Wagon : "The Brochure Car"
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Re: 1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by bryanthompson »

Photo Dec 17, 3 44 06 PM.jpg
Photo Dec 17, 3 43 51 PM.jpg
Photo Dec 17, 3 43 35 PM.jpg
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Photo Dec 17, 3 41 57 PM.jpg
Photo Dec 17, 3 41 43 PM.jpg
Photo Dec 17, 3 41 25 PM.jpg
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bryanthompson
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Re: 1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by bryanthompson »

Photo Dec 17, 4 27 58 PM.jpg
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ARCHINSTL
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Re: 1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by ARCHINSTL »

Thank, Bryan - that is just SO beautiful!
Apart from the general "newness," I liked the shine on the bumpers and trim - and the complete legibility of the shifting diagram!
And - the glovebox lever is actually in alignment with its niche!!! :shock:
I see it has 232 miles - driven from the ship to the museum and a few trial runs?
My pants are wet (well, not really, but...).
To steal a Jeep line I've never liked: "It's a Tercel Wagon thing; you wouldn't understand."
Tom M.
T4WD augury?
"Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' Let us go and make our visit."
T.S. Eliot - "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"
"Now and then we had a hope that, if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates."
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irowiki
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Re: 1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by irowiki »

I dunno Tom, it looks out of alignment just like any other I've seen! it is molded that way!
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bryanthompson
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Re: 1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by bryanthompson »

ARCHINSTL wrote:Thank, Bryan - that is just SO beautiful!
Apart from the general "newness," I liked the shine on the bumpers and trim - and the complete legibility of the shifting diagram!
And - the glovebox lever is actually in alignment with its niche!!! :shock:
I see it has 232 miles - driven from the ship to the museum and a few trial runs?
My pants are wet (well, not really, but...).
To steal a Jeep line I've never liked: "It's a Tercel Wagon thing; you wouldn't understand."
Tom M.
Thanks Tom! This made my night.

In other news, I contracted my car to be pulled from storage. As soon as they can get a driver (limited during holidays) to go from Prescott AZ to
Long Beach CA, the restoration will officially be under way!

I'll be posting in that thread soon.

Happy holidays!

BT
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Petros
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Re: 1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by Petros »

you mean the glove box levers did not come crooked from the factory? Or maybe they made that one up special for the museum.

I looked a number of glove box doors to see why the latch is crooked, and did not see any wear or damage, concluded the parts just never fit correctly. I find other minor flaws occasionally, like the colors on the various pieces of plastic trim do not match exactly. Depends on the color of the trim, but I have seen it most on the gray interior from '83-84.
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Mattel
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Re: 1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by Mattel »

Great photos Bryan! Even on the RHD models there is the same flaw. Although probably the latches are identical.

Does anyone know what the small black Tabs are for on the front doors 'A' pillar halfway up the frame. Are they weather shield attachments?
Previous: 83 Tercel SR5 4wd, 84 Tercel SR5 4wd
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Notmikeb
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Re: 1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by Notmikeb »

They need better security at that museum! Someone has stolen the antennae!!!
-------------
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ARCHINSTL
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Re: 1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by ARCHINSTL »

Petros wrote:you mean the glove box levers did not come crooked from the factory? Or maybe they made that one up special for the museum.

I looked a number of glove box doors to see why the latch is crooked, and did not see any wear or damage, concluded the parts just never fit correctly. I find other minor flaws occasionally, like the colors on the various pieces of plastic trim do not match exactly. Depends on the color of the trim, but I have seen it most on the gray interior from '83-84.
It is the fault of the metal part of the latch itself, which bends over time. I straightened mine once, and it did not last long. It reminded me of "pot metal' ("white metal?"), so did not want to run the risk of it breaking and now just live with it.
Tom M.

EDIT - I seem to recall pix of RHD Tercs and their latches are bent the opposite way!
T4WD augury?
"Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' Let us go and make our visit."
T.S. Eliot - "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"
"Now and then we had a hope that, if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates."
Mark Twain
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irowiki
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Re: 1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by irowiki »

It's strange because every tercel I've ever been in has them the exact same way so I assumed it was intended.
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Petros
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Re: 1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by Petros »

Mattel wrote:Does anyone know what the small black Tabs are for on the front doors 'A' pillar halfway up the frame. Are they weather shield attachments?
I think those are guides for the windows, sometimes when you roll them up the swept leading edge has a tendency to misaligned, so it is little plastic guide to assist the window will go into the window track at the leading edge of the glass.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
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tercel4wdrules
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Re: 1983 Toyota Museum Tercel

Post by tercel4wdrules »

Notmikeb wrote:They need better security at that museum! Someone has stolen the antennae!!!
If you look closely at the picture of the trunk you'll see it is sitting safely there :lol:
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