Purchased the saddest Tercel4wd I've ever found.

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MrWrench
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Posts: 252
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2019 9:10 pm
My tercel:: 1985 Tercel SR5. aka Spud
Location: Michigan
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Purchased the saddest Tercel4wd I've ever found.

Post by MrWrench »

Hey everyone, recently got a lead on a Tercel that had been sitting for many years. The owners said the car wasn't running properly and sounded like it was firing on 3 cylinders, so they parked it back in the woods with plans of fixing it in the springtime. But come spring time, addicts had taken a door and several other parts. Fast forward years later, this is what's left of this poor car.

I'm thankful I get to pull a few parts off of it but it's sadly not salvageable.

Here is a few pictures, I am going to pull the car home and strip it down. I think I'll record a few (admittedly poor quality) videos for YouTube.
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1984 SR5. Lifted offroader with a snorkel. Aka "Thunderbucket"
1985 SR5. Daily driver. Aka "Spud"
1986 SR5. Dakar Rally clone build.
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Mattel
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Posts: 1788
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2004 12:11 am
My tercel:: 1988 Corolla 4wd Wagon (AKA Corolla All-trac) 5speed, AC, Power Sunroof, Windows, Mirrors, Steering, Locking, Diff Lock, 14" Corolla SX Alloys with Silica Hankook Tyres, 4afe, King Springs, Upgraded Headlights, Full Synth oils, 210,000kms
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Purchased the saddest Tercel4wd I've ever found.

Post by Mattel »

I'm not sure what they are made out of but the tailights on Tercel 4wd never fade.
Previous: 83 Tercel SR5 4wd, 84 Tercel SR5 4wd
88 Corolla 4wd Wagon 5speed, All power options, Fact Sunroof, Diff Lock, 14" SX Alloys, Hankook Tyres, 4afe, King Springs, Upgraded Headlights, Full Synth oils, Tow Bar, 210,000kms
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MrWrench
Top Notch Member
Posts: 252
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2019 9:10 pm
My tercel:: 1985 Tercel SR5. aka Spud
Location: Michigan
Contact:

Re: Purchased the saddest Tercel4wd I've ever found.

Post by MrWrench »

Mattel wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:42 am I'm not sure what they are made out of but the tailights on Tercel 4wd never fade.
Even the license plate frame isn't faded on this car! It's kind of baffling. The HVAC vents are nice looking, the center console and boots aren't bad, the corner lenses are magically intact and many other good parts are here. I just wish I could have gotten to it years ago before it fell into such a sad state. But it will live on in other Tercels!
1984 SR5. Lifted offroader with a snorkel. Aka "Thunderbucket"
1985 SR5. Daily driver. Aka "Spud"
1986 SR5. Dakar Rally clone build.
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dlb
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Posts: 7305
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:03 pm
My tercel:: '87 sr5, '83 dlx parts car
Location: bc, canada

Re: Purchased the saddest Tercel4wd I've ever found.

Post by dlb »

If you can get the transmission out of it, that would be worth saving.
Erikwi
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Posts: 114
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2020 3:31 pm
My tercel:: 1988 stock auto
Location: lacrosse WI

Re: Purchased the saddest Tercel4wd I've ever found.

Post by Erikwi »

wow
most cars in the woods would be abandoned. it seems like a foolish place to keep a car for that.
maybe it has a good transmission
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MrWrench
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Posts: 252
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2019 9:10 pm
My tercel:: 1985 Tercel SR5. aka Spud
Location: Michigan
Contact:

Re: Purchased the saddest Tercel4wd I've ever found.

Post by MrWrench »

dlb wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2020 12:43 pm If you can get the transmission out of it, that would be worth saving.
That's my hopes. I gave the lady more than I had wanted for the car. But the price was still good enough to justify the transmission, axle, wheels, some interior pieces, lenses, fenders, grill, spindles ECT.
1984 SR5. Lifted offroader with a snorkel. Aka "Thunderbucket"
1985 SR5. Daily driver. Aka "Spud"
1986 SR5. Dakar Rally clone build.
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Petros
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Posts: 11930
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:31 pm
My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
Location: Arlington WA USA

Re: Purchased the saddest Tercel4wd I've ever found.

Post by Petros »

I bought a banged up and rusty parts Tercel4wd for $100, just for the transmission to use in my daily driver.

I got it home and stripped it. I sold the running engine for $150. used the good tires and wheels for a corolla my wife was driving. stripped all of the good parts off of it, towed to a scrap yard that gave me $68 for what was left. I still have that trans in my daily driver ten years later
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'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)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
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