My Tercel Plan

vengabeast · Post by **vengabeast** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:09 pm

Since I discovered this site in 2004, I've regretted letting my Tercel (the Vengabeast) go. Back when I had it I was foolish and didn't realize how good that car really was. But, not that I'm out of school and actually have some money I'm looking to get another one. I've been looking for the dream Tercel (an SR5 with low mileage and little rust) but haven't found it yet.(at least not in Ontario...but I am considering buying one from BC) In the mean time, I've found an '85 automatic nearby for a good price. My plan is to buy the 85, and when a good SR5 comes along, I'll buy it and any new parts I put on the '85 will be transferred over. How does my plan sound? Hopefully, I'll soon be able to say I'm the proud owner of a Tercel Wagon 4WD.

dcn · Post by **dcn** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:33 pm

Speaking of good Tercs in Canada vengabeast, we were talking to a guy in the military here that has 3 or 4 last week, and he said the the really good ones would be up in Labrador, where I guess they don't use salt?

scotisha · Post by **scotisha** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:55 am

That is my plan too there VengaBeast. I wanted a SR5 but a one-owner low mileage, low rust tercel came up for sale for fairly cheap so I got that. I have been keeping my eye open for a 'perfect' SR5 but they are fairly expensive (I am fixing up the beemer for the summer and I just bought a house so....) and far and few between. I really want one thought because I really want an inclinometer!

vengabeast · Post by **vengabeast** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:00 am

Yea the inclinometer would be cool to have. I know there are still some SR5's with no rust and low mileage sitting patiently in elderly people's garage's (at least I hope), waiting to be found by committed and caring Tercel lovers. At this point I'm willing to spend a crazy amount of money if I find the "perfect" Tercel, so hopefully something will come along sooner rather than later.

Post by **ARCHINSTL** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:56 pm

Writing about clean T4WDs in Canada - does anyone know of the destination of the uber-clean 75K mile red one sold on eBay from Colorado Springs last November to a Canadian purchaser? I wrote the seller but received no answer.
Tom M.

vengabeast · Post by **vengabeast** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 2:11 pm

Hopefully whoever bought it will see my want ad for one and call me...and then give it to me for a good price. A guy can dream can't he...?

Post by **ARCHINSTL** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:34 pm

Dream on - it sold for $4050 USD...
Tom M.

dcn · Post by **dcn** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:24 pm

I can tell you it's not in NS as far as I've seen. Are there any photos around of it ARCH?

vengabeast · Post by **vengabeast** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:28 pm

...$4050 and worth every penny!

dcn · Post by **dcn** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:30 pm

C'mon! I need pics!

Post by **ARCHINSTL** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:47 pm

Well, it is red...
The eBay link no longer is available, alas.
Tom M.

dcn · Post by **dcn** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:50 pm

Ahh, I can see it now. Red n' shiny. I obsessively check these boards, I don't know how I missed it. Thanks anyway though. I think it must have been in the lower 4 areas. I usually just read the General, Profiles, Off Topic and Gallery sections.

Post by **Petros** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 7:33 pm

My wish list mine will be done on a 5 year plan. I will keep it indefinitly, short of wrecking (it has no rust and an almost perfect body), and every year do one or two major modifications to it, fixing it up the way I like a little at a time. I already did the engine internally (but I also have a good spare runner sitting on blocks in the garage).

Next to do is install alloy 14x5.5 wheels (I already have them) and new low profile tires.

Then do the suspension with gas filled struts (front already done), stiffer springs, new bushings, perhaps stiffer rear sway bar, etc.

Then I would re-make the brakes with celica GT 4-wheel disks.

I will want to do the webber up-grade some time, or convert it to EFI (or even figure out how to shoe-horn in the twin cam 4a engine when my 3ac needs replacing, yes!)

And then finally perhaps do a custum interior with rebuilt seats (leather?), full insterments, sound insulation, recover the dash, etc.

And if it needs it, perhaps do a full custom paint/trim job (though the current paint is pretty good, I just need to redo the black trim). And custom high power head lights + auxillary lighting.

Then this car would be perfect!

By doing it a little at a time it would not cost too much, and my wife will not object to it. And I would still have something better than I can buy at that price (perhaps a total of $3000 into it-much less than a BMW).

This would make a fun, reliable little puddle jumper that would be very un-SUV, unique, and economical.

The only downside I think is if it gets wrecked I will never get the value of it from the insurance company. I would have to strip all the parts, get another one and rebuilt it the same way.

Any other ideas for a wish-list to make this car "perfect"?.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 7:50 pm

A tranny that will handle more than 100HP/100Ft/LB reliably perhaps?

Carguylen · Post by **Carguylen** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:35 pm

Seen this one on Traderonline?:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c ... ardist=990