Bit of background because I've not posted in ages:
I've been in New Zealand since August, I came over looking for a holiday with half a mind to work and ended up getting a full-time job. Since I'll be here for the foreseeable I decided it was definitely, definitely the right time to immediately spend all of my money on an old Toyota.
I've loved Japanese cars for years and had to sell my AW11 MR2 last year. A sense of hollow loss ensued.
I was drooling over this KP on TradeMe when one of my housemates mentioned that she was planning a trip to visit some old college friends in the town it was in. A plan was hatched, the numbers on my bank account were turned into weird folding plastic Monopoly money, and a roadtrip playlist assembled.
Met up with the owner (a prominent personality on oldschool.co.nz, the kiwi equivalent of RR) in a fast food car park. I think there's probably a rule somewhere that says that cars and burger chains need to be brought together regularly, and I was hungry anyway.
He explained that the car had lived on his road all its life, owned by a little old lady until she stopped driving and put it up for sale a year ago.
Had a bit of a poke and a prod, tried to make the obligatory concerned noises that you're supposed to do when looking at buying an old car, but couldn't really fault it on much. Properly gen-you-wine unbuggered Sprint. The Sprint was the top spec one, 1.3l 4k engine, 5 speed box, cool sporty interior etc.
Test-drove even sweeter than it looked, I was hooked. Worked out a mutually acceptable deal and I disappeared off into the sunset. The guy seemed pretty emotional to see her go, but I hope my monetary contribution towards building an awesome engine for his e21 softens the pain over time.
She managed city traffic, winding hill roads and open highway all the way back to the Wairarapa on her best behaviour. Stopped off for some snaps at the Te Apiti wind farms en route:
I was originally looking for a slightly tatty Starlet to turn into a rally-esque weekend-fun car, something like this:
...but I reckon that would be sacrilege with something this original.
Well then.
The old girl was about due an oil and filter change, so I had a nice run out this morning to Upper Hutt to get some tools and supplies. There's a weird mix of annoyance and excitement at being in a new country and not having any tools. Of course the excitement is because you have the opportunity, nay, obligation to buy some tools.
I checked first, but there were no more free service vouchers in the bookpack. Shame.
Stopped off at the local dealership while I was in the area, just 'cos:
...and popped back home. Nice sunny afternoon oil and filter change.
Plans:
-Weekend car, just enjoy it for what it is over the nice summer months.
-Investigate how best to protect the thin paint. Car will be undercover for the most part, but still...
-Re-cover sun-damaged parcel shelf and get it seated properly.
-Sympathetic, reversible mods over winter? Think rorty carbs, fast road cam, tubular manifold and a pretty skinny 'zorst. A lot of these over here end up with 4A-GE transplants but the 4k engine is lovely and is staying put
I've been in New Zealand since August, I came over looking for a holiday with half a mind to work and ended up getting a full-time job. Since I'll be here for the foreseeable I decided it was definitely, definitely the right time to immediately spend all of my money on an old Toyota.
I've loved Japanese cars for years and had to sell my AW11 MR2 last year. A sense of hollow loss ensued.
I was drooling over this KP on TradeMe when one of my housemates mentioned that she was planning a trip to visit some old college friends in the town it was in. A plan was hatched, the numbers on my bank account were turned into weird folding plastic Monopoly money, and a roadtrip playlist assembled.
Met up with the owner (a prominent personality on oldschool.co.nz, the kiwi equivalent of RR) in a fast food car park. I think there's probably a rule somewhere that says that cars and burger chains need to be brought together regularly, and I was hungry anyway.
He explained that the car had lived on his road all its life, owned by a little old lady until she stopped driving and put it up for sale a year ago.
Had a bit of a poke and a prod, tried to make the obligatory concerned noises that you're supposed to do when looking at buying an old car, but couldn't really fault it on much. Properly gen-you-wine unbuggered Sprint. The Sprint was the top spec one, 1.3l 4k engine, 5 speed box, cool sporty interior etc.
Test-drove even sweeter than it looked, I was hooked. Worked out a mutually acceptable deal and I disappeared off into the sunset. The guy seemed pretty emotional to see her go, but I hope my monetary contribution towards building an awesome engine for his e21 softens the pain over time.
She managed city traffic, winding hill roads and open highway all the way back to the Wairarapa on her best behaviour. Stopped off for some snaps at the Te Apiti wind farms en route:
I was originally looking for a slightly tatty Starlet to turn into a rally-esque weekend-fun car, something like this:
...but I reckon that would be sacrilege with something this original.
Well then.
The old girl was about due an oil and filter change, so I had a nice run out this morning to Upper Hutt to get some tools and supplies. There's a weird mix of annoyance and excitement at being in a new country and not having any tools. Of course the excitement is because you have the opportunity, nay, obligation to buy some tools.
I checked first, but there were no more free service vouchers in the bookpack. Shame.
Stopped off at the local dealership while I was in the area, just 'cos:
...and popped back home. Nice sunny afternoon oil and filter change.
Plans:
-Weekend car, just enjoy it for what it is over the nice summer months.
-Investigate how best to protect the thin paint. Car will be undercover for the most part, but still...
-Re-cover sun-damaged parcel shelf and get it seated properly.
-Sympathetic, reversible mods over winter? Think rorty carbs, fast road cam, tubular manifold and a pretty skinny 'zorst. A lot of these over here end up with 4A-GE transplants but the 4k engine is lovely and is staying put
