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Post by mike13 on Aug 17, 2007 4:25:28 GMT -8
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Post by toyotageek on Aug 17, 2007 11:32:12 GMT -8
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Post by supracollector on Aug 20, 2007 16:48:31 GMT -8
Walter Miller! He's been selling literature forever --- he was dealing from there when I went to school in Syracuse back in the dark ages. He's not cheap, but he carries some rare pieces. Have you asked him directly for any more "aftermarket" convertible-conversion info...? Also, try Faxon Auto Literature out in Corona.
For those of you looking for obscure stuff --- brochures, catalogs, repair manulas, etc., I'll once again mention the Society of Automotive Historians annual literature sale, which just took place I believe -- usually now in Pomona. If you get bored, it's at least fun to see all the L.A.-scene tatooed Betty Page-types that show up there looking for repair manuals for their pink 1961 Falcons...
But back to your convertible-conversion.... I told another Corolla convertible owner a year or two back (was it you...?) that all of these convertible "coachwork" companies originally advertised in Automotive News (which many of us read back then to see Jim Dunne's spy photos of future cars), but Automotive News was actually intended for new-car automobile dealers, hence the "coackwork" conversion ads that were geared towards them. By finding out the locations of these original conversion companies from those ads, and which dealers they dealt with, you MAY get a lead from one of those dealers or a former coachworks employee (perhaps using the local Craigslist), on where to get more history on the car or company.
Seems like a LOT of those coachworks companies were located in FL, but a few in SoCal as well.
As far as Automotive News, I worked as a work-study student in the U.S. Dept of Transportation Systems Center in college -- they had a library that theoretically you may be able to talk your way into... remember, that they were monitoring companies that modified automobiles....
I know from sources that the Petersen Museum has a hell of a library that they were supposed to open to researchers, but unless you're friends with a member of their board, they (the curator, whomever it is now) may not help.
Finally, there is a remote chance that Toyota's own U.S. PR or engineering departments have research libraries, so if you can chat-up a Toyota librarian, maybe dinner and dancing, that would be a possibility....
I've provided way too much of my research experience, just in case you REALLY want to get this info badly enough...!
BTW, great Sunchaser info, ToyG ---- there was in fact one of those --complete and unmolested --- in one of the junk-yards I just mentioned in my last post. In fact, I make it a habit to pry-off the coachworks conversion badges and plates from such cars -------- it's all becoming history, after all.
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Post by supracollector on Aug 20, 2007 17:11:00 GMT -8
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Post by toyotageek on Aug 22, 2007 11:06:06 GMT -8
Trying to restore or repair these 'coachworks' cars can be a daunting experience for owners. Many of these coachworks companies have long gone out-of-business.
From past experience, I can tell you Toyota will have very little or more likely, not have any info for these cars in their archives.
Does your Corolla have a badge or emblem that says it was a Matrix 3 conversion? If so, you should get the brochure. Then try getting as much info as you can about the conversion company. You'll just need to do a little bit (a lot?) of detective work.
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