Post by 73GTV on Jan 16, 2012 8:15:11 GMT -8
73GTV,
Retired USAF E-7 Aerospace Ground Equipments Technician,
55 Years Old,
Former Industrial Air Compressor Repair Technician.
Projects in work, I'm the owner of a RA21 and TA22 Celica Coupes. Delayed assembly in order to put daughter through college and pay for that masters degree. Three moves and Twenty years later in ready to restore my TA22.
Back in the 70's my Buddy Ken from my Plattsburgh AFB days owned a 1974 Celica which use to blow the doors off of his friends Camaro's in the quarter. One day I took him up on a offer to drive his car and was hooked. I went from Volkwagon's to Toyota over night. A few months later he was drunk skided, went airborn, drove that car over a guard rail and wrapped his car between two side of a ditch. His kick out the back window and carried his passenger three miles before collaping on someone doorway. They lived, drunks always do. Nice car, turned into scrap metal, It also played a row in how I drove and eventually how I met the woman that I married and spent ten years in Japan with from a 24 year marriage. Owned five Celica's and one Corolla during those years. Nice!
I lived the Life raising kids and playing with cars. I was around when the Skylines, Celica and Carina's use to duel it out in the streets of Okinawa. I watched when the RX-7 was introduced, and the "Honda" "City" 1300 cc turbo stunned the racing guys in the 1/4.
That gained Honda respect in the streets and in the Car magazines.
Interesting times and when I finally came back to the US, it took ten years for the Import racing scene to fully take a foothold and then explode across the US. About time, what took you so long.
April 24, 2008 I was in Ontario California getting ready to take a flight back to Buffalo New York when my friend who was driving decided to torture me by one final run through California Junkyards near the airport. Three yards later one hour and 45 Minutes before my flight left we find a RA21 Dec 1972 for sale at the entrance of the Yard. $1300.00 later I stand at the gate watching my plane taxi down the runway.
I quit my job and moved to California August 2008 and finally shipped my TA22 here so that I can begin its restoration. The GTV I own was to be the parts car for a 1972 that I have shipped from japan in 1981. The 1972 ST stayed in japan because the body ID plate rusted from behind and I wasn't allowed to ship it due to Vin Verification problems during the last JCI inspection.
The Owner of the Body shop wanted my GTV and when I came to pick it up and pay for the body work prior to transport to the U.S. it sat before me un-touched for the two months he had delayed my repairs.
I had two days before I left to reassemble the car, install the engine and get it to port before my family and I had to leave Okinawa Japan. I stored the car and invested in my family. Now that all the kids are gone, it time to bring this back to it original condition. I guess it paid to rat-hole away a few parts for this old project.
I have been almost everywhere in the USA. Decided to retire so that I can complete my two 1973 Celica Coupes, TA22 and RA21.
And then there where the TDY's.
Cold Lake Canada Florida Fishermen in Canada.
Japan
Okinawa Japan, Home
Flight-line
Retired USAF E-7 Aerospace Ground Equipments Technician,
55 Years Old,
Former Industrial Air Compressor Repair Technician.
Projects in work, I'm the owner of a RA21 and TA22 Celica Coupes. Delayed assembly in order to put daughter through college and pay for that masters degree. Three moves and Twenty years later in ready to restore my TA22.
Back in the 70's my Buddy Ken from my Plattsburgh AFB days owned a 1974 Celica which use to blow the doors off of his friends Camaro's in the quarter. One day I took him up on a offer to drive his car and was hooked. I went from Volkwagon's to Toyota over night. A few months later he was drunk skided, went airborn, drove that car over a guard rail and wrapped his car between two side of a ditch. His kick out the back window and carried his passenger three miles before collaping on someone doorway. They lived, drunks always do. Nice car, turned into scrap metal, It also played a row in how I drove and eventually how I met the woman that I married and spent ten years in Japan with from a 24 year marriage. Owned five Celica's and one Corolla during those years. Nice!
I lived the Life raising kids and playing with cars. I was around when the Skylines, Celica and Carina's use to duel it out in the streets of Okinawa. I watched when the RX-7 was introduced, and the "Honda" "City" 1300 cc turbo stunned the racing guys in the 1/4.
That gained Honda respect in the streets and in the Car magazines.
Interesting times and when I finally came back to the US, it took ten years for the Import racing scene to fully take a foothold and then explode across the US. About time, what took you so long.
April 24, 2008 I was in Ontario California getting ready to take a flight back to Buffalo New York when my friend who was driving decided to torture me by one final run through California Junkyards near the airport. Three yards later one hour and 45 Minutes before my flight left we find a RA21 Dec 1972 for sale at the entrance of the Yard. $1300.00 later I stand at the gate watching my plane taxi down the runway.
I quit my job and moved to California August 2008 and finally shipped my TA22 here so that I can begin its restoration. The GTV I own was to be the parts car for a 1972 that I have shipped from japan in 1981. The 1972 ST stayed in japan because the body ID plate rusted from behind and I wasn't allowed to ship it due to Vin Verification problems during the last JCI inspection.
The Owner of the Body shop wanted my GTV and when I came to pick it up and pay for the body work prior to transport to the U.S. it sat before me un-touched for the two months he had delayed my repairs.
I had two days before I left to reassemble the car, install the engine and get it to port before my family and I had to leave Okinawa Japan. I stored the car and invested in my family. Now that all the kids are gone, it time to bring this back to it original condition. I guess it paid to rat-hole away a few parts for this old project.
I have been almost everywhere in the USA. Decided to retire so that I can complete my two 1973 Celica Coupes, TA22 and RA21.
And then there where the TDY's.
Cold Lake Canada Florida Fishermen in Canada.
Japan
Okinawa Japan, Home
Flight-line