1973 Toyota Celica RA25 GT

[river]

Hi,

Make: Toyota
Model: Celica RA25-MQ-GG
Year: 1973
Build Number: 005763

Engine: 18R-G (210 head)
Gearbox: 5 speed P51

Full Factory GT Options:
- A/C
- Tinted power windows
- F-series 2-pinion 7.5inch 3.909 LSD
- 220kph speedometer
- Amp & Oil pressure gauges
- Overhead OK Monitor
- Heat and demister
- GT interior
- GT wheels
- Night parking lights
- Fender mirrors

Period Accessories:
- Lowered Front and Rear Springs
- Oil temp gauge
- GT pin-stripes















seeyuzz
river

[AAAAGZE]

That, Sir, is a beautiful thing.

[Rcubed]

hey river,
what have you had to fix/alter to bring it to its current state?

[river]

Hi,

You mean what work have I had to do to her over the time (June 1982) I've owned her?

seeyuzz
river

[TheToyman75]

Looking Good River !

[Rcubed]

Hi,

You mean what work have I had to do to her over the time (June 1982) I've owned her?

seeyuzz
river

Yeah, obviously over 35.x years a car will deteriorate due wear and tear and just due to time.

you've kept it pretty original, yet you've also suggested in other threads that items such as oil temp gauge isn't original and that your brother doesn't care for the uniqueness of said vehicle. you had MA61[?] rims on it for a while, did you have to source replacement GT rims? Also, didn't i read that you've had the paint touched up?

the fact that it is [as far as i'm aware] the only Oz delivered RA25GT means that to keep it as pristine as you have, you've invested much time effort and $$, so I'm interested in what you've done rather than just what was delivered.

BTW, i love this car!!

[timbosaurus]

Yup, you're a very lucky man River!

It's certainly a one-of-it's-kind in Australia, and luckily it found the right owner early on. It could have easily ended up in the condition that my car is (front and rear bingle, side bingle, rust, etc etc).

It's a shame, though, that those factory rims just don't quite have the same toughness as the car should have.

[river]

Hi,

Car was purchased in June 9182, with 15,500km on the clock. It came with a letter of compliance (as it does not have a compliance plate) by the NSW RTA. It also came with a letter from Toyota mentioning it was imported into the country for GT evaluation.

Being 2nd hand, it came with a 3 month warranty. Near the very end of that period it went in with a nasty oil leak from the main engine seal that connects it to the gearbox. This was fixed under warranty.

Car was used as a daily transport from June 1982 until Feburary 1986. It travelled from Cronulla to Ultimo 3 days a week, and from Cronulla to St Leonards two days a week - all in peak hour periods.

It got serviced every 5000km with oil, tune-up, plugs and points.

In mid 1984 the brakes began to feel spongy and a check over revealed corrosion in the master cylinder. Could not get another one, so the exisitng one was bored out, cleaned and given a stainless steel sleeve. Never had a problem since.

In late 1985 the diff began to make some grumbling sounds and it was overhauled and fixed.

It was pulled out of mainline transportation duties in Feb 1986, when I bought a new Mitsubishi Colt, that began to take the daily peak hour runs.

I relocated to Leichhardt in August 1987 and the Colt was sold. Leichhardt, like Cronulla had a car port and not a lock-up sealed garage. The car was used daily for a few months in peak hour drives to the city and back.

I then started taking pblic transport and Riverinas car took up the car port, so the 25 was parked in the street with a car cover over it.

In 1989, coming back from a trip from Port Maquarie the engine began to overheat. Checking over the engine showed a BHG. The car had 100,000km on it at the time. The head was pulled off and cleaned up, and the got a new gasket. The paint was a little faded in places so I decided to get the car resprayed in original colour. I think they did a good job as it has not been repainted since then, so the current paint is 20 years old.

The car came back and resumed its place under a car cover out in the street, and it was used sparingly - mainly as it was easier to use Riverinas, rather than tak off the cover etc, but the street was a crowded one and you could lose your car spot - so it was best leaving it in front of our house.

In 1992 the heater sprang a leak and spewed water inside the car, over the radio and over me. It was early afternoon on a Saturday, right on the main road outside Rosehill Race course. I got out and checked what I could do, and with my genuine Toyota car tool kit, I undid the heater hoses in the engine bay and set them up to bypass the heater. However, I did not have any water to fill the radiator. Luckily for me I had just been shopping and filled the system with OJ and coke. It got me home, and the temp stayed a tad below 80 - which is the temp it has always ran at since I've had the car. I flushed it out late the next day (Sunday) and it cleaned out the system perfectly. I still use this method occasionally to keep the waterways clean. It does work!

In 1995 the engine overheated again with a leaking welsh plug. This was fixed and at the same time I got the block/head flushed and the radiator recored.

In November 1996 we relocated to the Hills district, and for the first time since I had the car it was parked in a fully enclosed garage!!!! That made me happy.

In 2001 I got some rust cut out from the sills and metal finished, as I do not like bog - especially in this car. A short time later I got the roof lining fixed.

In 2006 I got the carbs pulled down and rebuilt - which was the first time they'd ever been fully overhauled. It cost a bomb but the engine was like a new motor. It pulled 88rwKw (IIRC) and it is near that time to get cranky Franky to tune the engine up again for me and tweak those carbs. He is a genius with carbs!

I got Soarer wheels cleane dup and fitted, but now have the 74 GT wheels on the car. The car came (when I bougth it in 1982) with kidney wheels, so I have never had the true original 1973 GT wheels. I got the 74 wheels around 2006.

I also got some original NOS 1973 Celica fender mirrors from Toyota Japan and fitted them and then got rid of the door Ford XB/XC mirror.

I got pin striping re-applied in original colour.

I got new slightly lowered springs, as the originals were a little sagged. The shocks were checked over and they are still good, so she still runs the GT spec shocks.

I got a rear sway bar, custom made... so it matches the manufacturing holes within the chassis so no holes would need to be drilled into the car.

I got a JDM perfect dashboard to go in, along with the original AM/FM radio.

I put in the oil temp gauge.

The synchro on 3rd gear - on the down change - is a bit iffy and can grind at time, even when double shuffling. I got a spare P51 box, but I am yet to hear of any gearbox repairer who knows of the P51, lt alone fix one (though I do have the repair manual for it) as they use an unusual style of synchro - and it is these that wear out - and of course Toyota does not have any in stock any more. So, anyone know a top-gun g/box repairer who reckons they could overhaul a P51 (well, 2 of them actually) then pls let me know.

I got some rust cut out of the inside of the rear hatch... the body side, not the hatch, about 18 months ago.

So... that's basically the history. She's never been in a bingle... although one day some years ago, it was parked in a safe place in the local shopping centre and someone pushed a shopping trolly into it, and that nasty little ding will be fixed when I get the car fully resprayed again.

I use only armour all on the dash and internal trim Some people winge about armour all but my dash and trim is perfect and has no cracks.

Up until a year ago I only washed the car with plain water with a dash of kerosene. Now I use Maguires. So, maybe the kero/water is what kept the paint looking so fresh? She gets polished once per year.

I am looking to get some custom period mags to phatten her up a bit and make her look a tad meaner than what she does with the stock wheels.

She now has 131,000 on the clock. She gets driven rarely (I got Trini now!!!) and when she is driven she is given a sweet time. I guess that's why she has lasted this long as she is treated gently.

Sorry to bore you... but that's basically the life and times of the 88.

seeyuzz
river

PS: I've had rocker cover and brake seals replaced early on when I had it. ALso had to get the air con re-furbished early on also. I had a lot of trouble initially with the seals but this is 'cos the car was sitting in storage for approx 6 years before I bought it. The air con git cleaned up about three years ago and it runs the latest gas without a problem.

[Farkurnell]

zzzzzzzzzzzz
Has he finished yet?



Nah. Great story old timer.

[Hiro]

One thing I could never work out/remember is why you refer to it as the 88.

[river]

Hi,

I could tell you. But, then I'd have to kill you.

seeyuzz
river

[Lachie]

Heard alot about this car and this is the first time I've ever seen pics - absolutely beautiful

If you can't get synchro's from anywhere, I've designed and had some made before.

If you send me the one you need out of your spare box, I could draw it up in CAD and get one machined for you. Hit me up with a PM if your interested.

[Hiro]

Hi,

I could tell you. But, then I'd have to kill you.

seeyuzz
river

Remind me to ask you when I'm on my death-bed then. I'm assuming you'll still be alive then, if not then pass the knowledge on to someone trustworthy in your will, and then they can kill me.

[MR22ZZ]

Hi,

Car was purchased in June 9182, with 15,500km on the clock. It came with a letter of compliance (as it does not have a compliance plate) by the NSW RTA. It also came with a letter from Toyota mentioning it was imported into the country for GT evaluation.

seeyuzz
river

June 9182 you say... so where do you keep the flux capacitor?

[Hiro]

June 9182 you say... so where do you keep the flux capacitor?

I think he forgot to put the BC in.

[river]

Hi,

I can't reply... the razor wit of your replies is too much..... its killing me... someone call am ambo......

aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..
...
....

[Rcubed]

One thing I could never work out/remember is why you refer to it as the 88.

In 2006 I got the carbs pulled down and rebuilt - which was the first time they'd ever been fully overhauled. It cost a bomb but the engine was like a new motor. It pulled 88rwKw (IIRC)

I'm guessing!!

[rob]

i believe this is a picture of river and his 88 before it was painted

[river]

Hi,

Ahh I remember that pic. Me and my beloved, ubiquitous Ju88... possibly the best plane the Germans made in WW2.

It took a lot of work and mods to get it looking like it does now.

seeyuzz
river

[RT104GT]

I got a spare P51 box, but I am yet to hear of any gearbox repairer who knows of the P51, lt alone fix one (though I do have the repair manual for it) as they use an unusual style of synchro - and it is these that wear out - and of course Toyota does not have any in stock any more. So, anyone know a top-gun g/box repairer who reckons they could overhaul a P51 (well, 2 of them actually) then pls let me know.



P51 Gearboxes? HM do you ant?

I FIXED A P51 and put the details all over TOYOTA WEBSITE.
SOLD IT TO WERIBEE and have one spare.
There are P51's every where, on ebay and in wreckers.
They all came out on the 18RG' importd by API.
Check inside if you see grey gumetal its a P51 (is'nt that what you told me once?)


There is only one car that prequels the RA25GT in things that go fast in the night and thats the RT104GT the best kept secret in the Toyota high performance stakes.
And like River I am the lucky owner of the past 33 years.

I think I might get buried with mine, what ya gonna do River?



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