Some succesfull conversions.

[RT104GT]

My first Toyota was an RT40 CORONA in 1969, column shift powder blue bench seat.
My first upgrade was to source a 4R engine and gearbox from a 1967 1600S, take out the column shift fit the 1600S round dashboard with tacho and speedo and some wider wheels.
AT 7000 rpm in 4th this car would do exacly 100 mph.
We rallied it to near destruction during 1969-1972 when I shifted to Victoria and in 1973 fitted a 1900SL 8RB engine and gearbox.
The we rallied it some more until one of the brake pads (1600S) slipped forward after the pin came out and we totalled it at Creswick.
I used to drive past and see the rotting hull in a guys back yard for years and years.
Next buy was an intact 1968 1600S from a car yard in Ballarat for $900.
This got the 8RB head on an 18R bottom end and single weber.
It got rallied and then sold to a guy who went to Queenlsand in it.
Next buy was a yuk pink 1600S 1967 and we fitted a standard 18R with weber and extractors.
It got sold to a guy who wrote it off in the Grampians mountains failing to take a bend.

The last 1600S I ever saw for sale was a rusted red car at Warrnambool Toyota in 1992 for $500, I don't know what happend to it.
.

Next buy was a 1900SL yellow coupe and we did the by now common 18R swap and weber.
Its still in Stawell and has an 8RB head.

Then came the RT104GT in 1975.
I owned that car when an 18RG was unknown except in the Toyota Engine book.
The first few 18RG's came into Sydney southside at Cantebury wrecking yard, as imports in containers, and then through the 1980's API International had container loads of them, you could see them lined up and mated with the P51 gearboxs at $750 each.

The car that got away was Don Bruces 1970 1900GSL with an 8RG engine.
I had the privildege of driving that car around the Dandenongs but at $4000 was too stepp for me in those days.

I also remmber hearing a GT5 CORONA thumping down the street in ST Kildaa with the GT5 badge on the back.
Its funny how the mind works.



By 1984 my GT had seen some serious km 200,000 and was still running, but getting sad.
Fortuitously in the 80's I bought a long engine which I stored away and was able to ressurect my ride with these parts.

In 1995 Shaun Maloney reconditioned my SOLEX carbies and it starts and runs well these days.

In 1984 this car nearly got converted when I fitted a 3TGTE turbo into a T18, it nearly went into the Corona GT but common sense previled and we did thefirst recorder transplant of this ageless engine into a rice rocket.
To say it was lethal would be an understatement.

Next conversion was my spare 18RG engine into a liftback four door which I still see around Portland rusted out like Barny Rubble, they wont sell it even though it has the original Toyota engine.


Latest is I am contemplating is the engine bay of a VZV21 that has the 2VZFE will take the 3VZ series engines of which there are some nice examples so its on the drawing board along with a four wheel drive conversion once I identify the transfer case that the Camry AWD's use.

VZV21 has gone to god as has the second one when I bought an engine from WITTZL

ran on LPG pretty fast but too hard to stop.

The Corona GT is still in the shed.
My wife and i drove it to the Anglican Church and renewed our wedding vows 30 years after driving away on our honeymoon in the same car in 1976.

Seems strange to own a car since 1976 especially a Corona.

Like River I may be buried in it except the grave plot would cost more than the car.

if you search google you will see a few photos of it around the internet.

I don't see any other RT104GT come up anywhere in the world when searching which is so sad.

There must be at least one other somewhere.
I am sure Brett showed me a photo of a 2 door once.

As for selling it, don't be offended but its a member of my family and if I pass on will go to a museum.

Everyone I can give it to is going to die soon sad isnt it.


It stays original

I wont even change the wheels RIVER.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2591080[


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