This is the 10 year and counting story of my white WRC model bought damaged from Japan then shipped to Canada in 2003 and towed to USA in 2004.
Car was then towed in June 2005 to friends shop in rural midwest USA and has been there every since. Why you say that long.? Delay in repairs has been
due to house, women and money. Sometimes one sometimes the other but usually all 3 !!. Car was bought as a 30 Birthday present to myself and here i am
months away from 40. Still have same passion for car as i did 10 years ago. Since so rare in US i consider this car a classic in same vein as 70's Celica's .
Car was towed 2200 miles from Calgary to just east of Chicago . 2200 miles and 4400 overall in 4 days alone and towing a car both ways. You don't know the meaning of remote until you are driving at 4am in Northern Montana . Felt like last person on earth !. While crossing the boarder the US Customs agent (who obviously was not a car guy) asks "What are you doing with car?" I said just driving in woods in back of my house of course. He looked and me and seem to not care about my answer and let me go on my way . Once in car and driving in Montana i was screaming like a little school girl in car. Towing through Chicago i had a pack of young kids all hanging back around trailer . Also every person i passed on highway would point out Celica to passenger. RHD still a novelty in USA compared to Europe and Japan. Picture below is after 1100 mile drive and stopped for a rest . The center drive shaft is unhooked for towing but should have rented the full car trailer as drag on truck doubled my petrol bill on way home .
Pictures below are from car when i picked up car and later with new hood and wings installed . Car was wrecked in Japan by woman near a ski lodge after sliding off road into a railing . Silver front cut is from a halfcut bought by ST165 owner and had no need for body parts. 25 more hours of straight driving to
pick up !!
Only positive of long delay has been large stockpiling of rare JDM optional parts
Finally at the frame shop in June 2013
Making progress. All straight , wings bolt on and bonnet closes again . Hard to get now but all the new parts for st205 came from Toyota California warehouse in 2005. Bonus points if can guess the little car in primer in back of picture. Hint not Japanese
More pictures to come . Long journey to go before car is back on road. Amazingly car started right up and idled smooth after not being started for over 5 years.
