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My new 35 year-old RA24

Posted: October 11th, 2011, 9:10 am
by sbryden7
Long time reader, first time poster here. My name is Steve and I had been on the hunt for a 1st gen for just under a year before I found "the one". I've owned two 6th gen Celicas in the past, both of which I regret getting rid of. When I began my search for a 3rd, I decided to broaden my horizons a bit and discovered the 1st gen. The more I researched the car, the more I knew I had to get one. After looking at a few bad prospects, I finally came across a 1976 5 speed GT that was in immaculate condition. The bad part, it was in Las Vegas (~10 hours away). Well, I wasn't about to let that little drive hold me back, so my wife and I headed out to Vegas, drove right by the strip without even getting out of the car, and picked up my new Celica. I trailered it halfway home, and drove it the other half. Not only did it run great the entire 4 hours I was on the road, but the AC even blew cold! Getting it to pass California smog inspection wasn't the easiest task, but after a bit of elbow grease and 2 cans of seafoam, I got the signature and some shiny new CA plates.

My goal is to slowly restore it to near-original condition (aesthetically), and throw on some minor engine mods like a header and weber carb. So far the extent of my work has been cleaning, waxing, and polishing; but I hope to get on to the fun stuff in the near future. Anyway, here are a few pics...

About to load it onto the trailer in Vegas
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First wash
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Re: My new 35 year-old RA24

Posted: October 11th, 2011, 9:27 am
by sbryden7
I found one of the few pictures I have of my white 6th gen. Word to the wise: backup your project photos somewhere online so if your laptop gets stolen, you don't lose years worth of car memories :(
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Re: My new 35 year-old RA24

Posted: October 11th, 2011, 11:22 am
by faffi
wow, :shock:
nice car looks clean,
cool , you want to keep it almost original
some :) bumpers and your celica is perfect
are you gonna keep the color?

:2thumbs:

Re: My new 35 year-old RA24

Posted: October 11th, 2011, 1:00 pm
by sbryden7
faffi wrote:wow, :shock:
nice car looks clean,
cool , you want to keep it almost original
some :) bumpers and your celica is perfect
are you gonna keep the color?

:2thumbs:
thanks.

I like the orange, so it'll probably stay. The paint job is a ways down the road though, and I am a big fan of white, so who knows.

Re: My new 35 year-old RA24

Posted: October 11th, 2011, 4:18 pm
by tctoons
Didn't know 75 model needed smog :?:

Re: My new 35 year-old RA24

Posted: October 11th, 2011, 7:39 pm
by Im jhun_hapi
tctoons wrote:Didn't know 75 model needed smog :?:
75 and below dont need smog. 76 and above are the one that needed smog :( only in CA :banghead:

Re: My new 35 year-old RA24

Posted: October 11th, 2011, 10:22 pm
by tctoons
jhun_hapi wrote:
tctoons wrote:Didn't know 75 model needed smog :?:
75 and below dont need smog. 76 and above are the one that needed smog :( only in CA :banghead:
Oh my bad, thought it was a 75.

Re: My new 35 year-old RA24

Posted: October 13th, 2011, 12:30 pm
by butnut
Man, cherry original! Have fun.

Re: My new 35 year-old RA24

Posted: October 14th, 2011, 7:35 am
by njccmd2002
wow, an ex 6th genner, welcome dude. I have 2 1gc and 1 6gc my baby...

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