My first car was a 1972 Toyota Corolla (I am going to see if I can hunt the picture down). It has a 1200 cc engine, but I used to race it (on the highway in Saskatchewan.. way back... we used to set up lights and have CB radios on both ends of a long straight stretch, and then do runs)
People thought I had a bigger engine in it because I had put 14" tires on the car and would rev the piss out of it (I wasn't bright.. but I could drive). Top speed was 92 MPH and I couldn't beat any serious cars, but by icecream coning the pistons (revved far too hard and too long) I could beat the normal ones. Light car and could take punishment. Rebuilt the engine twice for fun (simple too). Custom paint and I did the entire interior over long nights and many beer. I found out later that if you put 14" tires on a 72 Corolla, the steer wheel will eventually come off in your hands.. lol. It wasnt built to take that kind of stress.. 14,000 into the car, sold it for 4,000 and it ended up being a wreck 6 months later.
Since then, I owned and customized a 73 Corolla (less money into that), and had a 72, 73, 80, 81 Celica (the 80 I totalled on a Calgary roadway doing 120 kph on a 30 kph hairpin (doh!). Used to be able to rat-race through Sask city streets and had a blast in my youth. If I tried any of that today I would be dead or behind bars.. times have changed...
Loved the older Celicas (especially the 73 and 76) sad to see that there aren't many on the roads left running.. they were really nice body styles. Not too fond of the newer Celica's solely because I drove a Supra in 85 and have wanted one since. Bought my 88 because I couldn't find a decent 85 (was looking for Burgandy with leather.. but all I found was rust and rips). After 2 years of hunting.. I found my 88 MKIII. Love the car now.. it reminds me of my 73 Celica on steroids, but orginally I didn't even consider it. Would go with a MKIV because I think in the end it would save me money, but I refuse to drive one simply because I dont want to abandon my MKIII and from the people I have talked to, a MKIV is a different experience.
Pick the car you like.. but dont slam the others. Yoda made good cars.
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