I was telling folks at Halx's party that I planned on spending the rest of the weekend up in Bridgeport, CT for an old-school Toyota meet. I expected about 10-15 old Corollas and Starlets and everybody would sit around, drink some beers, talk about thier restorations and stuff. I was wrong.
This event was
huge. I'm talking nearly 100 cars, and not just old Toyotas. Datsuns, old rotary Mazdas (RX-3's and RX-4's old), insane engine swaps, restorations and preservations that would make any piston head drool. I was kinda upset that I didn't bring my camera, but luckily, my friend Hector did and, and now I give you 280 pictures of rising sun glory!
http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z...how/?start=all
Highlights (links will be used due to the size of the pictures):
Lime green Mazda RX-3 (personally, the most beautiful RX design next to the FD chasis RX-7's:
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...icture6687.jpg
"Scarface," an 85 Corolla GT-S hatchback used as a canvas for a very devoted fan of the movie:
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...icture6685.jpg
One of two Datsun 510's at the scene. This one was beautifully done with dual Mikuni (I think that's what they were) sidedraft carburetors and a high-compression L16 engine. The owner occasionally take it for a spin at Lime Rock.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...icture6630.jpg
Hector's Corolla. His search for a clean unmolested Corolla took him all the way to Maryland for this '87 coupe. So far, all he's done is maintenance with headers and exhaust, but he's currently putting together another engine to turbocharge and satisfy his boost addiction:
http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z...icture6629.jpg
The. Most. Beautifulest. Corolla. At. The. Event. Period. This '83 two-door is a work-in-progress with a SR20 engine pulled from a Nissan Silvia (Japanese market 240sx), Ford 8.8" rear end, a suspension setup that's fully adjustable (that's the best way I can describe it). It's 95% complete and should be on the road by next spring.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...icture6619.jpg
This Corolla was built by one devoted Initial-D fan. A faithful reproduction right down to the "Fujiwara Tofu Delivery" on the side and "Akina Speed Stars" decal on the windshield.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...icture6608.jpg
Pictures cannot describe how nicely painted this Datsun 1200 was done. When you look closely at the paint, there's no orange peel. It left a reflection like glass. There was no rust anywhere on this car. If you've ever painted a car before, you would appreciate how beautifully painted this car was. It took 3rd place for best paint job, but both Hector and I agree that he should've taken first.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...icture6588.jpg
Ordinary Mitsubishi Mighty Max, until you pop the hood and see the 2.6-litre engine from a Starion turbo.
http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z...icture6580.jpg
I had no idea what this engine was, until the owner told me it was a Toyota 3T-GTE engine pulled from a Japan-only 1982-85 Toyota Celica GT-T (the T is for turbo). Japan always keeps the good stuff at home, don't they?
http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z...icture6426.jpg
This Corolla wagon took second in their sound competition, registering 160.3 dB. It was
loud, and when he cranked it up to 11, every body panel and piece of glass vibrated. I thought he was going to crack a window when it was at it's loudest
http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z...icture6422.jpg
'79 Corolla Sunchaser, this was one of the cleanest Toyotas out there. The owner dropped in a 2T-G 1.6 twin-cam from an earlier Celica and managed to keep the air conditioner. Check out the 'crosshair' headlights he pulled from an early Volkswagen GTI
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...icture6554.jpg
This event was reigonal, folks were coming down from Massachusets and Pennsylvania to show up, and a good time was had by all. There's supposed to be another meet around Labor Day somewhere in Jersey, I might head out to that one as well.