Old School Toyota Meet
 

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.

Thanks, I love some of those old school cars.

I hope you don't mind, but on a related note I posted the pic below on another forum so I can investigate further details since a local dealer here is selling a Datsun 2000 in decent shape for a good price, and I intend to do an SR20DET swap on it, sort of like the one in this pic, and use it primarily as my dedicated track day car so I don't hack up my Supra any more than necessary:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...04_15_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...04_13_full.jpg

them some hot rides!!! very nice! very clean looking...

Funny you should mention that. My friend has been trying to get me into old school cars for a long time, even pointing out a '71 Datsun 510 that the owner will give to anybody who shows up with a trailer. I did consider it, but I'm scared to try my hand at bodywork since that seem to be more of a fine art than a simple wrench turning skill, but that would be a nice ride to drop a SR20DET into as well.

My first NEW car was a 69 Datsun 510 2door,white with black interior...paid 1995.00 for it.....took the tires off that day and put Pirreli P-77's on it and drove off to bliss and 150,000 miles!

xoxoxoo

I also always had a big soft spot for the Datsun 510's and in recent years have seen a couple that were really hot-rodded up in the best "JDM" manner, real little roadracing rockets.
In fact, I actually had a brand new 510 ordered in 1971 which I intended to be my first car after graduating from college that year, but then changed my mind and ordered a '71 240Z instead (white with red leather interior, $4200 out the door after the 4mo wait list), then changed my mind again (~mind drift perhaps caused by excessive psychedelics?) and cancelled the order to buy a slightly used '67 XKE Roadster. Due to my inclination toward "sports cars", I'm now more interested in the Datsun 2000/1600 variations than any of the cool little JDM sedans.

I finally couldn't take it anymore. I spent all day surfing 510 sites, checking classifieds, and I couldn't believe how affordable these cars still are. I finally broke down and called up that guy who wanted that 510 out of his yard. We'll see if he calls back in a few days.

damn I'm afraid to look.... skogafoss would kill me.. thank god we don't have a garage that is free or even driveway space.

There are more good pics of this event, but the first two of these at least relate to the topic of this thread. Last weekend the annual Duryea Hillclimb event took place in Reading, PA ...I couldn't make it since I was surf fishing near Ocean City MD with my boys, but I'll drive it next year for sure. Here's a Datsun 2000 and a 510 that ran the hill:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1013/...816ea02c90.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1301/...7481ec2002.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1196/...ae848d18ab.jpg

and some other stuff:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1270/...70114b3a3c.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1296/...9f56ab6b36.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1123/...946028a42b.jpg

Thanks for the pics, alot of good looking rides. I was hoping to see some nice old school Toyota trucks but such is life.

Oh you rice boys...just kidding.

Sweet cars, I love datsuns but I have to wonder what the appeal is in a '87 corolla...

The two-door coupes and hatchbacks produced from 1984-1987 are the last of any RWD corollas. Those cars are stupid light (2300 lbs), and ridiculously fun to drive. The GT-S versions also had a peppy 16-valve engine, disc brakes all around, and a limited slip differential.

nice pix ..takes me back ... way back.

QuasiMondo i was just surfin along and came across your post.....those some real good pics

i have a question though....there's a lovely blue toyota ke70 there (reg. # 143 - TUR)

i'd like to know what vehicle those bumpers came off of if you know

are they from what is known where i live as a nissan laurel/medalist?

i'd love to know because i want to do something similar to my ke70 wagon which is under repairs at the moment

I have no idea, my fanaticism lies with Mitsubishi. To be honest, I don't even know what chassis the KE70 is.

I LOVE AE86's, my friend has had one for awhile, along with his MKIII, definite Toyota Buff...

-Will

Bridgeport, CT? I'll bet that my old RX7 was floating around the meet somewhere.