1971 Toyota Corolla 1200 2dr from North America
Summary:
Used car fixer upper
Faults:
Over the two years I owned it, I had to replace McPherson struts, alternator, and starter. Then I discovered the coolant was all rusty and the radiator was quite clogged. Then when I pulled out the spare tire and lifted the rear floor mats, I discovered the metal was rusted with big holes, and you could see the ground outside below. Yet a buddy of mine helped me rivet some sheet metal in to patch it up.
I then decided to drive it from Hamilton Ontario Canada to the west coast city of Vancouver with a buddy and all my belongings. What a risk taker I was. After 4 hours of driving, it would no longer start due to voltage regulating issues, so we had to push start it. Lucky it was standard transmission. When we reached the Badlands of South Dakota and the 100 F climate, the temp gauge was red lining and we had to reduce our speed to 50 mph. This little 1200 cc engine somehow got us to Vancouver in six days and over 3000 miles. Miracle car.
The starter began working again with less driving and no more long days of the voltage over charging issue. I sold it in two months to a friend who may have kept it running for a year on Vancouver Island, of which I heard it ended up in a junk yard. This car model was a complete rust bucket that was not designed for the salty winter road conditions of Canada. Had it been rust proofed, then perhaps it could have lasted longer.
Like other writers said, this car was extremely noisy on the highway, but it didn't bother me. I had installed a great cassette tape stereo with two door speakers. 35 years later I still can't believe I made it across the USA and Canada. Simply a miracle and God willing!
General Comments:
First car. Canadian rust bucket. Replaced almost everything mechanical, other than the engine and manual transmission.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 10th May, 2014
11th May 2014, 07:35
Considering the car was only six years old when you bought it and it was already a "total rust bucket", that does not speak much of "Toyota quality".