NMS
NMS
On Agust 2002, my father decided to get me started on this huge project. Dad pulled right in front of my house with flat bed truck and a 1973 Toyota corona Coupe sitting right on top. Once I took a look at it, I knew we had a little jewel in our hands. As the car was brought down from the truck, I started noticing a few things: First, I knew the car was very rare. The badge DELUXE was stamped right below the Corona badge. This meant that the car was the top of the line model of its kind back in 1973. As I kept inspecting the car, I could tell that the car was about 90% original. The car even had factory installed A/C. Dad handed me the keys to the car, I cranked the ignition and guessed what?? It tured on right away!!!! This thing came in with an original 18R engine that ran as strong as it did 30 years ago.
Below you will find pictures and brief descriptions of the restoration process.
THE RESTORATION BEGINS
This is how the car looked when I first brought it home:
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Notice the 13x7 “Baby Supra” wheels on the car. Cool look if you’re going for the “Cocolo Style”. I can appreciate the old school ways, but I’m going with the classic original factory look with this project.
As you can tell from the pictures the car is about 90% original. It’s only missing the original steel wheels and hubcaps, air conditioning belt, battery plate unit, the radio a “Deluxe” and a “Toyota” badge.
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Notice the original 18 RC Engine.
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It took me 7 months to find the original wheels and hubcaps. Thanks to my boy Tommy B. for the wheels (all 5 of them).
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Had the wheels sand blasted and painted black (OEM color). They will sit on 185/70 R13 Cooper Classic II narrow whitewall tires to complete the original look.
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Thanks to Rick and Mark from hubcaps.com for providing the only set of original 1973 Corona Deluxe hubcaps in his entire warehouse. Note: one minor detail, these caps belong to a 1973 4 door Corona Deluxe. This was totally my mistake, I ordered them without doing the proper research. Not to worry, Mark will exchange them for the correct caps that came with the Coupe. Pictures to be added later.
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Below are the original 2 door hubcaps that just arrived a week ago. Thanks Rick!
Thaks to Carlyn, I got my brand new used side rocker pannel moldings I was missing:
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Next…. Dismantle and disassemble of the entire car. My father and I will take care of this project. Once this is done, we will send the shell for a complete frame off restoration that will be done by Bob from Auto Rebuilders out in North Plainfield NJ.
1. Random pictures of the process 2. Pulling the engine 3. Gutting the interior 4. Picture of frame and chassis before body and paintEngine, transmission, rear end, suspension and wiring will be restored at home with the help of my father and friends.
1. Random pictures of the process 2. more picsStainless steel and chrome parts will be send out to get restored, polished or replated.
1. Pictures of anything before sending out to get restored 2. Pictures on done up pieces 3. more picsThe interior will be completely done up in the original pearl blue vinyl. Once the car comes back from the body shop, the guys at Classic Coach Work in Nazareth PA. will do all the work.
1. Pictures before and afterAny rubber seals, weather stripping, badges, or any small part needed to complete the project, will be ordered from Carlyn Dinkler’s RT8#/9# parts listing/catalogue. Carlyn is the Man who specializes in parts for the 1965-70 Corona RT43/52, the 1969-72 Corona Mark II RT6#/7#, and the 1970-73 Corona RT8#/9#. Carlyn resides in the state of North Carolina.
1. Pictures of the finished car and all original paperwork that came with the car.
