1985 Toyota Celica GT-S review from North America

The radiator blew on the way back to check in with the (used-car) dealer in my first week. Dealer did kick in part of the replacement cost.

A short blew the spark igniter, a long and troublesome process of repairing; it required hunting down the short, an intermittent contact with a spark plug wire. Those things cost $400 new; we couldn't find a used one. And that igniter is used on that year's engine alone.

In a rainstorm with an SUV right on my rear bumper with highbeams on, I mistook a solid curb for somewhere I wanted to go. Result: a rebuilt engine, better than new, done by a local mechanic who jealously guards his reputation.

The inexpensive paint job from the previous owner chalked out. I used a bodyshop I knew from before, and they did a bang-up job, painting the window moldings and trim black, repainted the wheel well mouldings etc etc. Wasn't cheap, but it was worth the money.

Now I'm working on general restoration,

making the rest of the car better than new.

With the engine better-than-new, it is reasonably quick, the handling is excellent (with a few quirks; BMW owners will recognize the term, 'trailing-throttle oversteer.')

Seats: outstanding, especially the driver seat, with fourway adjustment and air-inflatable bolsters on the sides of the seat and back support.

All the systems either have remained functioning at a high level, or have been replaced.

All the work done, and still my expenditure is under $8,000 for a car that looks great, will beat most front-wheel drive cars which would have cost me three times what this one did.