1980 Toyota T18 SE from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

I have had some problems with the carby, but nothing a good tune won't fix.

Can't kill it with an axe!!!

I once had a T18, bought it back in the summer of 98. Was a great little car, air con, velour seats, for $1200. Cost me only $300 for a roadworthy example. Was a great little car to drive, had a bulletproof engine, smooth gear box and was generally good all round.

Too bad I killed the little thing! Was my first car and by the time I'd finished with it, it was on its second gearbox, second exhaust, the doors would not shut properly, the motor was only firing on 3 cylinders, starter motor was gone, it leaked oil faster then I could pour it in and the differential needed reconditioning. If it wasn't so far gone I would have fixed it, but I got a dodgy Japanese gearbox and that could only house a special starter motor and the total cost to repair it was in the thousands.

I had to say goodbye to the poor girl. She was a great car, never let me down and would love to have another one again. I had to sell her for a meagre $150 to a wrecker and the last time I saw her she was in a very sorry state, damaged, dented, rusting and in pieces (sob). But the story of one's first car is all too common so RIP my little T18, you were a great car and I'll miss ya!

T 18 what a minor investment for so much fun, i picked one up for a mere $600. First I ripped out the motor and totally rebuilt, shaved 55 thou off the head, took 6LB out of flywheel, ground cam, added 2in exhaust system single muffler goes really well. Cost of rebuild close to $1000. It dose require electronic dizzy hopefully in near future if I can find one.P.S I also removed air injection under extractor seems to run a bit hot, nothing an oil cooler would not fix. HAVE FUN.

I bought my Toyota T18SE in '96 and have done a Quarter of a Million klicks in her and she's has never let me down. Even when bits fell off she always went.

Now I'm trying to replace the main oil seal, but am having problems getting the timing cover off. I should have known there would be a problem when the replacement seal and gasket were only 17$. Still I'll get her up and running yet. The best car I've ever owned. Seamus Duffy.

I have a T18 (1979) that I have owned for 15 Years. I drive it to work every day (60k round trip). I have rebuilt motor, gearbox, brakes, front end, carby and suspension over the last 3 Years. All standard, but it never breaks down, car has done over 300,000 km and does not have a spot of rust in it. I wouldn't sell it for anything. My 17 Year old son thinks it's cool because none of his mates has anything like it. The best thing about it is that it has no computers and everything is so simple to fix.